“Synchronicity,” she repeats obligingly. “We found you just in time for Hangawi when moonglading is our only means of returning to the Realm of Four Kingdoms.”
Captain Seo sputters incoherently, while I open and close my mouth a dozen times. I finally get my voice to work and bellow, “Our only hope is reading way too much into a random coincidence?”
“I’m with Sunny on this,” the captain says in a more moderate tone.
My jaw drops despite the hopelessness tugging at me. “You’reagreeingwith me?”
“Don’t get used to it,” she mutters.
“Now, now,” Mr. Ha says, unease tugging down his lips. “Let’s hear Minju out before we dismiss her opinion.”
“Thank you, Father.” Minju scrunches her face, looking for the right words. “Synchronicitymeans different things to different people. Humans sometimes give significance to two unrelated incidents out of desperation, or fear. But it also takes an open mind and courage to reflect on—and even act based on—the deeper meaning.”
“No, thank you.” I cross my arms. “I do not want to start a crystal collection.”
Captain Seo elbows me in the ribs and nods at Minju to continue.
“For beings of the Shingae, we should recognize that there are no such things as random coincidences.” Minju spreads her hands. “The three of us were guided to this moment by the hands of fate. We are meant to make it across the moonglade.”
“Have you ever considered that fate is a fucking sadist?” My upper lip curls with bitterness. “And that they guided us here todie?”
“Of course I’ve considered that possibility.” Minju snorts delicately. “That’s why I said synchronicity is our onlyhope. It is far from a certainty. Maybe not even a probability. But nothing can stop us from hoping.”
Fate and destiny have done nothing but screw me over. That might be a good thing, though. Since fate shit on my life nonstop, maybe it’s time for some good things to happen.Fuck.Now I’m clinging on to the gambler’s fallacy?I’ve been losing all night, so I’m bound to win the next round.That’s pretty pathetic. Minju’s “synchronicity reflects the hands of fate” theory sounds much better in comparison.
“Fine. Let’s do this”—I tilt my chin up—“and hope like hell that fate isn’t a total bastard.”
Chapter Twelve
Sunny
“So how does this work?” I toe the water, but the moonglade doesn’t so much as flicker against the ripples. The silver road is literally solid.
“We just ... walk.” Minju glances over her shoulder at her father.
He nods reassuringly and waves us on. We’ve already said our goodbyes to him. Lingering will only make leaving harder for her. I’m here to help my friends, aren’t I? I suck in a sharp breath and step onto the moonglade, then I peek open one eye.What the hell?When did I even close my eyes?
With an impatient tsk, I open them wide and look down. I’m standing on the silver road, and I haven’t been struck down by lightning or anything.Cool.I’ll take that as a win.
“Come on.” I wave Minju and Captain Seo over. “I thought we were in a hurry.”
The captain joins me first and, again, no death by lightning. She meets my eyes and shrugs. “So far, so good.”
I look toward the distant horizon, and my shoulders droop. It’s going to be a long, long walk. Perhaps the true challenge of walking the moonglade is enduring the torture of cardio.
Minju hesitates in front of the silver road, lifting and lowering the heel of her right foot. I try to give her an encouraging smile, but she squints at me in confusion.
“Oh never mind.” I let my features settle into a comfortable scowl. “Let’s go. We haven’t got all day.” Then I turn to the captain and quip, “This walk is going to be worse than cadet training, isn’t it?”
“If it is, then I haven’t done my job.” Captain Seo smirks, drawing a chuckle from me.
But when Minju gingerly steps onto the moonglade, I choke on my laugh as Eurwangni Beach disappears and darkness swallows me whole.
“What the—” I’m tossed around like a lonely wet sock in the dryer—spin, drop, spin, drop. I can’t see which way is up and which is down in the pitch black.
“Oh shit!” I shout as the darkness suddenly bottoms out beneath me.
I fall until I have no air left in my lungs to scream. But my stomach swoops again and again, and my toes flex and squirm against the sheer terror of free-falling. At some point, my voice returns to me, and my scream pierces my ears.
