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wound.
    “I don’t think it’s that bad, but I’ll feel better when we get to Inland and Jezbah can take a look.”
    I started to ask who Jezbah was when Darrios picked me up, as if I weighed nothing, and headed for the entrance opening. Just then, a second Viocomen blocked our way. So much for them not being stealthy.
    Darrios slowly set me down, never taking his gaze from the foul creature. Squeezing my hand, he quietly said, “I’m going to run off to the left and lead this son of a bitch away from the entrance—”
    I interrupted him. “No, Darrios, you can’t—”
    “Maggie, it’s the only way. I cannot allow that thing to get into the tunnel. You’re hurt. You need to get inside. As soon as you make it through the opening, pull the door shut behind you. I’ll be there as soon as I lead the viocomen away. Just hold the latch down until I get back so nothing can get in and then you can let me in quickly.”
    I looked at Darrios, pleading with my eyes. I grabbed his hand, squeezing it. “Please don’t,” I whispered.
    “I will be back,” he promised.
    He looked into my eyes and kissed me on the forehead. Dropping my hand, pushing me aside, he waved his arms and screamed at the viocomen. When the creature stepped toward him he bolted away, the vile beast right on his heels, its hideous screech echoing in my head.
    I hurried through the opening and down into the hole. Grabbing the latch, I pulled as hard as I could. The door slammed down, plunging me into darkness.
    The seconds ticked by at an agonizing pace. A suffocating silence enveloped me. My heart raced, pounding against my ribcage, threatening to burst right out of my chest. I felt like I couldn’t get any air into my lungs. My neck throbbed and my fear for Darrios rapidly turned to panic.
    I didn’t know how much time had gone by, but it seemed like hours. I was sure something terrible had happened to Darrios. I mean, wouldn’t he have been back by now if he had beaten the viocomen? My terror started to loosen its grip, only to be replaced with a blanket of despair. A stifled cry escaped my lips. I held my breath, leaning up closer to the opening, desperate to hear something, anything that indicated Darrios was alive. There was only stillness and quiet. I’d never felt so alone. Just as my last streams of hope trickled away, I heard it. I gasped.
    “Maggie, are you there?” Darrios called.
    As if I had superhuman strength, I pushed that trapdoor open like it was made of paper. “Darrios, I’m here!”
    “C’mon up, Maggie. It’s okay. They’re gone now. You’re safe.”
    I scrambled up the ladder and out through the opening.
    Throwing my arms around him, I burst into tears. “I thought...you...I was so scared!”
    Darrios patted me on the back. “It’s okay, I’m fine,” he said stiffly.
    Had I taken even one moment to think about this scenario as it unfolded, maybe it would have occurred to me that Darrios had called me out instead of joining me where he knew it was safe. Odd.
    Perhaps I would have seen that he was noticeably heavier than just a little while ago or how rigidly he stood there. I might have caught that his fur was gone, replaced by a blanket that completely covered his right arm. But I didn’t notice any of those things.
    I was so relieved he was back and in one piece, I neglected to think clearly at all, so I missed all of the little signs that would have alerted me to the danger I’d put myself in.
    Darrios pointed at something behind me. When I turned to look, he covered my face with a wet cloth. Everything went black. I didn’t even get a chance to fight.

Chapter Three
    The sound of a door opening and closing brought me to a state of semi-consciousness. I couldn’t remember what had happened or where I was. I shook my head trying to get the fog to clear.
    Slowly, I opened my eyes, trying to acclimate. I attempted to rub my eyes, but I couldn’t. I blinked a couple of times and looked at my hands. I’d