Page 439 of Coal Hearts

For approximately five hours, we’d travelled as one, heading deeper and deeper into the island. At one point, Peter said we were directly beneath the fortress. A staircase and tunnel led from the dungeons to the cave system, but Victor had stopped using it two years ago because a rockfall had shut off the main path to the Temple of Facets.

We’d kept going, even when Peter admitted he’d reached the end of his knowledge and every choice was now guesswork.

He’d glanced at all of us, ready to pass up the leadership mantle. The wistful longing in his eyes said he wanted someone else to forge ahead and take responsibility, but...as awful as it was to keep the pressure on someone so wounded—none of us stepped up.

With unanimous, unspoken decision, we all rested a little and gave Peter a breather before hauling him to his feet and helping him hobble through puddled seawater and continue crawling into smaller and darker caves.

One of our torches had failed in the first hour.

The second only minutes ago.

If the third went, we’d be trapped in here. Completely lost with the very real fear of starving to death or drowning. That fear now overshadowed even the terror that the Masters would find us.

Catching Rachel’s haunted blue eyes, I—

“Don’t.” She shook her head and bared her teeth. “Don’t even say it.”

“Caishen might be right,” I whispered. “By the time we get out of here, the gong will go, and we’ll be safe.”

“Safe?” Her nose wrinkled. “Do you honestly think the Masters will obey Vic? After a day of chaos? Fuck that.” She paced the small space, bumping into Sonya. “We go out there, and we’re at their mercy.”

“I say we take a vote.” Caishen held up his hand. “Our fearless leader is out cold. We have no idea where we’re going, and it’s idiotic to think we’re skilled enough to find a way out. I’m not even certain we can retrace our steps before that torch dies, but if we’re gonna try, we have to go now.”

Making eye contact with all of us, he demanded, “All those who want out, hands up.”

Everyone but Rachel and Mollie swung up their arms.

Lowering my own, I glanced at the two girls. “I know you don’t want Victor or Roland to find you, but...we can’t stay here.” I arched my chin at Peter. He barely breathed. His burned hands and feet covered in grit and dirt; his dusky skin far too pale in the dark. “We need to get him to Dr Belford...before it’s too late.”

Mollie sighed, her green eyes flashing. “How about a compromise? We’ll wait here for an hour or two. Peter will hopefully wake by then, and we can help him walk rather than drag him. It should be nightfall in a couple of hours and Victor will have rounded everyone up, thanks to his guards. We stand a better chance of avoiding this game altogether if we let Victor wrangle his guests into order rather than go out there while they’re being absolute maniacs.”

“Peter might not have two hours.” I stood too, balling my hands.

“Ily,” Rachel muttered under her breath. “You have to understand. Roland is a fucking creep. If he knows he can get away with shit and finds Mollie...he’ll kill her.”

“He’s a necrophiliac.” Caishen shuddered. “I’ve seen him kill before. I was with a Master in the same room. Yumeko only survived because the guards dragged Dr Mel in with her resuscitation kit before it was too late.”

The torch dimmed as if taking part in our debate and adding a fresh layer of panic.

Caishen’s tolerance snapped. “Right, that’s it. The batteries are dying. I’m leaving. All those who want to follow. Let’s go.”

“Go then if you’re that afraid. I’m going to wait for Pete to wake.” Rachel slid down the wall and sat beside Peter.

“Me too.” Mollie sat beside her.

I stood in a dank, chilly cave and was absolutely torn in two.

I understood why they wanted to wait for him to revive. I was on board with that plan—none of us would have the strength to drag him for long—but...every minute was a minute he couldn’t afford to spend.

“Just wait thirty minutes, Caishen.” I stepped toward him. “Surely, you can—”

“If he’s not going, we are.” Sonya snatched the torch from Caishen’s hands, sending the beam bouncing around the cave. “I’m done. How about you, Citra?” She arched her eyebrow at the Indonesian girl.

Citra rolled her shoulders. “I don’t want to leave anyone behind, but...” She sniffed and rubbed her nose as tears dripped from her eyes. “I’m struggling. I feel as if I’m moments away from a full-blown panic attack and...I don’t think I can stay.”

Caishen grabbed his hair and tugged. “Fuck, I need air.”

Almost as if the allure of sky and wind became too much, the jewels moved as one.