Chapter 111: We Got Lucky

Maeve

21

Robbie was holding me and Rowan to his chest, his body trembling as he took deep, strained breaths. The dust was clearing, the forest floor now visible through pockets of fog and debris. I blinked, my eyes ringing so violently it made my headache.

Rowan was fighting to free himself from Robbie’s grasp. Robbie let him go, and Rowan fell to his knees, coughing so hard his eyes began to water.

We were soaked from the rain and covered in mud. I looked around, turning in Robbie’s direction to face what was left of the entrance to the tunnel.

The hill was nothing but a pile of shattered stone and broken trees. I closed my eyes.

It was over-and at a tremendous cost.

TILE

“We have to go in for them,” I whispered weakly, unable to hide the pain in my voice. I hadn’t yet registered what had happened.

“Aye, we will. I think I can… I can move some of the rocks out of the way. I think-”

Rowan was already frantically pulling rocks from the entrance, screaming curses as he ripped splintered tree branches from the rubble. He was calling for Hanna, his voice

so desperate it brought hot, painful tears to my eyes. I swallowed against my own fear and grief.

The three of us had been the only ones to make it out.

The trees rustled above us, their bare branches scratching against each other. The forest seemed to moan, the sound echoing through the clearing sounding almost like the cry of a woman, someone hurt.

Someone dying.

Robbie held me close as a huge, violent gust of wind whipped through the space, nearly knocking us over. I knew it was her, Tasia, and as soon as the wind ceased, the sky gave way to stillness once more…

I knew she was gone. Dead.

“Troy,” I cried, turning into Robbie’s chest as I began to cry.

“Were gonna get ’em,” Robbie assured me, but his voice betrayed his words. I could tell he was sure we would find them, but whether or not they were alive after being buried under several feet of rock and dirt was something he wasn’t confident in.

“Damn it!” Rowan cried as he began to toss rocks bigger than his head away from the pile of rubble. His hands were bloodied, torn, and oozing red as he dug and dug and dug.

Robbie let me go and went to him, leaving me standing in the clearing. I watched Robbie begin to move some of the bigger rocks out of the way, waiting, holding my breath.

I heard barking.

I looked around, unsure in which direction it came from. I heard it again, and this time Rowan and Robbie noticed as well. Robbie began to pull rocks away from the pile at a speed

that seemed unnatural. He bellowed at Rowan, telling my brother to get out of the way as he began to pull on the exposed roots of one of the trees that used to cover the hill.

help and the two

and Rowan only had a split second to jump out of its path before several large boulders broke loose from the pile and

attention to the large hole that was exposed in the

from the hole, and Robbie left Rowan to nurse his foot, jumping back onto

reached in, taking hold of someone, and pulled my mom out of the

said with a little laugh, “Ethan’s next

He was covered in mud and dust, his hair standing on end and his eyes flaming with fury and frustration as

down the rocks. He was limping badly, winching and cursing as he walked out into the center

out next, turning around to pull Keaton up. He said something to Robbie, and Robbie nodded in agreement before disappearing into the remains of the tunnel

from sobbing. He turned to me, smiling, and took what looked like the first deep

help him as he stumbled around the clearing. He locked eyes with me, narrowing them

edged with bitterness. He looked around the clearing, his eyes settling on each of us as he willed our obedience. No more magic, no more moonstones, no more epic quests

he was still a man of few words.

grievances as he fought against the dense thickets of brush in his attempt to go

me,

you okay?” she asked

my throat. Adrenaline was coursing through my veins, keeping me upright. “Okay. I’m going to-to go after him. Your dad

“A giant crab?”

to me, embracing me fully. She reached up, wiping the tears from my cheeks before kissing me soundly on the temple, resting her forehead against mine. “We’re

was all I could

her hand down my back before taking her leave, her

asked as he pressed me

bruises I had would

something when the tunnel caved in, but that’s all. I’ll be fine. Nothing

want to

We will.”

over Troy’s shoulder to where Keaton was standing, alone. Rowan was nowhere to be seen, and I realized he must have gone into the

“Is she dead? Hanna?”

then shook

not

emerge from the tunnel, holding a limp Hanna in his arms. He

Troy and stepped around him, noticing the blood on Hanna’s mouth

had tried

Maeve. It’s time to go home,” Rowan

past me and Troy without saying a word, disappearing into the

said dryly, dusting dirt

Troy began, but Keaton held up his hand

don’t know where he went.” Keaton crossed

was

in there, exactly?” Robbie

a deep breath, glancing at

We were spared, that’s all I can say. The tunnel came down on top of Ethan and Hanna, but that broken door fell on them first, blocking the rocks from crushing them. We just… we just waited. It was completely dark,”

hear him. We couldn’t see anything. That’s when you and Rowan started pulling the rocks away. Hanna refused to leave. She kept saying it wasn’t over. She was scared, trying to

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