Three Miles Below

Three Miles Below

by Kevin Hopson

Genre:  Sci-Fi

Tags: Mining, underground, disaster, apocalyptic, science fiction, short story, suspense, thriller, aliens

Editor: Christine I. Speakman

Line Editor: Penny Ehrenkranz

Cover Designer: Marion Sipe

WORDS: 4458  

PAGES: 21    

PRICE: $1.99

ISBN 978-1-77127-183-7

Back Cover:

When an earthquake hits, Mackenzie and two of his co-workers are forced to take shelter in a refuge chamber three miles below ground, uncertain of the damage around and above them. Weighing their options, the three must decide whether to stay put or take their chances climbing to the surface, though making it to ground level is just half of the battle.

Excerpt:

I placed the hard hat atop my head, fitting the goggles snug to my face. Daemon and Tayt followed suit. We also wore gloves, dust masks, knee guards, and forearm guards. Despite there being some natural ventilation throughout the mine, the air quality likely had deteriorated.

“I’ll go first,” Daemon said.

Not wanting to debate, I stepped aside, granting him his wish. Kneeling next to the hatch, I grasped the giant wheel handle with both hands, Tayt ultimately coming to my aid.

“You know, Daemon.” I chuckled. “You should be the one doing this.”

“You got that right, Mack,” Tayt teased.

Daemon grinned as he towered over us.

The handle finally budged, allowing me to push the door ajar. Just as Daemon bent down to stick his head out, another quake struck. Small rocks, dirt, and dust descended from the tunnel roof outside, at least from what I could see with my head lamp. Daemon, still hunched over, blocked the chamber exit, effectively sheltering me and Tayt from the falling debris. The trembling subsided a few seconds later.

“That sounded shallow,” Daemon commented.

“It’s not uncommon,” I replied, “especially with weaker quakes.”

“They’re definitely close,” Tayt added.

I looked up at Daemon. “I think it’s safe for the time being, so let’s move while we can.”

He helped me back to my feet and then took the lead.

Once outside the chamber, I lifted my head to the ceiling, aiming my light at the view above. Tiny pockets of debris, mostly rock particles, peppered my goggles on the way down. Steel frames, reinforced with nine-inch nails, supported the weight of the rock face around us, while safety mesh kept larger fragments from falling through.

About the Author:

Prior to hitting the fiction scene in 2009, Kevin was a freelance writer for nearly ten years, covering everything from finance to sports. He has four books with MuseItUp Publishing – World of Ash, Earthly Forces, Early Release for Bad Behavior, and Three Miles Below. Kevin’s primary focus is in the dark fiction, science fiction, paranormal, and crime fiction genres.

Customer Reviews:

THREE MILES BELOW is a short suspense tale by multi-published King of Spine Chills, Kevin Hopson and is another Hopson winner.rnrnNot that long ago the world watched the rescue of miners trapped miles beneath the surface with baited breath and angst filled anticipation. But we all watched from the safety of our television screens...here, above the dangers threatening the lives of men who daily risk their tomorrows miles below our realities. This is a story about such men...Three of them...we open our focus on them AFTER an earthquake has isolated them three miles down.rnrnDo they stay and hope the situation above ground is not so rife with destruction and confusion and will allow for their rescue? Or do they assume the worse...it is up to them to make the long, dangerous trek, through the debris and aftershocks and hope their generator still works well enough once they reach the elevator shaft, to take them the rest of the way to the surface?rnrnHere, within my rapidly increasing heartbeat, my eyes darting across my Kindle screen, and my bones clacking nervously, I LIVED the climb...I felt the dangers and ultimately was awed by the surprising ending.rnrnKevin Hopson truly is a KING at grabbing me, his reader, tightly in his story telling fist and squeezing every imaginable emotion from my body and soul...and I do mean EVERY emotion...I never would have suspected, given the level of danger, to laugh, but Kevin made me laugh!rnrnThank you Kevin Hopson for making me ride your version of an emotional roller coaster.rnrnIt is easy for me to award THREE MILES BELOW five stars.rnrnJust as it was for me to award them for his other titles:rnrnWORLD OF ASHrnEARTHLY FORCESrnEARLY RELEASE FOR BAD BEHAVIORrnrnIn short I am rapidly becoming addicted to this author's short grab me by the edge of my seat spine tinglers. So Mr. Hopson, KEEP THEM COMING, PLEASE!

This is a great and suspenseful story that will hold your attention captive from the begining to the end. rn Imagine being trapped in mine and trying your very best to not only get you out but get the men, your friends, out with you. The horror and fear the characters feel in this story jumps from the pages right into your mind and you are able to feel it too. Kevin Hopson is able to write with enough detail and emotion to allow you to not only read but live the story.

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