Deadly Passion, an Epiphany Read Online Free PDF Page B

me,” she told Mark. “I’ll show you the ropes.” So there are women in this place after all.
    “How long have you been here?” Mark asked.
    “My name’s Carol Johnson. I haven’t a clue how long I’ve been in this godforsaken place.”
    “Did you come here voluntarily?”
    “Supposedly. I don’t remember signing up. Why the hell would I leave my family?”
    “You have a family?”
    “Yup. Two boys, a girl, and the sweetest husband in the world.”
    “So why are you here?”
    “Cliché, but that’s the million dollar question around here. None of us know how we got here. Kidnapped. That’s my answer.”
    “I was in a nightclub. I’d just proposed to my soul mate when there was a huge explosion. I was hurt, on fire. I remember hearing her calling my name, caught a glimpse of her, before I blacked out. Terrorists? This place is run by the mafia or some mundane outfit? They kidnap people to work this mine? What’s the last thing you remember?”
    “Picking up my little girl from ballet lessons. We had to stop at the grocery store to pick up some things for dinner.”
    “Where’s your little girl?”
    “I don’t know.”
    Mark saw Carol’s eyes fill and quickly changed the subject. “Is there no escape? Has anyone tried?”
    “Oh yes. They’re either killed or punished horribly if caught.”
    “Has anyone succeeded at all?”
    “Not that I know of. You’ve got to be real careful. Workers tend to disappear without explanation around here. Don’t ask questions. You’re safe with me, so don’t worry. I’ll never tell. What year is it?”
    “Two thousand fourteen.”
    “Oh my God! You’ve got to be kidding me. I’ve been here thirty-four years?”
    “Carol, if you don’t mind me asking, how old are you, or were you when you arrived here?”
    “I was thirty. Means I’m almost a senior now.”
    “You hardly look like a senior. You don’t look a day over twenty-five.”
    “Compliments will get you everywhere. Haven’t seen a mirror in all the time I’ve been here.”
    This time tears did flow freely down her cheeks, causing stripes on her sooty face.
    “I’m sorry. My little girl was four. Means she’s thirty-eight now and I never saw her grow up, graduate, or go to college. She might be married with little ones of her own. Damn, I’m most probably a grandmother. The two boys were eight. Twins.” She swiped at the tears angrily. “We’re here. I’ll show you what to do. Best not to talk around here. Too many untrustworthy ears.”
    Mark saw several men hard at work. They didn’t take any notice of Carol or him. The next hour Carol spent teaching him, until a loud whistle sounded. “What’s that for?”
    “Shift change. New crews are taking over. We go to dinner and then to your dormitory.”
    “Dormitory?”
    “Yes. At dinner there’ll be an envelope beside your plate containing your schedule and the dorm they assigned you.”
    “Above ground?”
    “My dear, I haven’t been above ground since I got here.”
    “Don’t people get sick from lack of fresh air and sunlight?”
    “No. We’re fed enough vitamins and there’s artificial sunlight in some of the recreational rooms. You’re allowed free time until lights out.”
    Mark chuckled. “And when might that be?”
    “Nine. Wake up is at five, and we report for work at six.”
    “It sounds like jail. Not that I know anything about jails, but it sure as hell seems like it. What kind of recreational activities are here?” he asked while following her through tunnels, then finally arriving at a lift. He stepped in after her. It was jammed full of workers.
    “Sssh,” she said, a finger to her lips.
    The lift rose slowly. It sounded old, rickety, and it was noisy as it climbed up the chains. They came to double wooden doors. On each side stood a bucket of water. Each worker rinsed their hands before entering through the doors. Mark had no idea what to expect behind them. Carol walked in ahead of him and he gazed at