“Sydney!” Emma cried again. Her voice was closer now, and Sydney could hear her ragged breathing. “Sydney! Help!”
Sydney shoved herself away from the tree and tried to move. But her head spun and her knees still shook. She fell against the tree again as Emma burst out of the woods.
“What is it?” Sydney cried. “What happened?”
Emma bent forward and grasped her knees. “He …” she gulped. “He won’t sink!” She straightened up and flung her tangled hair back. “I need to tie something to him to make him sink.”
Another wave of nausea washed over Sydney. She forced it back and leaned her forehead against the rough bark of the tree trunk. “I can’t do anything,” she whispered hoarsely. “This is making me sick, Emma!”
“I know. I told you I’d handle it, and I will,” Emma assured her. “I just need to figure out a way to get him to sink.”
Stop saying that, Sydney thought as her stomach churned and twisted. Stop talking about sinking him!
“I can tie a big rock to him,” Emma said. “But I don’t have any rope or anything. Can I use that?”
Sydney blinked and slowly raised her head. “What?”
“Can I use your belt?” Emma asked, pointing.
Sydney glanced down at the narrow red belt looped through her jeans. The movement of her head made her feel sicker than ever.
“Can I use it?” Emma repeated.
“Sure,” Sydney muttered. She fumbled with the buckle. Anything, she thought. Anything to get this over with!
Her fingers shook wildly, but she finally managed to undo the buckle and slide the belt through the loops. “Take it,” she murmured, holding it out. “I’m sorry, Emma. Sorry I’m not helping. I feel so sick I can’t think!”
“It’s okay,” Emma told her, taking the belt. “Stay here, Syd. I’ll be back real fast, and then we’ll go home.”
Emma raced off through the woods again. Sydney leaned back against the tree. The second she shut her eyes, the world tilted again and her stomach churned violently.
Dropping to her knees, she bent over the muddy path and vomited until her stomach muscles ached. Tears streamed from her eyes.
When it was finally over, she rose unsteadily to her feet and reached for the tree trunk. It felt damp against her forehead. Damp and cool. She leaned her burning cheek against it—and heard something.
Voices. At least two of them.
Sydney’s heart began to race. Someone else is in the woods! she realized. Emma and I—we’re not alone!