By the time she sent the message to her boyfriend, panic had taken over.
That was when Michael Cole approached.
He wore the recognizable clothing of an authorized guide.
His voice was calm.
Professional.
He told her she had wandered into a dangerous section of the canyon.
“You’re lucky I found you.”
Tess was relieved.
Someone official.
Someone who knew the way out.
She told him she thought somebody had been following her.
Michael looked toward the cliffs.
His expression became serious.
“We need to move.”
That response confirmed her fear.
“Who is it?”
“Not here.”
He offered her water from a metal thermos.
Tess drank.
She remembered the liquid tasting slightly bitter.
She asked whether they were going back toward the overlook.
Michael told her a dust storm was approaching.
He knew a safer route.
A shortcut.
They walked toward the old observation tower.
Tess began feeling dizzy.
Her legs weakened.
“What was in the water?”
Michael caught her before she fell.
The next thing she remembered clearly was waking underground.
The door was locked.
Michael sat nearby.
