Free Red Sands by Nicholas Sansbury Smith Page A

tunnels had said shortly before his death. Something about how there was miles and miles of tunnels beneath the surface.
    The thought made Jeff pause. He loosened his grip on David’s hand, this time drawing protest. “No,” the boy said. “Let’s just stop here and rest.”
    Jeff gritted his teeth, ignoring his brother. He clicked the flashlight on and shone it over the passage. It flickered. His heart kicked as the beam faded out and then in again.
    â€œThe batteries,” David whispered.
    â€œI know.”
    Jeff reached for his brother and pulled him forward. Heel to toe, growing more anxious with every step. They needed to find another storeroom before the batteries failed.
    The thought of being stranded in complete darkness made Jeff want to run. But he couldn’t let himself lose control. His brother was counting on him. They had lost their dad, but they still had each other.
    Somewhere in the distance a metal thud rang out. The boys froze. Jeff felt David’s grip tighten. They listened.
    Another clang followed, and then a scratching noise like nails being dragged across a blackboard.
    David’s fingers dug into Jeff ’s palm.
    â€œWe need to go,” the boy said.
    Jeff shook his little brother’s hand. “No, be quiet.”
    He listened. The sound was coming from everywhere and nowhere. If they panicked they might run right into it. He needed to know where the monsters were before he decided what to do.
    With his heart galloping, he pulled his flashlight from his belt and handed it to David. Then he shouldered his rifle and gripped it just like his dad had taught him.
    At the end of the passage, a faint blue light crept across the floor. It intensified and grew into a pulsating sphere of blue. Jeff aimed his rifle down the center of the tunnel when David pulled on his arm.
    â€œHey,” Jeff whispered, anger rushing through him. He looked away from the tunnel to see his little brother running down the hallway behind him.
    â€œDavid,” Jeff said, in a voice just louder than a whisper. “Get back here!”
    But David wasn’t listening and the sound of his footsteps faded as he ran farther away, down the passage they’d just come from. Jeff hesitated, turning back to the glow and then to David. His outline was fading from sight.
    â€œCrap,” Jeff muttered. He ran after his brother as fast as he could.
    David had the flashlight out, the beam crisscrossing the path in front of him as he ran. The Spiders would see it for sure.
    â€œTurn it off!” Jeff yelled. This time his voice was louder, fueled by frustration. Behind him, he heard a Spider shriek. Risking a glance over his shoulder, he saw the blue light growing brighter. They were being followed.
    â€œOh no, oh no,” Jeff repeated. He wanted to cry. Up ahead, David had stopped in front of a steel metal door.
    Authorized Personnel Only.
    â€œWhat are you doing? Open it!” Jeff said, checking over his shoulder again. The glow now filled the entire passage.
    Jeff pushed past David and tried the handle. It clicked open, just as a Spider barreled into sight.
    Pushing the door, Jeff shoved his brother inside. Another terrifying screech echoed off the walls and he slammed the steel closed, locking the door and sealing the awful noise out.
    David stood in the center of the room, surrounded by old boxes. “You okay?” Jeff asked. He noticed the boy’s pants were wet around the crotch, the trail extending down his right leg.
    With his back to the door, Jeff scanned the room. More wooden crates and boxes lined the wall to his right. They were covered in dust so thick he couldn’t make out the labels. A yellowed map hung at an angle on the wall to the left. Finally , he thought, finally he could figure out where they were. He rushed over to the map and blew on the paper, a cloud of dust exploding in his face, causing him to sneeze.
    The door shook an instant