Chapter 31

VALERIA. “GET UP!” I yell at Celeste, not even waiting for her to snap to her senses anymore. Without thinking about it, I yank her arm through the darkness and pull her to her feet as the growls reach their crescendo. Celeste lets out a loud whimper and grabs onto me, letting me drag her along the tunnel. My heart is in my throat now. My eyes are watery but I don’t think it’s from tears. Something sulfuric is being released into the air, making things hazy. I swallow hard, wanting to cry for help, but who will come to our aid? There’s only darkness beyond us.… Until there isn’t. “Hurry up,” I urge Celeste as we reverse, but right before our very eyes, the tunnel where we came from is starting to get narrower and narrower. The walls are starting to close over the path like a long gut constricting. Its pace is so rapid that I know for sure that if Celeste and I attempt to get through it, we would be crushed under the pressure of the entire tunnel. We have no choice but to stop. “