you’re more than welcome to go and throw up like you have been waiting to do.”
My eyes flayed him.
But I quickly strolled away to find a bush far enough that no one would hear me. The hike through the Blood Forest had been uneventful, except for my lack of energy and queasiness. I hadn’t wanted to slow them down, so I’d forged on despite my poor health.
I may have swallowed my vomit twice. Ghastly.
The only decent part of the day was when we’d accidentally stumbled upon the stream of clean water. All our many canteens were full again—though it weighted our bags further. We had plenty of food and water now, so it was a blessed day based on that.
My eyes scanned for a large enough shrub to hold all that would be revisiting the realm from my stomach. The talking deer were rebelling—and rebelling hard. The black bush to the right seemed appropriately sized for my needs. I rushed to it and bent over, heaving out all the contents remaining in my unsettled stomach.
I spit a few times before standing, then bent right back on over. Eating as much as I had after no food for three days wasn’t my brightest idea.
I wiped my mouth and groaned. That was unpleasant.
I rose and arched my back, working out the kinks. I was weak and tired, but I had made it through the day on my own two feet. No one had to carry or help me once. I had managed—barely.
I strolled in a large circle where the camp was almost ready, inspecting the terrain and searching for creatures through the mist. It may have been the blood remaining on us from the pack of deer, but no other living thing had appeared. Their teeth had been sharp, so they were meat eaters. They may have been the breed that rules this part of the forest.
I squatted through the mist and peered down at an odd crack in the ground. It was four feet wide and corkscrewed across the expanse of ten feet. I got closer and squinted, but there didn’t appear to be an end to the hole, it going far, far down. The camp was a bit of a walk away right now, but the rulers needed to see this. It was fascinating.
I stood up and waved my arms, shouting, “Your Royal Highnesses, come and look at this! There is an odd crack in the ground over here—”
“Don’t move!” King Elon and Queen Alora bellowed at the same exact moment, their hands shooting up in the air quickly in a stopping gesture.
I froze where I stood—my arms still up in the air. I asked loudly, “Why?”
“Earthquakes can cause those or sinkholes from heavy rain,” King Elon barked. “The ground may be unstable where you are standing!”
I peered down at the Blood Forest’s floor. “It looks stable enough!”
“We will come and get you, Trixie,” Father snapped. “Do not move.”
“All right,” I conceded. I didn’t know enough about earthquakes and floods. I needed to read on them when we finally got out of here. “How are you going to—”
I snapped my mouth shut as I started to slide.
I wasn’t moving on purpose. The ground was moving under my feet, bringing me toward the crack. The edges started to crumble and disappear into the depths below, pulling farther and farther away, the gaping crack becoming more massive.
“I’ve got a problem!” I screeched. “I think it’s collapsing more, and it’s taking me with it!”
The five rulers broke into a sprint straight at me.
I glanced back and forth frantically, scouring the ground all around. “It’s all moving! Stay back!”
“If you die, we all die!” King Elon bellowed, not halting. None of them stopped. They kept charging forward. He bellowed, “Run, dammit! Get away from the hole!”
“You told me to stand still!” I screeched. I pivoted and started racing away from the opening, but that only made it worse, the edges of the crack falling off faster. I wobbled on my feet and fell straight onto my face, clawing at the ground to keep from being sucked in. I bloody well screamed, “Help!”
“Trixie!” Father shouted with fear.
I scrambled on the ground, but it suddenly wasn’t there.
There was no Blood Forest floor beneath me anymore.
My stomach dropped…and then I dropped. I screamed.
A brutal hand snagged my wrist from above, and my body swung down to slam against the side of the expanded crack. Dirt and twigs toppled down onto my head, tumbling to my shoulders and