“You and me both,” Faira whispered to Scarlet, raising her chin to keep it from sinking below the water.

As soon as everyone had a hold on her, the water rushing in quickly, she took a last panicked breath and closed her eyes before the water consumed them. Releasing her overeager powers, a darkness spread from Faira, snaking down each of her companion’s arms until, in an instant, it consumed all of them.

The cold, crushing weight of the water disappeared, replaced by the silky sensation of the world between the shadows.

[i]We need someplace safe, somewhere that’s not filled with water,[/i] she thought as she opened her eyes to the complete darkness. Though she felt no floor beneath her feet, she stepped forward, her companions’ creating a hefty weight on her arms and shoulders.

Suddenly, it felt as if something pushed her forward, and light assaulted her as they fell from the dark realm. Emerging from a shadow a bit higher from the ground than Faira expected, she shouted as they fell through a short empty space. Her knees buckled under her as her feet hit solid ground, Little Ann--if she so made it through--weighing her down further and she fell forward, landing on the floor with a wet squelch. She sucked in air gratefully as spots momentarily swam before her vision.

“Guys?” she said weakly, breathing hard as she looked around to see if the others had made it through with her.