Read A Job From Hell (Ancient Legends #1) for Free Online

journey.

 
    The list went on and on with one point
stranger than the other. It was all gibberish to me, so I put the scroll back
on the podium and returned to the pit. The mud shimmered black. If Dallas got
lost, he’d never forgive me for finding the shed and not taking the gemstones. In
spite of my better judgment, I kneeled down, pulled my sleeves back and dived my
arms into the mud. I was up to my elbows when I reached the bottom. It didn’t
feel much different from the mud facials I usually spread on my face, just a
little warmer and smoother to the touch. Still, who knew what was lurking down
there, waiting to bite me? So, the sooner I finished the faster I could get
away from this place. Taking a deep breath, I patted the ground, ready to pull
back should something not feel right.
    The strong gust of wind rattled the door,
startling me. I flinched, stopping for a brief moment. When nothing moved, I
continued my search. Eventually my fingers brushed against something hard and I
pulled out a milky white gemstone the size of a walnut. My heartbeat quickened
as I dropped it inside the bag and went about fishing out more gemstones.
    The wind outside blew stronger, shaking the
glass in the window. I sat up, my arms aching from the effort of delving
through the thick mud and pulling out one stone after another. I didn’t know
how many I had, probably a dozen or more, all of them as large as the first one.
Larger than any stone I’d ever seen, and worth millions if they weren’t fake.
Dallas would be so proud of me.
    A twig snapped, making me jump. Maybe my
brother had found his way to the shed, or it was an animal searching for food. I
zipped up my backpack and slung it over my shoulder, then hurried out the door.
Something rattled in the distance. Chains? But that made no sense. Why would there be chains in the woods?
    “Dallas?” I whispered.
    Feet shuffled behind the trees to my right.
I snapped my head in that direction. Something or someone was out there, and
judging from the lack of answer it wasn’t my brother.
    The smell of damp earth and oncoming storm
lingered in the air. Fear grabbed hold of me as realization kicked in. Maybe
whoever followed us killed Dallas and was back to get me. I was alone in the
middle of nowhere. No one would ever hear my screams. My heart hammered like a
drum in my ears, stifling the usual sounds of the woods. My breathing came
shallow and labored as I leaned against the wall of the shed, unsteady on my
legs, my eyes scanning my surroundings. I feared my irregular panting would
betray my presence. When seconds passed and nothing moved, I breathed out,
feeling silly. The woods sheltered all sorts of creatures, mice, foxes and the
likes. They probably found me just as scary as I found them. My imagination was
running wild again. It used to do that a lot lately.
    Just to be on the safe side, I counted to
three and dashed down the path. When I reached the clearing I stopped, panting,
my sides burning from the effort. I leaned against a tree trunk and bent
forward, palms pressed against my thighs, to gather my breath. Something
shuffled through the thicket. My gaze darted toward the thick wall of bushes as
I straightened, ready to sprint again.
    A shadow stepped out of the darkness, his
long, black coat swaying in the cold breeze. “Drop your backpack,” a male voice
demanded. It was barely more than a whisper, but there was something in his
tone that left no doubt he usually got his way. I hesitated, frozen to the
spot. My mind screamed to run, but my legs wouldn’t budge. The man took a step
closer and lifted a gloved hand. Something thin like a long string swished past
me, leaving a trail of burning flames in the high grass. The air smelled of
burnt wood. “I said drop it. Or you won’t live to see tomorrow.”
    I stared at him, wide-eyed. Should I give
up the bag? What was the point since he’d kill me anyway? Whatever happened, I
wouldn’t give up without putting up a