“Why?” Quinn asks. “Why come back? Figured out that leaving made you a horrible person? Or maybe you came back for some selfish reason? Can’t go on without me?”

You came back because it felt wrong. That natural impulse that’s been carved into you for your entire life. In the quiet whispers of your proud parents. In the heart-pounding cheers of full stadiums. Always reinforcing one truth: Win at all costs. Be the best. Fight hard and burn brighter. You have never doubted the righteousness of that feeling until now. So you came back.

Once, you’d have been too proud to admit that.

“I was wrong. You were right. Let me help.”

Quinn’s eyes narrow, but she gives you a conceding nod. You lead Trust forward and attach a line to the back of his saddle. Quinn uncoils the rope around her wrists and edges her way forward, allowing you to work with the slack. Calmly, you tie a pair of riding knots. After giving each of them a testing tug, you turn Trust around. Quinn doesn’t let go of the rope until she sees the light moving up the tunnel and Etzli’s body lifting slowly from the nightmare.

The two of you kneel at the edge of the quagmire together.

“I’m sorry.”

“I know,” Quinn replies. “Just…I know.”

Etzli dangles and bounces until her arms are in reach. Both of you lean down to help pull her up over the ledge. For a second, you imagine the shock Etzli will feel being pulled out by Quinn’s invisible hands, but then you remember she can see Quinn, too. The same way you saw hers and Revel’s spirits.

Etzli collapses face-first, heaving thick breaths. You stop yourself from groaning at the slick smears of mud she’s leaving on your brand-new leggings. Instead, you kneel down and push the girl’s hair away from her face. Each ragged breath beats back your disgust. She might be dirty, but at least she’s alive. Quinn was right. Abandoning Etzli would have been the same as signing her death sentence.

The room gives a shuddering jerk. It rocks you to your feet, sending both arms out for balance. Quinn’s hand catches your forearm and pulls you back to the safety of the wall. You both notice the pit below begin to move and glow. It’s like watching ocean waves during a storm. Something dark is rising up and you know it’s coming for you.

Quinn shoves you back toward Trust and helps Etzli to her feet.

“They’re resurfacing,” you shout. “We don’t want to be here when they do.”