“It's just a cellar, Anika,” she tells herself, but why does it feel like stepping into a nightmare. Her hands are sweaty and shaking, and she tells herself, “Just drop it and go.” She places the tray on the closest shelf and turns to leave.
“Need help?” Glenn smothers a laugh when she screams in terror. Her large blue eyes are wide, and she whirls in a panic to run. The door slams shut above them casting them into total darkness.
Savannah slams the door, ignoring the startled scream from below and slides the lock into place. She whistles and walks back to the house. One cup of coffee should be enough time, or maybe two? These two people need a little push in the right direction. What harm could come from giving them a little alone time? She is chuckling as she walks up the back steps into the kitchen.
“Damn!” Glenn snarls and places the lantern on the nearest stone ledge. It creates a soft glow. “Don’t move, let your eyes adjust.”
“No, no, no,” Anika mumbles and turns looking past him for an escape. “Not again, no…” she moans and runs her hands along the wall, looking for a way out. Panic flows in and she gasps for breath.
Glenn realizes quickly that she’s in trouble. “Anika, look at me. You’re safe here.” He reaches for her only to leap back when she shouts at him.
“No! I can’t breathe!” She tries to run back up the steps and push on the door, but it is too heavy. “Oh, God!” She lifts her skirt and runs down the steps, gasping for breath.
“It’s okay, Savannah is just playing a trick on us. You’re safe.” Glenn approaches her slowly, like a wounded animal, only to stop moving when she backs away from him shaking her head in terror. When her hand goes to her throat, he realizes that she is in a full panic.
“I can open it,” he runs up the steps and pushes hard, but it is latched shut. “Damn.” He shouts for help, praying someone will hear him. Most of the pickers have left for the day, even his Father is at home. The sounds coming from Anika terrify him.
When he turns, she is looking around desperately for a way out. Her hands are running along the walls pushing at the limestone blocks praying for an escape and begging someone to help her. “Please, oh... please, let me out, not again…”
Glenn corners her in the back of the cellar. “Stop!” He shouts. Anika pushes back against the cold stones and sees a large, looming, dark shadow of a man. “It’s Glenn. You know me. I would never hurt you,” he calls to her softly.
“Anika, I'm here. See me,” he whispers, and steps towards her. One hand reaches out drawing her towards him. “That's right, you aren't alone.” Tears stream down her face, and she seems to understand for the first time.
“Glenn?”
“Yes, come here,” he pleads, and she rushes into his open arms and sobs.
“Don't let go,” she begs. Anika balls her hands into his shirt and holds on for dear life. In that moment she doesn't care about propriety, only that he is holding her, and it feels like heaven.
“Not a chance.” Finally, his soul shouts, she is where she belongs. When she looks up at him, he wipes her tears away with his thumbs, and she is lost.
“Glenn…” she whispers and drags his mouth to hers, knocking his hat to the dirt floor. Neither resists the pull as if they could. He kisses her like his life depends on it. Deep, ravenous, hot and intense and she's swept away. Glenn lifts her against his body and spins, pressing her against the cold limestone walls.
All her panic is forgotten as her body responds to his touch. He groans and rips his mouth away from hers. Anika stares at him in total shock, intending to apologize but he isn’t ready just yet to let her go. This time his mouth takes her slowly.
“Anika, you taste like Heaven,” he murmurs as his tongue traces her lips. Moist heat, hot and heady, flows through them and she buries a hand in his long hair, praying he never lets her go. She kisses him back, memorizing the flavor that is his and groans when he pulls away.
“Are you guys okay?” Savannah calls and struggles with the weight of the door.
Glenn slides her to the ground and takes a deep breath. He grabs her hand, pulling her along behind him. “It’s jammed, Savannah…” he starts to say, but she has managed to pry it open allowing light to flood in. His eyes narrow in fury.
“I’m so sorry, it must have blown shut.” Glenn drops Anika’s hand and stomps up the steps, causing his sister to back away from him.
“Our lives are not some game for you to play with, Savannah!” he rumbles in a low voice.
Savannah’s takes another step back from her brother. “I didn’t mean to cause trouble, Glenn.”
“I think you meant to do exactly what you did. Mind your own business from now on.” Glenn leaves without looking back, and Anika has yet to emerge from the cellar. Slowly she ascends, one step at a time, and when Savannah sees her, she gasps. The tracks of her tears can't be erased, but the haunted look in her eyes is heartbreaking.
“Anika, are you okay?”
“I, I don’t like enclosed spaces.”
Savannah hugs her
