“Since I received a second, very generous birthday gift from my rich demented grandmother.”
Caleb snorts. “And you want to give that hard earned money to us?”
“I want to be entertained. Watching you two slip and slide across the quarry seems like good entertainment. Plus, I don’t think you’re brave enough.”
Brady tests the surface with a prod of his shoe. “Seems pretty solid.”
I set my hand against the tree.
“Don’t do it,” I whisper, my breath a frozen cloud.
But Brady doesn’t listen.
He steps onto the ice and stops. When nothing happens, he grins. “A pretty easy payday if you ask me.”
Caleb joins him.
I watch as they slide out onto the ice, laughing and cracking jokes. Then I see something thatneither Brady nor Caleb seem to notice. A glow—like someone is under the water, shining a flashlight.
Caleb throws a playful insult at Brady.
Brady responds by giving him a shove.
Caleb shoves him back.
With a laugh, Brady shoves him harder and Caleb slides so far, he’s right over that glowing, phosphorescent light.
He slips and falls.
Lainey and Griffin guffaw.
A crackling sound breaks through the night.
For one terrible second, nobody moves.
Then Caleb plummets into the water.
Brady scrambles to the shore.
I don’t think.
I don’t hesitate.
I just run.
Past Brady.
Out onto the precarious ice.
I drop onto my stomach and slither forward, reaching out my hand, shouting at Caleb to take it as the phosphorescent light grows brighter. His eyes are panicked orbs inside his face as he chokes and flails wildly for my hand.
Our palms connect.
I squeeze like a vice, determined to hold on, when he’s yanked straight down, dragging me with him, into the frigid water.
The cold feels like a thousand knives stabbing my body.
Brady’s hand slips from mine and I watch in horrifying slow motion as he’s sucked into the rift below.
