Cave of Terror Read Online Free

tickled my palm. Drawing back again, I glanced around to see if anyone else had felt it—no noticeable reactions observed. As many times as I'd touched Temptation Stone in the past, I'd never felt anything so strange.
    "Mandy,” I called.
    She turned. “What?"
    "Did you feel anything weird when you touched the formation?"
    "Like what, exactly?” she asked.
    "I don't know. Like a vibration or something."
    "No, can't say I did. Are you going wiggie on me? First the almond smell and now vibrating rocks?” She shook her head. “I'm starting to get worried about you."
    I was worried about me, too.
    "We're about to enter a long tunnel. Hope we don't have anyone that's claustrophobic.” Stan chuckled.
    Mandy glanced back at me like I didn't know I suffered from claustrophobia. And it wasn't like I hadn't been through it before—no big deal. I breathed deeply and prepared myself just in case.
    Please don't have an episode in front of the class.
    Halfway through, the breath whooshed from my lungs. I blinked, trying to clear my blurred vision. My heart thumped inside my chest and my pulse expanded my veins with enough force to feel the blood surge through my body.
    No. Not now. Not here.
    The surrounding walls shimmered and compressed, squeezing out the space needed to move or inhale life-sustaining oxygen. I clutched at my chest and gasped for breath. A film of perspiration beaded my upper lip. My hands turned clammy. I paused a moment and attempted to take in a deep breath, then continued. Tiny dots of light flickered in front of me. I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened and blinked.
    No. No. No.
    With each step, my feet clumped along like lead blocks. One knee buckled, and I struggled to keep from falling. My lungs burned like crazy, but I refused to give into my ridiculous affliction, especially in front of this particular bunch of people.
    And then, the oppressive passage opened into a small room. Air freely flowed back into my lungs. My vision returned to normal. I exhaled a sigh of relief.
    Thank God no one noticed my near attack. How freakin’ embarrassing.
    Mandy turned, then frowned. “You look white, Cheyenne. Whiter than normal, that is."
    "It's just the lighting. I'm fine."
    "If you say so."
    "...the Texas Size Chip and Dip formation is the main attraction in this room. And if you take a good look, you'll find some trace fossils embedded in the surrounding rock.” Stan moved his light around to point out a few noticeable fossils.
    Mandy raised her camera. Flash. Flash .
    I held my breath as we passed through another tunnel, hoping I wouldn't freak again.
    "This is what we call the Breakdown Room. The Balcones Fault passes right through the cave.” He shined his light along the area.
    It wasn't much to look at, but Mandy lifted her camera and took some pictures anyway. Flash. Flash. I blinked several times to clear away the bright splotches of light dancing before my eyes.
    Stan ushered us forward while he remained by a light switch.
    Mandy whispered, “This is the part where the lights get turned off."
    "Ooooh, scary,” I sarcastically whispered to her.
    "In order to allow you to experience total darkness, I'll be turning off the lights for a few seconds. Imagine what it must have been like for an animal that ended up in here,” Stan said.
    The lights went off and everyone grew quiet.
    Immediately, a strong presence crowded around me, squeezing me in a bear hug. I clawed at my non-existent restraints, praying the strange sensation wouldn't turn into another near claustrophobic attack.
    The strong scent of almonds tickled my nose as I sucked in a breath. What the heck? I felt a slight touch from behind, and my hair was brushed aside. A puff of warm air poured across my bared skin. Tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. A tingle of apprehension settled between my shoulder blades.
    What's happening to me?
    Two sharp objects scratched along the pounding pulse in my throat, pricking my skin. I grabbed my