The Promise Read Online Free PDF Page A

hoped
his dreams had found fruition elsewhere.
    She stopped about twenty feet into the mine shaft, at
the place where the weak light finally played out. Against the
wall, she could just make out an old lantern. In her mind's eye,
she could see Michael holding the very same lamp, its golden glow
spreading through the tunnel, illuminating the walls, casting
dancing shadows.
    She sighed, looking down at the remains of the
lantern. Far older than nine years, the globe was broken, the metal
base rusted with age. Her memories were imagined. Reality bending
in on itself, creating something of nothing.
    Michael Macpherson was a figment of her imagination.
Someone she'd conjured up to help her through the worst ordeal of
her life. He wasn't real. Her doctors had told her. Her grandfather
had told her. And, eventually, she'd believed them. Shaking her
head, to clear her thoughts, she turned to go. There was nothing
for her here. She'd been silly to come.
    The faint light from the entrance was almost blinding
after the complete darkness of the tunnel behind her. Dizzy, her
head spun for a moment and she almost lost her balance. Reaching
for the cold comfort of the rock wall, she leaned against it until
the moment passed.
    Steady again, she breathed deeply, suddenly needing
to be outside in the fresh air again. Stories of mine gas and
cave-ins crowded into her brain, vying for attention. Shutting the
rampant thoughts out, she made her way back to the entrance, and
was just about to step into the pine shadowed sunlight when
something behind her, in the depths of the tunnel, shifted.
    Rocks rattled against stone as they rolled across the
floor. She froze, heart pounding, waiting for another noise.
Curiosity battled with terror. When the mine remained silent,
curiosity won and she took a hesitant step back into the
passageway.
    Squinting into the darkness, she tried to make out
the source of the sound, the little voice in her head calmly
listing off all the wild animals that could conceivably have made
the tunnel their home. It was enough to make her step back toward
the entrance again.
    Then, just as she turned to leave, something
groaned.
    She stopped, took a deep breath and swung around
again to face the darkness. The groan repeated itself, reaching out
from the gloom like a disembodied spirit.
    Someone was in pain.
    "Hello?" Her voice echoed eerily off the walls. "Is
someone there?"
    She waited, but there was no answer, nothing at all
except the hollow silence. Uncertain now, actually doubting
herself, she squinted into the darkness. She had heard something,
but without any further guidance, it would be impossible—and
foolhardy, her mind whispered—to try to find the source.
    She reached instinctively for the smooth disk of her
pendant, the cool feel of its silver casing calming her. Another
rustling sound filled the mine shaft and she released the necklace,
taking a hesitant step forward. This time the noise was followed by
a muffled curse.
    She sucked in a breath. "Can you hear me?" Silence.
"I want to help, but I can't find you in the dark without a little
guidance." She waited, but everything remained quiet. Finally,
giving up, she turned to go, moving up the slight slope toward the
entrance.
    "Wait." The single word echoed through the cavern,
somewhere between a plea and a command.
    Hairs rose on the back of her neck, but she turned
around anyway, caution warring with compassion.
    "I'm…over…here." The voice was louder now and
decidedly male. Compassion won out by a nose.
    She stepped over the line of light and moved around a
bend into complete darkness. Groping for the wall, she tried to get
her bearings. If she remembered correctly, the tunnel went on for
forty feet or so, then turned again to go deeper into the mountain,
before deadending into solid rock. Hopefully, the owner of the
voice wasn't too far ahead.
    "Can you hear me?" She waited, heart still
pounding.
    "I'm here." His voice was weak, but clear. "I don't
suppose