The rumbling quiets, giving way to a soft trickling sound. I angle the light one way and then the other, my heart climbing higher in my throat as I trace the sound to its source. Water pours from a crack in the stone, spilling down the wall and spreading over the floor, the soles of my shoes slowly disappearing under the shimmering black surface of it.

The water rushes under Kai’s outstretched legs, lapping at her cheek where it lies against the tunnel floor. I take her shoulders and prop her upright against the wall. By the time I get her steady, the water’s already up to my ankles.

I sluice through it toward the blocked opening, tearing at the fallen stones with one hand and holding the lighter high with the other. The stones plunk down, one by one. But for every rock I manage to move, another’s waiting behind it.

This is it. We’re going to drown down here. Maybe it’s karma. Nature balancing out my fate for the shitty things I’ve done.

Another rock splashes free. The water’s so cold I can hardly feel my legs anymore. My fingers bleed, nails breaking as I scrape at the edges of the stones.

When I turn to check on Kai, the water’s reached her chest. I wade through it, my shoulder burning as I haul her over it once more and carry her back to the wall.

“I guess this is Ananke’s idea of poetic justice,” I mutter as the water laps at my waist. “My punishment for trying to drown you in my damn infinity pool.” I hold Kai around her waist as I kick at a stone, desperate to loosen a path for the water to escape through, but the pressure’s too strong. “What I wouldn’t pay to be a Summer right now.”

“Exactly how much are you willing to part with?” comes a muffled voice through the stone.

“Julio?” I yelp with joy. “How the hell did you find me?”

“You haven’t showered in a week, asshole. How do you think?”

“A little help here?” I shout back.

For a moment, there’s only silence from the other side of the wall. I rock forward, tightening my grip on Kai as the water pulls at my ankles. It rushes backward over my legs, the water level falling, exposing the pile of stones in front of us. Behind us, a wall of water roils and froths, held back by some invisible barrier.

“Stand back!” Julio’s shout is labored, his voice strained. The wall of water inches closer, creeping toward us.

“Hurry!”