Page 3 of In Her Dreams
“The perfect cover,” Jenna countered.“No one pays attention to this part of town anymore.The mine was officially sealed off long ago.Who’d think to look there?”
The houses thinned out as they drove deeper into what locals called the Backside—the part of Trentville that had thrived during the coal boom and withered when the mine closed.Most of the remaining residents were those who couldn’t afford to move elsewhere.
“There it is,” Jenna said, pointing ahead to where the road curved around a steep, tree-covered hill.
The entrance to the Trentville Coal Mine was barely visible from the road—a gash in the hillside partially obscured by overgrown bushes and a chain-link fence that had long ago been trampled in several places.A faded sign, its paint peeling and letters barely legible, warned trespassers away.
Jenna pulled the patrol car off the road, positioning it so it wouldn’t be immediately visible from the main street but could be spotted by someone specifically looking for it.
“Shouldn’t we call for backup?”Jake asked as they exited the vehicle.
“Based on what?A dream?”
The morning air was crisp against Jenna’s face, carrying the scent of damp earth and early spring vegetation.She popped the trunk and retrieved two flashlights, handing one to Jake.“I need something concrete before I call in Colonel Spelling or even anyone on our own team.”
She also grabbed a small crowbar, the cool metal reassuring against her palm.
“Fair point,” Jake conceded, checking his service weapon before securing the holster.“But if we do find something, we call for backup immediately.No heroics.”
“Agreed.”
They approached the mine entrance cautiously.What had once been a wide opening reinforced with timber supports was now a jumble of weathered plywood sheets and two-by-fours, nailed haphazardly across the entrance.Spray-painted warnings had faded to ghostly remnants.
“This mine powered the town for nearly seven decades,” Jenna said, studying the boarded entrance.“My great grandfather worked here before he opened his hardware store.When the veins dried up, so did a lot of Trentville’s prosperity.It took decades for the town to thrive again.”
Jake ran his hand along one of the boards.“Some of these have been removed and put back recently,” he observed, pointing to where nails had been extracted and reinserted.“See the fresher scratch marks?The lack of rust on these nails compared to the others?”
Jenna nodded, impressed and unsurprised by his observation.Jake had the eye of a detective, one of the many reasons she valued him as her deputy.
“Let’s get in there,” she said, positioning the crowbar against one of the more recently disturbed boards.
The wood groaned in protest as she applied pressure.Jake added his strength, and with a splintering crack, the board gave way.They worked methodically, removing only what was necessary to create an opening large enough for them to slip through.
The darkness beyond the entrance was absolute, swallowing their flashlight beams within a few yards.Cool, musty air wafted out from the opening, carrying the mineral tang of underground water and the earthy scent of undisturbed soil.
“Smells like a tomb,” Jake muttered, switching on his flashlight.
Jenna activated her own light and drew her service weapon, holding it alongside the flashlight in a firm grip.She ducked through the opening first, her boots crunching on loose gravel and debris.
The main tunnel stretched before them, disappearing into gloom.The ceiling was supported by timber beams placed at regular intervals, most showing signs of rot but still holding.Their flashlight beams caught dancing motes of dust and occasional glints of moisture on the stone walls.
“Watch your step,” Jenna cautioned, noticing how uneven the floor had become over years of neglect.“And keep an eye out for sink holes or shaft openings.”
They moved forward cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the confined space.The weight of the earth above them pressed down, not physically but psychologically—a constant reminder of how isolated they were.
“How far does this go?”Jake whispered, his voice carrying in the stillness.
“Miles, according to the records at City Hall.With dozens of branching tunnels and vertical shafts.”Jenna swept her flashlight along the walls, noting the occasional tool marks still visible in the rock.“We’re looking for signs of recent activity.Footprints, trash, anything out of place.”
The main tunnel began to slope downward, leading them deeper into the earth.The air grew cooler, the silence more profound.Only the sound of their breathing and the occasional drip of water from unseen sources broke the quiet.
After what felt like an eternity but was probably only fifteen minutes of careful progress, they reached a fork in the tunnel.The left passage continued to slope downward, while the right remained level.
Jenna directed her flashlight beam down both options, seeing nothing to guide her.“Left,” she decided.“If they’re hiding people, they’d want to keep them deep, away from any chance of sounds carrying to the surface.”
They had taken only a few steps in that direction when Jake suddenly stopped and gripped Jenna’s arm.
“Wait,” he whispered, his head tilted slightly.“Did you hear that?”
