I’ve had my senses thrown off kilter by explosions before.
Hell, I’ve even blacked out as a result.
But this?
This is pure disorientation.
This is spinning around underwater until you can no longer hold your breath and then coming up to the surface in the dead of night.
This is walking through the woods blindfolded while someone blows a whistle in your ears.
This is being far too close to an enormous explosion.
I fear the Sindaco is dead. I can’t imagine any circumstance where he could have survived what just happened.
I can’t help but think he gave me extra time to get farther away.
The acrid sour of sulfur mixed with steam is quickly filling the tunnel.
“Help! Run!” I call ahead, hoping someone hears me.
Heat chases my heels as I make my way closer to the main cavern.
When I chance a glance back, I see exactly what I fear most: fiery red lava.
It’s slow. Thank the Moon it’s slow, but it’s there. And I worry it will pick up speed as more and more flows from the source.
When I look back around I’m forced to skid to a stop.
Dorian, hand clutching his wounded shoulder and bent toward his hurt side, quickly walks toward me.
“V—” he says. “Are you all right? Is it—” But he can’t manage to finish the sentence.
“The weapon. The Sindaco set it off under the Crag. We’ve got to get out of here. You’ve got to get out of here, find help.” I look at his shoulder. Despite his black shirt, I can see it’s soaked through, his hand stained red. “Come on! We have to warn the others!”
I can see he’s not quite himself when he stops to stare at the slowly advancing lava. “The Sindaco,” he says.
“No time; we have to get to the others.”
He nods, and we both take off into the cavern.
The minute we step inside, the chatter and shouting and mayhem I left only moments ago halts. No time for details, all I say is, “The volcano’s erupting. Everyone must get to the Upper now!”
There are a few calls for “But what about the Imperi?” and “The war?” and “We’ll be ambushed! Captured!”
“We can’t worry about that now. If we stay down here we all die.” At that, the questions cease. “To the Upper. NOW!”
“Stay calm…,” Dorian says as people hurriedly pass. “Single-file line…”
“No time to gather belongings!” I yell. “Straight to the closest den!”
Quickly, two by two and as orderly as they can manage, everyone flees the cavern. One after the other, ants fleeing what was once their safe place.
Parents carry children who’ve fallen behind. Babies and adults alike cry out in pain and fear.
Last to leave are Xavier and Imi, followed by a few more soldiers who’re running toward us from a side tunnel.
“Soldiers’ caves are all clear but the garden’s blocked—if anyone was in there, they’re…” He shakes his head.
“Anyplace else that needs checking?” I ask.
“The kitchens—” the other soldier says.
“No—” Dorian cuts in. “They’re too close to the Crag. Might already be blocked.”
“Wait—” I glance between the few of us standing there. Someone’s missing. “Where’s Bronwyn?”
“Is she at the palace?” Xavier asks Imi.
Her eyes go wide, and she shakes her head. “I’m not sure.”
“I’m going!” I say, just as something pops and spits around the corner, the first of the lava about to reach us.
“Shit, Veda, no, you can’t go! She’s probably not even down there. If she was there I’m sure she heard the explosion and got out,” Xavier says.
“I won’t take that chance!” I’m already running down the tunnel that leads to the kitchens.
“Damn it, Veda!” Dorian shouts, taking off after me. But before he takes even three steps, he folds to the ground.
“Dorian!” I shout, and run toward him.
Crouching down, I use all the strength I have to help Dorian sit up, wrap his arm over my shoulders. “Dorian?” I shout. He’s dazed, barely opens his eyes.
Xavier and Imi and the soldiers are instantly there and help lift him up.
Dorian seems to come to and is able to stand. “I’m all right,” he says.
I look to Imi, Xavier, and the soldiers. “Follow the others up and get Dorian to a doctor. I’ll be right behind you.”
“But—” Imi says.
“Go! Hurry!”
“No—” Dorian says. “We’re coming with you.” Imi and Xavier both nod.
There’s no time to argue or even get upset over it. I direct the soldiers to follow the others and then the four of us enter the tunnel to the kitchens.
It’s then that the entire underbelly of the island jolts beneath our feet. Releases a warm gasp that snakes its way to us through the tunnel. It smells horribly like gas and all things flammable.
And it’s coming from the direction we’re heading.
There’s no lava to be seen. Yet.
The closer we get to the kitchens, the hotter the air around us becomes. I glance back to check on Dorian, who’s keeping up but is also leaning heavily on Xavier’s arm, and I curse myself for not demanding they take him up right away.
But there’s no time for regrets right now.
No time for anything except finding the others.
Then quick footsteps and immediate escape.
This tunnel is particularly twisty, and though Dorian’s putting on a brave face, he’s struggling with the sharp turns and constant inclines and declines. I look back and catch Xavier’s eye. He looks worried too, which makes me even more uneasy.
And right when I’m about to demand Xavier get Dorian up on the island, I spot shadows ahead.
“Hello?” I call. “Who’s there? Bronwyn?”
“Yes—it’s us!” I’m pretty sure we all release a collective sigh of relief when we hear Bron’s voice.
We only travel down a short decline when Bronwyn and about fifteen other Night members are upon us.
“My Moon—I knew you were down here.” I take Bronwyn by the hands. “Is this everyone?” I ask.
“I think so,” she says, completely out of breath but already checking on Dorian’s wound and hugging Imi.
“Okay, let’s get out of here,” I say to everyone. “We need to be quick but careful.” It’s dark, only a few lanterns are lit, but as I glance over the faces I see fear and panic. I’m trying to stay strong—I am in charge right now—but I too feel fear and panic barreling down on me.
There’s another, more intense tremor. One that shakes all of us off balance and sends dirt and gravel raining down on top of us.
We all take off running back the way we came as gas and smoke quickly fill the tunnels.
The heat is sweltering as the lava gains on us, but it’s the thick, toxic air that’s nearly too much to bear.
Too suffocating to endure any longer.
Coughing rings out.
Several people shout demands and directions, but it doesn’t matter because there’s only one direction to go.
And we’re getting closer to the only den anywhere near this side of the Lower.
I pray it’s not blocked off.
I pray no one’s been left behind.
I’m near the rear of the group but glance over my shoulder, strain my eyes to see if anyone’s struggling. There’s a whimpering a few heads back. I move there to find a young girl around the age of eight—Lola, who often helps in the kitchen—has fallen behind.
Wrapping my arm around her middle, helping her move along, all I can say is, “It’s going to be all right … It’s going to be all right…” Though I imagine my words fall flat because I’m not sure I even believe it.
Up near the front there’s commotion. Dorian’s finally collapsed, but Xavier lifts him over his back. Barely pauses a beat as he’s running.
It’s going to be all right …
The glow of impending doom lights up the tunnel behind us.
There’s a crash ahead, and several large rocks fall from the ceiling of the tunnel.
There’s screaming and shouting.
Once the dust clears, no one’s been hurt, but our group’s been cut in half: Dorian, Imi, Bronwyn, and Xavier, most of the group from the kitchen in front of the crash. Lola, myself, and a woman and man behind the barrier.
Dorian cries out in pain.
Xavier’s leading the charge to move the rocks.
But there’s no time.
“Just go!” I yell.
“No!” they shout back.
“Listen—” I can barely see Bronwyn’s eyes through a crack in the boulders. “Dorian’s going to die from his wound—there’s no time to dig us out of here.”
“Veda, please—”
“We’ll find another way.” But we both know there is no other way. Already, the man and woman are pulling rocks away. I lean closer to the crack. “Please, Bronwyn—” I try to insert every last bit of urgency into my voice. “Go!”
Tears in her eyes, she nods.
I can hear Dorian yelling something as they disappear behind the rocks.
The four of us start tearing away rocks.
It’s not going to be all right …
“Lunalette! Lunalette!” Lola … I look around. So do the others. She was here a minute ago but is nowhere to be seen. “Lunalette! Up here!”
The three of us look up and see Lola peering down from above us.
“The hole—it opens up into another tunnel!”
Thank the Moon.
The man and woman climb up the pile of rocks and then I follow them.
The tunnel that runs above the one we were in isn’t nearly as gaseous and there’s no lava to be seen. For now.
It spits us out into the original tunnel—the one now partially blocked. The blockage slowing down the flow of lava.
We reach the den.
We lift Lola up first.
Then the man and woman go up to look after her.
Finally, I escape the Lower.
WE COME UP right outside the main tunnel near the market.
I don’t see Dorian, Bron, Imi, or Xavier anywhere.
I’m not sure if it’s the ordeal we’ve just been through or that old habits die hard, but I’m instantly seized by fear because what if those who worried we’d be met with resistance were right?
What if they’ve been captured?
Prisoners of war.
No …
I turn in a circle, searching out patches of black under all this ash-filtered sun.
“Mama!” Lola shouts, and runs away.
I follow her and see them … My people. They’ve gathered just down the way.
Basso, Night, Dogio, and Imperi all work together to build a sandbag wall to help block the lava should it flow this far.
Then …
I hear his voice.
Raevald.