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Of course he was terrified after nearly drowning in his basement That hy Matthew had been so pensive—he’d known this was in our future So why not give us a heads-up? “Swio back the e caht,” he said The flashlights were already flickering “And we’re getting close Feel that air breezing?” He pointed toward the black expanse in front of us “We’ve got to be near the end”
Finn said, “Don’t stop on my account I’d rather swi quake What sounded like larger boulders dropped in the distance, exploding against the ground
“I can help Finn across,” Selena said, “but we need to push on Any et trapped down here Look at the roof trusses” She tilted her light up
Massive lengths of wood bowed under the weight of boulders, curving like the ribs on a ship O sounds echoed
In a rush, the water started rising even faster To navigate that in the dark?
“WATER WATER!” Mattheas hysterical I was getting therely cold “Listen topool You were a terror in the pool, non? As soon as you’re across, coo-yôn will be cla to follow you”
Matthew had been trau hi water?
Lark said, “Look, I’ll go first” She bounded into the water, diving in an arc like a porpoise Her rats were dislodged, paddling in her wake When she surfaced soh the water—until she disappeared into the murk
Mo” Even her echoing voice conveyed her impatience She’dto follow Lark And then you and Jack will swi my ears
“Coo-yôn, listen to ht back for you? I’ll be beside you the whole way”
Matthew seized ! Death!”
With aposition, then jogged off to scout the way back
Jack tried to pull Matthew offout of time, kid!”
“Nooo, EI reeled, dizziness and another tre me onto my ass “It’s o-okay, honey, just calling up like pick-up sticks There’s only one way to go”
“Cal ar man on land
“Sorry ’bout this, boy” Jack drew back his fist and popped Matthew in the face
Matthew lurched, flashed a wounded expression, then went liround “We doan have ti with you first”
“No, you have to stay with Matthew! Make sure he gets across I’ll be fine—just like you said, I’m a t-terror in the pool”
“No way, Evie” He curled his finger underether, Matthew in tow” He pressed a brief kiss to my lips, then reached for h to carry”
After a pause, he nodded “Then in you go, bébé You can do this” He turned to Selena “You got Finn?”
She helped hiht behind you, JD”
I hurried in, the shock of the cold water hitting me like a blizzard’s blast At the drop-off, I treaded water, startled by how ht back at the shore, saw Jack dragging Matthew’s lanky fra the boy onto his back, Jack looped one arm around Matthew’s chest and started after et to the other side”
Teeth clattering, I started across, holding the light with one hand Farther out, the water was rougher, waves battering me The chill temperature numbed my limbs, but I was able to
The quakes continued, rocks falling A softball-size one struck me square on the head Pain erupted, faintness al! I breathed in water, coughing on it
Thefro down into the water “Jack!” I shrieked
“Keep on, Evie—”
An entire shelf of rock landed behind me with so much force, the percussion was a punch tohtless for a briefwater, the force flinging round was a washboard of grit and rock scouring hs, I heard Jack yelling from what sounded like miles away The wave must’ve hurled hi So dizzy Wait, where was Lark?
—I’LL MAKE A FEAST OF YOUR BONES!—
Ogen’s call Close Panicked, I scrale Broken? I collapsed right onto my wasted face
Selena screamed, “Evie, they’re here! Watch your six!” To Finn, she snapped, “Light it up now, Magician, or she’s done!”
With a yell, Finn threw a bea the shaft in front ofin full black ar these werea scythe—looked less horrific than his actual appearance
Selena launched a volley of arrows, one after the other, what must have been an entire quiver
He batted them away like flies “Come with me, Elow behind his visor “Ogen’s striking thethe quakes? “If I do not stay hiazed over h the falling debris and spraying water
“Nooo!” he bellowed, desperately trying to reachMatthew’s head above water
In a bored tone, Death said, “Sooner or later, theto save you”
I choked out, “What d-do you want?” Behind Death, I could see a cloudy dawn light strea into the shaft We’d been so close Had he already loved hand “And my allies and I will leave yourfriends to their fates Takecloser “Evie, goddaazed into Jack’s tormented eyes Rocks struck like , but had to realize he’d never get to me in time When a boulder nearly took him and Matthew both down into the depths, I knew I had to end this
Even if itmyself
“Make the choice,” Death said “Bend your will to ht arm was broken I had no poison, no arsenal Didn’t ood arm, I reached for Death
Even over the ruht I heard Jack rasp, “Bébé??” Then louder: “Doan you do this!”
I gasped out, “T-take care of hi th I had left, hyperventilating, dullingit