I take stock of myself. My limbs feel shaky and hollow from the lack of food and sleep, and I pray we’re almost at the end. We continue leaping between the platforms, some of them further apart than others, as we wind our way towards the center. My aim feels off every time I jump, and what I wouldn’t give for some water right now.

We stop on a larger spot to catch our breath, using each other for support.

“You okay?” I ask, holding her in my arms and murmuring into her hair.

“I guess,” she answers, burying her face into my chest. I can feel her trembling, and again I slide into the simmering pit of my blood-soaked rage. Pulling her tighter, I listen to her heart as it beats in tandem with mine, using it to calm myself. I won’t do us any favors if I lose my temper. A clear head is the only way we win this.

The sound of a loud crack has us jumping apart. We both spin around, scanning our environment.

In the distance, I see movement in the dark, and it takes me a moment to realize the platforms are starting to crumble.

“We need to move,” I say, taking her hand.

This is the true test.

“Go!” I say, and she leaps onto the next platform and then the next as I follow.

More cracks and rumbles shake the cavern as everything around us starts to disintegrate.

Finally, we reach the middle, and Lor leaps onto the larger platform. The one under my feet starts to crumble, and I run before I’ve really gauged my distance. I fall short, my stomach hitting the edge of my target.

Lor leaps for me as I start to slide, snagging my wrist as I slip.

Our hands snap together just before I fall, so I’m dangling beneath her.

“Lor!”

“Swing your arm up!” she shouts. She grits her teeth, her face turning red as she hauls me up inch by inch. Slowly, she drags me up. Just as I’m about to reach the top, we both hear another loud crack. The far edge of our platform is starting to crumble.

“Come on!” she screams, and then she heaves on my arm, and my shoulder pops with the force. I ignore the pain that radiates down my limbs and lurch for the edge.

Lor keeps tugging on me and then grabs the back of my jacket, hauling me up.

“The ladder! Go!” The platform disintegrates around each edge, herding us into the middle.

I leap onto the ladder and start the climb. I peer down over my shoulder and watch as Lor grabs the bottom rung just as the platform disappears in a falling shower of dirt and stone.

“Go! I’m fine! Go!”

Keeping one eye over my shoulder, I watch her swing herself up and then start climbing.