Lorelei

I held my breath, my heartbeat a frantic, trapped rhythm against my ribs. The sound was so loud in the silence that I was sure it would give me away.

The air in the crate, thick with the cloying scent of moonflowers, suddenly felt thin, exiguous. Every one of my senses sharpened to a razor’s edge, straining against the oppressive darkness.

Then, a voice cut through the rumble of the truck. It was a low, angry growl, slithering between the stacks of crates.

“I know you’re in ...