To Hell and Back Read Free Page B

better of it.
    Alaire exhaled slowly, the only sound on the other line the tapping of his fingernails. “As I understand it, then, you are lost in the Dark Wood and all alone?”
    “No and yes.”
    The cadence of his fingernail tapping increased. “As the Dark Wood is not part of the Underground City, I am sadly unable to protect you.”
    “Then I guess I’ll have to protect myself,” I responded haughtily. “I definitely wouldn’t want my death to be the reason for missing our dinner date.” I couldn’t help my acidic laugh.
    “Nor would I, my lady, nor would I.”
    “And on that happy note, I’m going to hang up,” I said quickly. “I should be paying attention to my surroundings, rather than this conversation.”
    “On that subject, we shall agree for once,” he answered. “Please do be careful, my dear, and one word of advice if you will welcome it?”
    “What?” I grumbled.
    “Enable your phone’s flashlight capability if it has one—the light will keep the creatures of the Dark Wood at bay.”
    “Okay,” I answered, thinking his advice was surprisingly sound. “Good-bye, Alaire.”
    “Good-bye, my dear Ms. Harper.”
    I clicked the button to end the conversation and then clicked on the settings icon and located the flashlight button. I turned the flashlight on and immediately felt more comfortable as soon as the phone brightened the path in front of me. If there was one good thing about the Underground City, it was that it was surrounded by a strong electric force field that enabled anything electrical, which meant Bill’s phone would maintain a full battery. At least, that’s what Tallis had told me. I could only hope the same rule applied in the Dark Wood.
    I plopped the phone back into my fanny pack and felt a tug on the end of my sword, which indicated I should make a sharp right. I did as instructed and felt energy beginning to vibrate up the cold metal. I was suddenly overcome with the feeling that I had finally reached my destination.
    I held the phone up and in the bright light, I tried to make out the lines of Tallis’s cabin but was only greeted with the remains of a few gnarled tree trunks. I took a few steps forward and heard the unmistakable sounds of rustling in the undergrowth. And undergrowth, i.e., bushes, could only mean one thing—I had to have reached an area of the Dark Wood which nourished life. I felt elation begin to grow in my gut because the only section of the Dark Wood which boasted anything living was the same place where Tallis lived.
    “I’m here, Tallis,” I whispered.

“Already sinks each star that was ascending”
– Dante’s Inferno
    TWO
     
    I wasn’t sure if I should have knocked on Tallis’s front door, or just opened it, or what. I lingered outside for another second or two before reminding myself that Tallis was in trouble, so timing was of the utmost importance. I needed to take action … now. Clenching my sword in my left hand, I pushed against the door, which immediately swung open. I stepped back and watched the door close again while my Scooby senses went on high alert. Ordinarily, Tallis was much better about security. When living in the Dark Wood, one had to be overly conscientious about one’s surroundings … As a rule, Tallis’s door was locked from the inside if he were home, or the outside if he wasn’t. With my heart lodged in my throat, I leaned my right arm against the large, wooden door, which yielded immediately, making a whining sort of noise.
    Inhaling deeply, I stepped inside, closing the door behind me. The inside of Tallis’s humble abode was dark and eerily quiet. It didn’t feel like the same place I was accustomed to. Usually, there was a fire burning in the hearth and the scent of hearty stew flavored the air. Now, however, the acrid odor of alcohol overwhelmed the small space. And there was no warmth from a fire. The air was crisp and cold. It caused goose bumps to ride up my naked arms and midriff. As luck