“Before now, they only appeared when someone went into the pool.” She shot a worried glance at Nico. “We have a serious problem.”
Nico ran a hand through his hair. “Emma’s right—they’re happening on their own now. How can we even get down there?”
Logan straightened. “We’re not quitting. I still want to see the Darkdeep.”
Nico chewed the inside of his cheek, thinking. “If we swing around behind the houseboat, I think the way is clear. Hopefully the gummy bear will move off before we reach the stepping-stones.” Volg/Mordan had broken the first rock, but it split down the middle and a decent-size piece still poked above the water’s surface.
“We should hurry.” Tyler started down off the ridge. “I feel like a cheeseburger out here, just waiting for something to come take a bite.”
They moved carefully, hiding once to avoid a herd of shambling zombies. It took ten long minutes to circle to the far side of the pond. They sprinted across the stones and Nico shut the front door behind them, sinking to the floor in relief.“Note to anyone thinking imaginary creatures would be cool in real life,” he panted. “They’re one hundred percent not.”
Logan offered him a hand up. Nico stared at it a moment, then took it.
“The pool,” Logan said.
Nico nodded. “Let’s go.” He led everyone through the curtain, across the display room, past the jar thing—were those nostrils in its head now?—and into the secret stairwell. The moment his shoe touched the steps, Nico could tell something had changed.
Eerie lights played on the walls, washed-out colors flashing in discordant bursts. At the bottom Nico saw the Darkdeep itself, and his jaw dropped. The water whirled and churned at breakneck speed, sloshing up into the air without a drop touching the floor.
“It’s gone crazy,” Opal whispered behind him.
“Like a washing machine on steroids,” Tyler said.
Emma shook her head slowly. “Even I’m not getting inthat.”
Logan moved closer, eyes wide as Frisbees. “It’s real. I can’t believe it. I’d almost convinced myself it was a dream.” He started to reach out, then snatched his fingers back.
Nico rubbed his forehead. “It’s clearly overloading, but how can we make it stop?”
Opal lifted her chin. “We’ll keep researching. Every minute matters now. Two days ago, this island was under control.Now it’s a monster convention. Who knows what tomorrow might be like?”
Something crashed upstairs. All eyes shot to the staircase.
Heavy treads crossed the deck above their heads.
Tyler leaped to Nico’s side and whispered into his ear. “Something’s inside the boat!”
“I can tell,” Nico hissed back. When no one else moved, he threw his hands up. “Fine. Stay here.” But as he stepped toward the stairs, Logan put a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll go with you,” he said.
Nico nodded gratefully. “Just be ready to run back down here.”
They crept up the steps. There was another crash, followed by peculiar grunting. Nico’s palms began to sweat. He eased open the wall panel and poked his nose out.
Nico froze. His heart stopped beating.
Not ten paces from where he hid, three orcs were fighting over the pirate sword.
“What is it?” Logan whispered. “Is something there?”
Nico shook a hand at him for quiet. But when he looked back into the room, the center orc was staring right at him. “Oh no,” Nico breathed.
The orc roared. It dropped the sword and pointed.
“Get back!” Nico shouted, jerking the panel shut. Searching frantically, he spotted a deadbolt on the inside of the wall. Nico slammed it home with a grateful moan, thenpushed Logan back down the stairs. Fists began hammering from the opposite side, but the bolt held.
Nico jumped the last few steps to the floorboards. “We’ve got trouble! There are freaking orcs upstairs and they know we’re here.” The banging above underscored his warning.
“What do we do?” Tyler squealed. “There’s no other way out!”
