Chapter 21
Maddox
“Sometimes, there is nowhere to go but down.”
— Surviving the Unseelie Lands, Author Unknown
Aterrible sound pierces the fog, like lightning striking an ancient tree, splitting it in two.
Except there is no tree, just a plank of wood beneath Nia Quill’s feet.
Nia’s wide eyes fly to mine.
My heart roars in my ears, screaming with fear. She must escape that board before it is too late. “Step forward. Slowly.” I climb to my feet, careful to keep from disturbing the bridge and making things worse.
She does not move. Her fear has made her freeze.
“Look at me. You need to get off the board. Just one step. That is all.” One step, and she will be safe. One step, and I will be able to reach her. I stretch my hand toward Nia’s immobile frame.
She lets out the smallest whimper, but the sound is too much for the plank, and the thing snaps in two.
Nia’s scream slices through me as she plunges into the void.
I race to where she stood only a second ago, searching for a way to save her, but there’s nothing I can do except suck in a deep breath and leap.
Dropping like a stone, I follow the haunting sound of her cry to where she tumbles into darkness.
Into nothing.
Her cries fall silent when I reach her.
Her eyes are closed as if she’s fallen asleep, limbs flailing akimbo as she tumbles. I wrap myself around her, holding her thin frame to mine, whispering that it will be all right even though there is no hope of survival.
Darkness thickens.
Pain explodes through my skull. My back. Followed by nothing at all.