XV
Jasmine crawled across the ground, struggling to see clearly as shimmering light engulfed the bog.
She was out of breath.
Something had struck her in the chest. Hard.
Her sternum throbbed, and all she remembered was that she opened one of the steel chests and the area filled with light. Her crew had started yelling and her heart had started racing and the only thing she could think to do was call Miri.
One moment she had been talking to Miri and the next—she was on her back, gasping.
She hadn’t even seen what hit her.
All around, screams, groaning, and coughing. She tasted bitter earth and dead weeds, and spit a clod out of her mouth, gagging. A smell that reminded her of stale smoke, misty river water and clove overwhelmed her.
She couldn’t see anything. God, it was so bright!
