Chapter 80: Tunnel

My first instinct was to grab my phone and call someone. But if I called Liam, he might actually show up, and that could cause some issues if Mr. Kline was still here. He could bring his gang, but that could start a huge battle. I had no idea what I was going to find.
Instead, I returned to my locker and grabbed my purse. I scratched out a note and stuck it on the hood of the hornet. If Liam did come looking for me, he would know where to find me. "In the tunnel in the storage room."
There, I did my due diligence. I wasn't a complete idiot. Well, maybe I was. I clutched my purse tight to me and headed for the tunnel. Perhaps I was just overreacting. I stood in front of the dark tunnel. It seemed cold. I brought up the flashlight from my keys and stepped forward into it. After a little way, there was a metal spiral staircase. I took the steps one at a time as I tried to see lower.
The staircase must have dropped two stories before it finally spilled out onto level ground. The tunnel continued forward. Maybe I should turn back. I hadn't found anything interesting yet. I should go just a little further.
I continued my trek forward. I kept the light low to the ground, not that it would really help. The walls were stone bricks. They looked like they had been down here for ages. Certainly, this was way older than Grocer Outlet. Maybe it was like one of those tunnels they used to smuggle booze in back in the twenties. I wondered if this was a bar back then.
The tunnel ended at an iron door. I pushed my ear against it. I couldn't hear anything beyond the door. I brought my power to my fingers again but hesitated. Did I really want to know what was behind it? I should just give up and run. That would be the smart thing to do. Come back with an army of people. Except if Mr. Kline was here, he could turn that army against me. Or, better yet, turn me and use me to control them. That was probably the least smart option.
I pushed the power into the door. "Open," I commanded.
I throttled the power. The door shook. The metal clanked against the hinges. I pushed more power until it. It rattled, filling the tunnel with echoes. I cut off the power. That was strange. I looked deeper. The door glowed with a red aura. If I had a guess, I would say the door was spelled with someone else's magic. I was new to it, but with Lanie's knowledge, that seemed to be what was going on.
Well, unless I decided to blow the hinges off the door again, I should probably just turn around and go back. I found a weird tunnel. It may not mean anything, but it was something. I turned around and started walking. I stopped. My flashlight lit up a pair of brown leather shoes. I froze.
"Kira?" Mr. Kline's voice echoed through the hallway.
He stood right in front of me. My flashlight slowly rose to illuminate his midsection and some of his face.
"I... a... Mr. Kline."
"Did we get a little curious?"
I struggled for words. I was so stupid. I shouldn't have gone down here. Now I was trapped between him and an iron door. "Yes, sir. I'm sorry. I was cleaning out the storage area. I was so surprised when the shelf moved. Is this a prohibition tunnel?"
Mr. Kline studied my face for a moment. "Why, yes, actually. It was created in 1922. They moved alcohol all the way from the edge of town to this bar. It was called The Grange."
"That's very interesting." I plastered on my fake smile. "Do you know any more about it?" I started moving towards him like I was headed out of the tunnel.
"Of course! The Grange was not only a bar but the biggest gang hangout in town. They used to rob the train stations and hold up the banks. Those were good times."
"They were?" I asked. I pointed my hand forward so he would start moving back towards the entrance. I knew if I distracted him with something interesting, he would completely lose track of what he was going to do. It was usually why I never talked to him because I would get roped into an hour-long conversation about something pointless.
"Well, yeah." He started walking. "The gang had fifty members, which at the time was a lot. They owned three stables in town, and after a good battle, they owned this town. They had a great fortune. It was like a treasure trove." The way he said it made him sound like he was reminiscing about the good old days.
"What was your favorite story about them?"
"That would be the time we took down a bank. Shot up a dozen lawmen and another twenty that rode in from the city."
"We?"
He started climbing the stairs. "Oh, I just me we because I feel like we here at Grocer Outlet are an extension of them."
"We are an extension of a bunch of outlaws? We aren't stealing from people or killing anyone."
"Oh, no, not like that. Just like an evolution of our history."
"Right. Tell me another of their stories." I wanted to keep him talking so he would keep walking. And I was now wondering if he was way older than I initially thought.
"There was this other time where they hung all the men in the streets and took their women and children. That was how they got the whole town to be loyal to them."
"That sounds awful."
"No, that is just how things were done back then. It wasn't about money, but about loyalty."
"Right." I needed to get the fuck out of here. "Loyalty is very important."
"It is. If they are not on your side, then you need to make a show of it. It's too hard trying to control people you can't trust." He pushed open the shelf.
"You have to exploit the weaknesses, right?"
"Exactly, Kira. See you understand." He turned to look at me.
I nodded. I inched around him to the open door of the storeroom.
"See, it is essential to have complete control of your minions."
I tried to step back away from him through the door. My foot wouldn't move. I focused on the auras. His black aura was wrapped around me. I didn't even feel it until he tightened it like a noose.
"And Kira, I want your loyalty." He stepped towards me.
"Oh, you completely have it, Mr. Kline. I am a dutiful worker of Grocer Outlet for two years now." I saluted. He still hadn't taken hold of my arms yet, but I could feel them move like they were caught in a snare.
"Well, see Kira, I don't completely believe you. I've been around for a long time. I know when one of my apples goes sour."
"I'm not sour, Mr. Kline. I promise. I'm good worker."
He stepped towards me. "I know you are." He pulled a piece of hair back off my shoulder. He smelled like beard oil.
I wanted to gag. I wanted to run. I felt my mind panicking. I had to get out of here.
"I need you to prove your loyalty."
"Anything. I'll do anything you want, Mr. Kline." I stammered. I tried to step back, but his magic held me in place. It tipped me closer to him instead.
"Good. Now Kira, prove how loyal you are to me."
My body leaned into him. My lip pressed against his bearded mouth. My insides cringed. The tears behind my eyes wanted out, but his power wrapped around me so tight they wouldn't come. His mouth began to open. I did not want this. I did not want any part of this.