Poseidia Read Online Free PDF Page A

another hallway, but voices stopped me in my tracks.
    After they passed, a t the end of hallway number two was another large room, filled with an in-ground pool system. Three of the pools, the size of hot tubs, were filled with steaming mud in different colors—red, black, and brown. An equal number of pools, with steaming water, not mud, sat on the far side of the room. It resembled some kind of ancient bathhouse.
    My breathing slowed and I held my breath , thinking it would help me remain unseen. I watched in horrific fascination as these strange people mingled, naked and covered in mud. Weird rich people.
    No other hallwa ys connected to this room, so I slinked back the way I had come. My luck would run out eventually, it always did, and someone would find me. Panic clouded my mind.
    Pa ssing the room I’d woken up in, I ran down the hallway in the other direction. An open area appeared in the distance, so I dug deep and increased my speed.
    Go. Get out now. Forget what you’ve seen.
    My heart hammered loudly in my chest. Light from windows illuminated my path and gave me hope of freedom. Yes! Please, please be a way out.
    The open area was a large circular , domed room with five different hallways branching off it. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of which way to go.
    Taking a gamble, I sprinted to the hallway on the far left. As I ran, I craned my head back and forth, transparent walls allowing me a partial view of the outside. It was heartening to see gardens abundant with green foliage and countless varieties of flowers I’d never seen. Maybe it’s an island of some kind. I paused for a second to catch my breath and unconsciously touched the wall. It was soft and had a gelatinous texture. Weirder. Just get out, now.
    About midway down the hallway was a door. Growing comfortable with the hand-wave function, I opened it without hesitation, rushed down a spiral staircase, in my haste, slipping down the last few steps. It led out into the lush garden.
    T he fragrance from the flowers was heavy and as I opened my mouth, panting, I could taste them. The aroma became intoxicating and I grew dizzy so I stopped and looked around.
    White domed buildings trimmed in gold and made of a stucco-type material surrounded the garden. Maybe I’m in the Mediterranean. A strong sense of familiarity as I looked around brought on the strange déjà vu feeling again. Maybe I’ve seen this place in a travel magazine or something. Yes, I’m sure that’s it.
    Equilibrium restored , I didn’t linger to observe the beauty of the place. I wanted out.
    My heart thundered in my chest, my ears pounded, and my breath came in short pants. Run, run , I told myself. Which way now?
    There has to be a road somewhere, right? I can flag down a car and have them take me to the nearest police station.
    I sprinted away from the building, and across a small meadow. It ended against a transparent wall of some sort . My heart fell into my stomach when my eyes focused on what was beyond the wall.
    Crap. Where am I?
    Hundreds of fish swam behind the wall as if it was a giant aquarium.
    With my arms outstretched to touch the barrier, I craned my neck straight up for the first time, and then back. More ocean. Sea creatures swam overhead outside a dome structure, which blanketed the city.
    I’m not on an island after all. I’m under the sea.
    T rapped.
    No! This is impossible. There has to be a way out.
    My hands had frozen midair inches from touching the wall. Now , as they closed the distance, the wall reached out to me, a living glob, trying to absorb my hands.
    Instantly I snapped them back, stumbled backward, and fell to the ground. I’d officially reached meltdown level. I’m going insane.
    Correction, I’m not going insane. I am insane.
    David was right.
    When I hit the ground, a laugh resonated from the foliage. On my back, I craned my head and searched the flowers for the source. A man with long dark brown hair and human skin sat off to the side,