are.” I turn and peer to the north.
“That’s the direction where the cave and that room was,” I tell her. “Where all that art is hidden.”
“I was thinking about that,” she says. “Maybe that’s why he faked his own death, because he’s some kind of international art thief.”
“And a serial killer? That’s pretty bizarre.”
“Yeah, ’cause the rest of this is so normal.”
Staring in the direction of town, I swear I see a light moving. It flashes, disappears, then flashes again. Is that Jarvis on the hunt? “Whatever he is,” I say, “he’s out there and he’s looking for us.”
I scan our platform and plan our next move. There’s one line connected to the next level, but as we examine it, we both see what we have to do to get to it—balance on a series of six logs suspended from ropes that lead to the start of the zip line.
“Holy crap,” Molly mumbles.
“Yeah,” I agree.
But we manage our way across the logs to the zip line. This time we move like a team, Molly wrapped around me, the zip-line rope firmly in my hands. When I let go, the ride seems smoother and faster, ending not on another platform but a soft mound of pine needles. We fall, safe and alive.
“I know where we are,” I say as we brush off and look around. “Levi and I were here the other day. We just have to jump that overhang where the cave is, run to the right, then the left, and straight to a road.”
“Thank God.” We bolt together to the cliff, stopping when we reach it to look over the embankment.
“Levi helped me do this,” I say. “Hold on to me and I’ll dangle you, then it’s not so far to fall.”
“ ’Kay.” She scoots down to the ground and we clamp our hands around each other’s wrists. As she gets into position, she looks at me and smiles. “Thanks for saving my life, Kenzie.”
I just nod. “We’re not out of the woods yet.”
She manages to laugh at my pun. “Seriously. You’re the best.”
I give her wrists a squeeze. “Remember that the next time you want to be popular and cool,” I joke as I let her down.
“So overrated.”
She’s swaying in the air, her sneakers about five feet from the ground. “Ready?” I ask.
“Let go.”
She falls with a soft thud, rolling under the overhang so I can’t see her. “Here I come,” I say, turning and hoping I can do this without help, like Levi did.
I get a grip on some rocks sticking out of the ground and slowly lower my body until I’m hanging. “Watch out so I don’t land on you,” I call to Molly.
Three, two, one, and I let go, hitting the ground with a jolt.
“There, now we …”
When I get up, I scan the area. “Molly?” I turn again, peering into the bushes that cover the cave. Did she go in there? “Molly?”
I push back the foliage to peer into the darkness, and hear the distant, muffled sound of running footsteps from deep inside the cave. And then, silence.
CHAPTER XXXII
It takes me no more than five seconds to decide what to do. I can’t leave. By the time I find my way out of the woods and get help, Molly could be dead.
Shoving the branches and leaves away, I’m swallowed into the blackness of the cave, longing for Levi and the light we had last time we were in here. I stick my hand straight out and shudder at the sudden cold.
I stay still, listening for any hint, any sound other than the relentless hammering of my heart, clobbering against my chest. How could he—or someone—have gotten Molly so fast?
I have one advantage: I’ve been here before. I shoot one hand out and use the other to hold on to the cold stone wall to walk through the darkness, utterly alone and wretchedly scared.
As I concentrate on each step, I follow the corridor to a lower level on the stone path, trying to imagine the footpath I’m on. I pause, my hand still on the wall, remembering the engraving.
Many are called, few are chosen.
Yes, Levi was right that it’s a Bible quote, but the phrase was also used by Romans to mean that only the elite could do something.
I let one of the trainees take the credit.
Training for what? Professional killers?
I reach the dead end, my heart sinking because there’s no sign or sound of Molly. Is she in that room? Is she still alive?
I