“Rose, we get it,” I say. “Let’s get off this thing before it melts.” Because I’ve noticed that the force of the water rushing past is shrinking our block of ice at an alarming rate.

“Good idea!” says Win, and before we can stop him he gets to his feet and leaps toward a rock.

Rose and I are immediately tossed forward and our faces plunge through the mist. I get a brief glimpse of a terrifying drop, and rocks, and certain death, before Win slams his foot down on the block of ice, making us fall back inside the cave.

We cling to each other, as Win laughs and says, “Looks like I saved your life again!” Rose and I stare at him. “What?” he protests. “I did!”

“Win, just keep your foot on there until we’ve got off,” says Rose through gritted teeth.

We’re now squished together on the block of ice. We have a quick discussion about who should get off first and agree to jump off at exactly the same time, aiming for different rocks.

“On the count of three,” says Rose as we climb to our feet, the ice wobbling beneath us. “One . . . two . . .”

“THREE!” yells Win. Rose throws herself off the ice a second before me and I’m pitched forward again. There is this moment where I fly out over the waterfall, catching my second glimpse of certain death, before Win pulls me back to safety.

“Saved you again!” he says with a happy chuckle.

My legs are wobbling so much that Win has to help me to the side of the river. We use the rocks as stepping stones until we reach a flat ledge.

The mist of the waterfall still forms a barrier blocking our view. “Ready to see what’s on the other side of the mountain?” says Rose.

Then together we step through the mist.

I shade my eyes against the setting sun. This is what made the light so pink. We’re standing at the top of a waterfall surrounded by forest. The branches of frozen trees dip in the thundering water as it crashes down into a pool. Beyond the pool is a snowy plain. Animal tracks crisscross the glittering snow and in the distance I can see a village clinging to the coast.

But it’s what lies beyond all this that makes us stand so still and silent.

The ocean surrounding the village is covered in icebergs and floes, but farther out the sea is blue and I can see islands stretching to the horizon. These aren’t small rocky islands like the ones in the Archie Playgo—they’re huge and lush and green.

“What’s on those islands?” I say.

Rose smiles. “I don’t know, but we got it all wrong, didn’t we? This isn’t the End at all. It’s just the beginning!”

Chapter 41