A terrible sensation overcomes Kisa, and Kisa has no idea which way is up, or which way is down. She flails, panicking, lungs burning—and her free fist closes on instinct around the thread…

To find it solid in a way it was not before. Thicker, too. Like a rope…

What…How…

Surprise has Kisa momentarily forgetting she can’t breathe. The thread curls itself into an arrow, pointing downward, followed by what looks—vaguely—like a thumbs-up sign. Kisa nods, and—with slowly steadying hands—begins to follow the red thread toward Seokga, pulling herself and Somi down its length.

I do not need to breathe, Kisa tells herself firmly as her chest aches with pain. I am dead. I do not need to breathe.

Her lungs seem to think the opposite. She has, she guesses, about one minute before she blacks out and is utterly useless to anybody. The red thread flexes underneath her, and as Kisa becomes weaker, wraps itself around her waist.

There’s a split second before Kisa is being dragged down and pulling Somi with her. The thread hauls her this way and that, descending all the while. Kisa closes her eyes—and only reopens them when the thread drags her across something rough and hard…And the pressure of the water disappears. Kisa’s eyes fly open.

They’re in a cave—a cave that is somehow empty of the frigid river water. She sucks in a deep breath, and next to her, a drenched Somi does the same. Finally able to breathe, Kisa climbs to her feet and the red thread unravels itself from around her.

The cave is dark, stalactites hanging from a damp, slick ceiling. Kisa’s bare feet, once the adrenaline wears off, will feel every sharp stone that digs into her flesh. Clusters of stalagmites rise threateningly from the cave’s ground, leading farther and farther into inky depths. Behind her, the cave’s entrance gapes like a hungry mouth. Scarlet water pushes up against it but seems to be blocked by magic of some kind.

Kisa’s hand closes around the red thread as it places itself in her palm. Yes, she thinks, it’s definitely solid. What brought on the change?

She gapes as the thread rises into the air and arranges itself into cursive letters. DESPERATE TIMES, DESPERATE MEASURES. LET’S GO, KISA.

When she fails to move, it arranges itself into a sort of angry emoticon. HURRY UP!

“I knew you were sentient!” Kisa hisses, wishing she had her notepad to record this absurd development. “I knew it!” The implications of this are nothing short of astounding…

GLOAT LATER. HURRY NOW.

“I would hope so,” snaps Somi, looking offended. “I have a brain.”

“Erm…” Despite its new solidity, Somi still cannot see the Red Thread of Fate binding Seokga and Kisa. “Not you,” she whispers, but the thread is already tugging her farther into the cave. “This way. Come on.”