Dark Future Read Online Free Page B

locked and loaded whipped my head in the opposite direction. Another set of five heavily armed soldiers crouched down, each with machine guns pointed directly at me.
    I froze mid-motion. There must have been a misunderstanding. I was not the enemy. The thing outside was.
    No sudden moves. No sudden moves. Look . . . friendly .
    I plastered a smile on my face so big I could feel my lips crack. I hoped to appear nonthreatening, but knew I failed. My sports bra and shorts were ripped and dirty, and I knew my eyes held a crazed, deranged glare. I’d be better off channeling Nicholson. Heeeerrre’s Johnny.
    I scanned the room, desperate for the sight of the man I followed through the tunnel. Or was it down Alice’s rabbit hole? I searched scowling faces trying to locate the severe blue eyes I’d caught a glimpse of earlier.
    I found them on the face of a thirty-something looking man with short dark blonde hair and a six-feet-tall muscular frame. He stood behind the five men, hands planted on hips, feet spread wide in a military stance.
    His icy glare directed at me.
    Cold blue eyes blazed from his harsh face. I had no problem interpreting his thoughts. He’d like nothing better than to have me skinned, stuffed, and my head mounted on a wall. The fact that he could do the deed, and no one would stop him, was obvious. He exuded predator power—as natural to him as a lion stalking a poor, defenseless lamb.
    “Waiting on your order to fire, Commander.” One of the soldiers took out a hand gun and leveled the barrel at my forehead.
    Geez-us. Really? What is it with me and guns today?
    My heart slammed into my chest wall. This was it, death by a shot to the head.
    “No! No fire!” I shrieked holding my hands up in a universal sign of surrender. I wished I’d had a white flag. I would’ve waved it like a cheerleader’s pom-pom at homecoming. I sent a pleading look to the man who apparently no longer wanted to save my life. He had to realize I was no monster. I widened my smile and was sure my crowned molar showed.
    His lips didn’t even twitch.
    If his glare could alter temperature, I would need Arctic gear. I waited—afraid to hear the command that would end my life.
    “No.” He shook hishead slightly from side to side, sparing me no more than minimal effort. “Take the prisoner to the Holding Cell.”

 
    Chapter Six
     
    H olding cell? Prisoner? When did this happen?
    In shocked silence I watched as if outside myself as two soldiers took hold of each arm and led me through a series of tunnels. We walked further and further down into the bowels of the mountain. Some of the tunnels were lit with copper mesh wiring glowing with a pale yellow light, while others were dark or lit only by torches stuck into crevices along the wall. The air was thick and damp, enough to frizz my hair. The odor of moist earth and rotten eggs, hinting at sulfuric gas, made me want to gag.
    I was deposited in a cell, formed by a natural depression in the rock wall, and enclosed by rusty iron bars cemented across the front. The men locked the gate and took their leave, but not before lighting a nearby torch.
    So grateful I was not to be left in the dark, I nearly shouted a thank you. I pushed my back against the wall and inched down to the floor. I placed my head in my hands and took slow deep breaths. Panic brewed, threatening a full-out attack.
    This sort of thing was not supposed to happen to me. I wanted to be back home with my comfy pillow and down comforter. To wake up to the smell of gourmet coffee that was set to brew at seven every morning. I wanted to wake up and realize this was all a dream. I wanted . . . I wanted my mom. God, I missed my mom. I’d always missed her, but going back home wouldn’t fix that. Nothi For="#000ng would.
    Think Kris, think.
    This all had to be connected. My future-self sending me up a mountain trail at gunpoint was all for what? What had happened? All I remembered was dark holes burning in my vision