Chapter 86: A Desperate Gamble

Caitlin awoke slowly, facedown in the dirt, her body feeling heavy as lead. Her throat throbbed with raw pain, and the sweet, metallic taste of blood lingered in her mouth. Disoriented and nauseous, she struggled to focus, sensing that the sun was high in the sky. Cold and confused, she pushed herself onto her knees, only to feel the world spin violently. She had to lower her head again, pressing her forehead to the ground to stave off fainting. She had never felt so weak, so utterly powerless. Fear gnawed at the edges of her mind. Gradually, awareness returned. She scrambled across the dirt floor, her hands and knees scrabbling against the earth until she found the cool, rough surface of the wall. Pressing her back against it, Caitlin stared in horror at the coffin that lay across the room. The man inside appeared lifeless, his chest still, his skin pale and gray like death. She pressed a shaking hand to her mouth to stifle a sob. **Dead or not, she wouldn’t go near him again.** Bu