Free MiNRS by Kevin Sylvester Page B

comfortable.
    “I’m tired,” I heard Darcy cry to Finn. “I need to stop.”
    I pulled to the side and leaned against the wall, waving for everyone to pass.
    “Keep moving,” I said. “Take the third turn on your left. Mandeep knows where to go from there.”
    Mandeep nodded as she passed.
    Finn and Darcy caught up with me and stopped. Darcy sat on the floor, on the verge of tears, her eyes wide with terror.
    Finn was puffing from the effort of pulling her along. “You rock, Finn, but I think you need a break.”
    Finn smiled. “Thanks, Chris.” He turned to Darcy, “I’m going to run ahead. If you catch me, you can have my chocolate dessert!”
    Darcy didn’t move.
    “I’m going,” Finn said, turning and dramatically beginning to run. “Oh no, I better get going!” he said.
    I leaned down to Darcy and said, “I’ll carry you for a while. We can get him!”
    I swung my pack around so it was on my chest, then I picked up Darcy and hoisted her onto my back. “Wrap your arms around my neck,” I said. Then we started to run.
    Finn gave a shriek of mock panic as we began to chase him, and Darcy actually giggled. I could have hugged Finn right then.
    We alternated our path, Finn sometimes pretending to get tired and then sprinting again just as we approached him. Darcy even climbed down to run the last bit.
    As we made our final turn, I could hear the sounds of the others up ahead. They’d reached the end of the twists and turns, and were collapsed in a semicircle on the floor, their headlamps glowing up and down the walls. They fought to catch their breath. Jimmi was lying down. He looked completely beat.
    Darcy ran up to Finn and pretended she and Friendly were attacking him.
    “Grrrr!” she growled.
    Finn laughed as much as he could while he was winded, and fell to the floor, playing dead.
    I leaned over, hands on my knees and fought the urge to throw up. I was covered in sweat. I checked my watch. The trip had taken us about half the day. Time-wise, we weren’t very far from the entrance. But mathematically, I felt we were safe. I did a quick calculation of all the various other possible tunnel combinations. If someone were following us, they’d have to guess right at each step to find us.
    Unless, of course, Alek told them the sequence. Why had he stayed?
    Maria stood up. “I’m so hungry. Did anyone grab some extra snacks?”
    “Did you?” Pavel asked.
    “What’s that supposed to mean?” Maria asked.
    Pavel shrugged. “I’m not sharing my stash with anyone.”
    “What a jerk,” Maria said.
    “What did you call me?”
    “What you are.” Maria took a step toward Pavel, who stood up and looked ready to fight.
    I hurried in between them and held my arms out.
    “I know we’re all on edge,” I said. “And I know I was probably a little hyper about moving out so fast.”
    “No kidding,” Pavel said.
    “But fighting each other isn’t going to solve anything. Let’s just set up a new camp. We can figure out the food and water situation later. I still have some extra chocolate bars.” I took a handful out of my backpack and tossed one to Maria and one to Pavel.
    Pavel let his hit his chest and fall to the ground. He didn’t take his eyes off Maria.
    “First I want her to apologize,” Pavel said through gritted teeth.
    Maria took a bite of chocolate.
    I looked at her, hoping my arched eyebrows would get across how important this was.
    She lowered her hands. “Pavel, I’m sorry . . . sorry you’re a selfish jerk!”
    Pavel lunged. I pushed him back, but not before he took a swing that connected with my nose.
    The blood seemed to shock Maria and Pavel back to their senses.
    “I’m—I’m sorry, Christopher,” Pavel sputtered. “It was an accident.”
    Maria also sounded contrite. “Yeah. Sorry. There’s just, you know, a lot of stuff right now. . . .”
    I nodded, holding my nose between my fingers. I pointed at Pavel, but I looked at Maria.
    She lowered her head but