Chapter 96

Shawna POV

We followed Dawson through the trees. We walked for a brief time, which was maybe a half of a mile. He approached what appeared to be a rock face covered in brush and slipped between two shrubs. We could hear a lock snap and a door opening. The sound filled the air with noise, as if the hinges were a bit rusty. Michael placed his hand on my shoulder, "I'm right out here if you need me."

I turned and looked at Michael, giving him a soft smile. "I know. I will be okay." He nodded and kissed my cheek as I stepped toward the bushes.

Dawson stepped out and motioned with his arm that we could enter now. I took a step forward and entered the gap between the bushes, standing before the door that was swung open wide. It was thick steal and so dark it blended in with the rock. "Give me just a second," Ashlynn said behind me. I nodded but didn't turn around. I stared through the entrance into the darkness of the tunnel ahead. There was a lit sconce on the wall just inside the door. Dawson must have lit that after opening the door.

I took a small step forward and inhaled deeply. I took in the scent of the damp dark tunnel, allowing my body to absorb it's scent. If I could bring forth any memory that may be triggered by smell, then maybe it would be easier to take the initial steps inside. I never went through this door, at least it's not what I remember. I imagine that they did actually bring me through here, but I was half unconscious and blindfolded. I hardly remember much from that first day, other than my fear and pain. I opened my eyes and breathed deeply. So far I was okay, the smell was just damp earth. That smell of death and urine wasn't here at this door, and I'm sure it was by design. If no one could smell what was deep inside the dungeons, they wouldn't have been drawn to this hidden entry.

Natalie appeared by my side, her eyes wide as she took in the entrance. "Wow, I would never have known this was here if I hadn't seen Dawson walk into the bushes. It's genius." She placed her hand on my forearm. "Are you okay Shawna?"

"Yes, I think I am." I felt fine at the moment, aside from the nervousness that had yet to leave my belly. "I'm ready whenever you and Ashlynn are ready to walk inside."

Natalie walked away to talk with Ashlynn. I could hear voices behind me, murmuring, but their words did not carry over to me. I was more than ready and now felt myself getting anxious to move forward. A moment later, Ashlynn and Natalie appeared next to me. Ashlynn handed me a flashlight and motioned that we could move forward. "When you're ready," she said softly. I flipped on the flashlight and shown it inside, it's beam went deeper than the light from the sconce. It was just a long dark tunnel. So far nothing scary was happening and I relaxed a little.

Taking a tentative step inside, I moved my beam of light back and forth. Still nothing scary, just damp earth. Natalie and Ashlynn stayed close behind me, but no one said anything. They followed my lead as I began the long walk down the dark tunnel. I recalled that someone said these tunnels went on for miles. I was given two hours to figure out whatever it was I had come here for, so I picked up my speed slightly. My brisk pace had my breath coming out in warm billows of air that was visible in front of me. The noises from outside grew further away and soon there was only the sound of our breaths.

The air began to change and it became more musty, and I could catch little whiffs of urine in the air. So far it wasn't overpowering but my stomach clenched a little. "Good Goddess," Ashlynn breathed behind us. "The smell is terrible and we aren't even to the dungeon yet." Her pregnancy must be making her already sensitive smell worse. One of the things about being a werewolf was that our sense of smell was much stronger. In this case, it was a curse rather than a blessing.

"Yes, it's one of the things that still haunts me. The smells were unbearable at times. I think it was stuck in my nose for months after I was rescued from here."

"I'm so sorry," Ashlynn whispered.

We rounded a corner and the tunnels branched off into two separate tunnels that went in opposite directions. I stood at the intersection, trying to decide if we should go to the left or the right. "Maybe just pick and if it's the wrong way, we come back and go the other way," Natalie suggested. I nodded in agreement and went to the left, following the path that was in front of us. We walked for a short distance and then the tunnel ended at a closed door. I didn't think this was the right way, but how would I know for sure? Time to find out.