Chapter 22 · Due

"Amy—"

The floor dropped under her boots.

She vanished first, one heel slipping into empty air. Her scream hit the stone walls and came back sharper. I lunged before I could think, drove off the solid ground, and caught her wrist as the broken floor opened beneath us both.

Her weight tore through my shoulder. Bone cracked. I slammed my free hand into the edge and felt the stone crumble under my fingers.

"I got you," I said.

Amy swung below me, boots kicking at nothing. "Qin!"

"Look at me. Don't look down."

Of course, she looked down.

The torchlight couldn't find the bottom. Mist curled far below, carrying the stink of wet earth, old blood, and meat left in summer. Something moved under it. Something large enough to pull the air with it.

"Qin!" Luke dropped onto his stomach and reached over the edge. "Give her to me."

"You drop her, I'll kill you before she hits the bottom."

"Fair warning. Now move her."

Amy's fingers slipped against mine. Her palm was slick with sweat.

"I can't hold—"

"You can," I cut in. "You can hold for five more seconds.