“You want Gobble’s help?” He flitted in front of me to grin with those sharp teeth and I suddenly felt hesitant. From what Cosette said, I shouldn’t make a deal with him. Not unless I really, really, really needed it. I wasn’t that desperate. Not yet, at least.

“You can do this, Claudia. Trust yourself.”

But I didn’t. I couldn’t see any auras at all. It was all darkness ahead.

I moved the flashlight around, trying to see anything else, and then I realized I was an idiot. I couldn’t see anything past the beam of light.

I clicked it off. Once the glare was gone, I could see a faint glow somewhere ahead. “To the right.” I clicked the flashlight back on, and Lucas hit the lever for the right tunnel.

“Good work.”

I breathed out a sigh. “Thanks.”

The next hour was more of the same. We moved from tunnel to tunnel, taking twists and turns. Then our cart started picking up speed as we went down a hill.

We hit a bump and gained some air. My feet landed on the cart floor with a jarring thud. “Slow it down. You’re going too fast.”

“I know,” Lucas said.

A dip was coming up ahead of us—at least I hoped it was a dip. The closer we got, it looked like it was more drop-off than dip. I couldn’t see any tracks beyond it.

Oh my God. The tracks were ending. We were going to fall. And who knew how far down we’d fall. It could be miles.

We could die.

I grabbed Lucas’ arm. “Lucas.”

“I see it.”

“See what? The tracks freaking disappear!” My fingers dug into his skin. “Lucas! Stop the car. Now. Right now. We’re going too fast and that dip is way too sharp. We’ll fly off the track.”

“I know. The brake is broken, and we’re going too fast to jump.”

A cold sweat broke out across my brow. “You didn’t check the brake?” Why hadn’t I thought to check the brake?

“No. I didn’t check the brake.”

We sped closer and I finally got a good look. The dark spot ahead was a giant cave. The tracks ended over the yawning hole. “Oh my God. We’re going to die.” I griped him tighter, bracing for whatever impact we were headed for.

Gobble screeched and dug his nails into my shoulder. Then he let go, flitting off. Leaving us both to our fate.

I huddled down in the bottom of the cart, hoping for something to hold on to, but there was nothing.

“Hold on to me.” Lucas threw his body over mine, as we fell down. I wrapped my arms and legs around him as I screamed so loud my throat ached. And then I screamed some more.