Page 56 of Reset

Powering through the water, as fast as he dared in such a dangerous, closed-in space, Ryan brought them into the central pond area. Their tunnel was second on the left. It was narrow, lined with jagged rock, and it would be a squeeze. Not impossible with Sarah as a dead weight in his arms, but definitely harder. Part of him couldn’t help but wonder if all the months of training were for this moment. He’d never been stronger. And he’d never needed it more.

Watch out for that sharp rock! Callum’s voice bellowed.

Ryan dodged to the side, taking Sarah with him. They skimmed along the rough surface of the wall, barely managing to avoid the piece of stone that would rip through flesh. Eyes stinging from the thick white water, he maneuvered them deeper into the narrow channel.

That same dead, bloated rat carcass floated in front of his face, and Ryan pushed at the water to get it out of his way. He glanced back to check on Sarah. Her hair had come loose and billowed around her face, while her arms and legs floated out from her body. They were going to get hurt. Maybe even broken. He couldn’t take her through the tunnel like this. And he couldn’t afford the time to stop either. But a broken bone. Or torn and bleeding flesh…he couldn’t risk it.

Keeping her wedged between him and the wall, he deftly brought her hands in front of her and buttoned both sleeves together, effectively cuffing her in place. Her legs were trickier. All he could do was tie both sides of her ripped skirt to constrict their movement.

His heart seized at the sight of her.

Bound and unconscious.

Drowning before his eyes.

Dying…

Less than two minutes left, Callum snapped. Get in that tunnel, Soldier!

Kicking against the water, he launched them into the tunnel. Visibility was even worse now. He was essentially swimming blind. Hugging Sarah to him, he shielded her body as best he could while negotiating bumps and turns.

His lungs were burning. His eyes stinging. His heart wildly out of control.

He ignored it all.

Laser focused on his goal, he swam toward the end of the tunnel.

A minute left, Callum said. Put on some speed.

Ryan did as he was told, well aware that one day soon, he’d be talking to his neurologist about his boss living in his head. Although, right then, he’d never been more grateful for the grumpy Scot.

Pushing the water behind them with the hand that held Sarah’s phone, he kicked down. Aiming them through the part of the channel that became tight and low. Rocks skimmed their bodies as they passed, and he hoped none had injured Sarah. There was no way to tell if they had.

Not that any scrapes would matter if he couldn’t get her out of the water in time.

Kicking through the narrow part of the tunnel, he dragged Sarah with him. With one strong arm, he propelled them forward to where the tunnel widened again before opening up into the cavern above. Nearly there. A few more strokes, and he could help Sarah.

Ignoring the agony in his lungs, he pressed onward.

Only to be jerked back.

Spinning around, he waved the light behind him. Only to find that the strap of the bag had caught on something. And there was no way to unhook it because Sarah’s body was in the way. And the tunnel was far too tight to maneuver her out of it.

He needed to break the strap.

Pulling at it didn’t work, so he placed his feet on the ground to get some momentum. The damn strap still held. Letting go of Sarah, Ryan ducked and contorted himself in an effort to get the bag over his head. It was impossible. There wasn’t enough space.

Sarah was dropping rapidly, and afraid he would lose her in the murky water, he grabbed hold of her. And dropped Sarah’s phone. It floated down into the mud and rock-covered bottom of the pool. The light slowly fading as it went.

Now, there was only blackness.

The bag was wedged against his back and immovable because of the stuck strap. There was no way to retrieve his phone from it. Which meant they were stuck in the darkness.

Get out of there now! Callum bellowed.

Using every ounce of strength he’d built since waking from his coma, Ryan held Sarah tight and pushed off from the rocks with his feet. The leather strap dug into his shoulder until he thought the bone would give before the bag. A bubble of air escaped him, making his diaphragm flex. Time was running out. For both of them.

Move it! Callum shouted. Break that bloody strap.