Page 679 of Coal Hearts

Down and down, the musky earth turned sharp with rock.

Pebbles and dust crunched beneath my shoes as we finished descending and stepped into yet another corridor. My black cape tugged my shoulders as it caught on the jagged sides.

If the last tunnel had been a coffin, this one was a casket.

Not just any casket.

One made from stone and ions of pressure from above.

The same overbearing heaviness of the caves a few months ago returned, crushing my head, my spine, driving me into the dirt beneath my feet.

No.

Please tell me we’re not—

“Almost there, friends.” Victor shoved Ily in front of him and pushed her along. The tunnel was only wide enough for a single person.

I lost sight of her apart from a flash of her transparent ivory dress.

I wanted to be sick.

My guts churned; sourness splashed over my tongue.

I swallowed the urge.

I balled my hands.

I forced myself to think.

Peter was here, along with Ben and Stewart. If luck favoured us, perhaps one of the guards Stewart knew was also in this procession.

We could fight.

Here and now.

I could kill Victor. Finally.

Let myself go. Completely.

We could be free tonight.

Free or dead...either choice was better than this.

This scratching anticipation.

This nerve-wracking apprehension.

I couldn’t fucking stand it.

My blood bounced.

My muscles bunched.

I vibrated with war, all while unable to see what side my enemy would strike first.

No one talked as we cut through the earth like worms through soil.

Lanterns decorated our journey.