Chapter 1

The opening in the cliff face looked slightly ominous, and Steve was feeling slightly reluctant about the need to enter. Was this really necessary? Why did this kind of thing happen to him? Well, he supposed, he had to for her sake. No one else was going to. He had researched the tide times and he knew he had three hours before high tide. He zipped up his jacket and went in to the darkened cave, grateful that he’d remembered to bring a torch.

As he walked slowly into the face of the cliff he went through many twists and turns, the cave sometimes becoming so low he had to crawl on his belly, and at other times becoming so thin it would dig into his stomach, chest and back, he was sure leaving bruises and scratches behind. It was after one such thin corridor that he first heard it. Her scream, echoing down the silent cave, reaching his ears like a whisper yet still chilling for the terror in that whispered scream was starkly and horribly clear. Still, the terror created an urgency in him and though he knew he had no idea where he was, or how much further there was to go he picked up his speed considerably, jogging when space allowed it.