“Help!” she screamed. “I can’t hold on.”

Another loud crack as the floor started to give way.

Xander grabbed her wrists. He tried, but he wasn’t strong enough to lift her out. Priya was going to fall in.

Chapter Ten

Xander could feel his grip on Priya slipping. She clawed at the floor, trying to grab anything.

“I can’t…hold on…much longer,” Xander grunted.

“Don’t let go!” she screamed.

“I’m trying not to,” he groaned.

She started to slip out of his grasp.

Suddenly another set of hands reached out and grabbed Priya’s arms—right before she fell. It was Quest. He was stretched out on the moldy floor. Behind him, the other squatters had a hold of his legs.

“I’ve got her,” Quest said. “Pull us back.”

Xander was stunned. The squatters were helping. They hauled Quest back while he pulled Priya out of the hole. She scrambled to safety at the end of the hallway. Xander inched away from the hole and joined her.

Quest dusted off his jacket and smiled at Priya. “You okay?”

“Why did you save me?” she asked.

“What do you mean? You needed help,” Quest said.

Xander shifted closer to his friend. “Thanks.”

“No problem,” the woman in the ragged jean jacket said. “I’m Rainbow. This is Quest. That’s Sage with the beard.” She pointed to the others. “Destiny, Marley, Dusk and Ocean.”

Xander was stunned that they were being so friendly. “I’m…I’m Xander,” he stammered.

“And I’m Priya. And…uh…thanks.” She was still a bit shocked by what had just happened.

“No problem, Miss Priya.” Quest gave a little bow.

“Good to meet you,” Rainbow said. “Now do you want to tell us what you’re doing here?”

“We were playing Spirits and Specters,” said Xander. “It’s a role-playing game where we pretend to be ghost hunters looking for evidence of the supernatural.”

“Sounds trippy,” Quest said. “Find any ghosts?”

Priya shook her head. “It’s just an excuse to visit creepy abandoned places.”

“Creepy? Not cool, man, not cool,” Sage said. “This is our pad, man. Where we crash, you dig?”

“We’re sorry,” Xander said. “We didn’t think anyone was living here.”

Rainbow sighed. “We were hoping to keep it that way.”

Xander eyed the group. “So what are you going to do with us?”

Quest leaned forward and growled, “You’re never getting out of here.”

Priya froze. Xander gripped her hand, waiting for the worst.

After what seemed like forever, Quest leaned back and laughed. “The look on your faces, man. Totally priceless.”

Rainbow shook her head, a big grin on her face.

Sage clapped his hand on Quest’s back. “Good one, man.”

Quest motioned to the open hallway. “You cats have to leave now. Just don’t tell anyone we’re crashing here.”

“You know this place isn’t safe,” Xander said, nodding at the broken web of yellow tape.

Rainbow nodded. “Yes, but we know where the dangerous spots are. Plus, it beats living on the street. Weather’s turning. The fuzz are always busting on us.”