“Give me a fucking break,” Tony said. “They’re tired. We’re tired. My fucking head feels like it’s gonna split open. Let’s stop for a minute.”
“There’s no time, Tony.” Amethyst’s tone was conciliatory. “You know that. We have to finish this.”
Clark’s eyes met Tony’s. The two stared at each other for a moment, and then Tony shrugged.
“Okay,” Clark said, addressing Amethyst, “where to next?”
“This way,” Ruby said. She turned and began heading down the cavern again.
“We just came from there,” Susan said. “Those things were chasing us!”
“Listen, maybe I should get Jennifer and her friends out of here,” Tony suggested.
“Tony, you know why you’re here,” Ruby said. “We’ve tapped you for this mission because you are our only hope.”
“I understand that,” Tony said. “And we’ve found Jennifer and her friends. Don’t you think we should get them out of here?”
“Not before you fulfill your destiny.”
“My destiny is to keep my ass from getting killed. And if I can pull Jennifer and her friends out of here, so much the better.”
“Your destiny is to fulfill your purpose!” Ruby’s voice had taken on that gruff tone again. She fixed him with her steely gaze. “You’re our only hope, Tony. You are one of the—”
“Save it, sweetheart.”
“The more we delay,” Diamond insisted, “the stronger Dagon gets. Surely you feel it. Even now your head aches. The pain behind your eyeballs is only growing worse.”
“What do we…?” Clark faltered. Even as Diamond spoke, the throbbing in his head grew worse, and he felt a tightening in his chest. It was obvious that Tony and the scientists were distressed, as well.
Squinting, Susan rubbed her forehead. “It feels like someone is trying to crawl inside my head. Something invisible, elemental.”
“What you feel is Dagon,” Ruby explained. Her features were strained, as if they were bearing the weight of great pressure. Clark noticed it in the faces of Diamond and Amethyst too. He started to speak, but when he tried, his breath came in ragged gasps. That persistent humming spiked into his consciousness, like fingernails being drawn against a chalkboard.
Ruby looked at Clark. “And my guess is that all of you are made of very strong stuff. You can feel it, but you with stand it.”
“To tell you the truth,” Tony said, “the only thing I feel like fucking up now is Dagon. Okay? You win. Let’s get this fucking shit over with.”
Without another word, Ruby darted down the cavern, leading the way. Tony darted after her, followed by Clark and Jennifer, who clutched Tony’s arm. Wade and Susan fell into step behind them. Amethyst and Diamond once again brought up the rear.
“I don’t know about this,” Jennifer whispered to Tony and Clark. “What the hell is going on?”
“It’s a long story,” Tony replied. “I was just chilling in my condo and Clark here was outside trimming the shrubbery, and then all hell broke loose. All things considered, I’d rather be in Vegas.”
Jennifer grinned at him. “You haven’t changed.”
“Neither have you.”
Gritting his teeth, Clark focused on Ruby.
I hope you know what you’re doing, he thought as she took them down a left hand path that led deeper beneath the mountain. Because we’re responsible for these people’s lives. I don’t want their blood on my hands.
“Don’t worry,” Ruby said. “I do. And if there is blood, Mr. Arroyo, it won’t be on your hands. It will be on someone else’s.”
NINETEEN
For the first time since shortly before Josel’s betrayal, when she was certain the Naranuan holy man would lead them to safe ground, Jennifer felt her hopes rise again. They were going to get out of this. How, she still didn’t have the slightest idea. But finding Tony here—knowing that he’d come for her—buoyed her spirits.
Ruby led them down tunnel after tunnel, never hesitating in her stride. As they descended, Jennifer felt her elations rise further as the echoing roar of the pursuing Dark Ones were left farther behind. They were obviously traveling passageways that Jennifer, Wade, and Susan had not encountered before. She wondered how Ruby and her companions knew where to go. Was Naranu a secret government compound?
Behind her, Susan babbled. “We’re heading straight back there. Why are we doing this? There’s more of those things down there.”
“Quiet,” Diamond ordered. His tone of voice was commanding and Susan shut up.