Chapter Twenty-Five

EMMY

The huge wheel of the Stone Goddess was going to crush us. We had nowhere to run.

Abel was pissed. “I can’t believe it.” His face looked miserable. “I just got healed, and I’m going to die under a rock.”

An idea popped into my head. “Let’s go into one of the fountains.” Before I darted away, I stole the ladle out of his hands.

“You’re not taking that from me.” Abel started running after me. The wheel was forgotten for a moment while he concentrated on retrieving the ladle. But I had it now, and I wasn’t giving it up until I saved Ven.

The fountains were set into the tunnel walls. If we managed to stuff ourselves inside, the wheel would roll by and completely miss us. I climbed into the nearest fountain, not caring if I got drenched. I fit inside perfectly if I pulled my legs to my chest. I squeezed against the far side as the enormous wheel rumbled past.

The wheel rolled up as far as its momentum would take it, then reversed and began to retrace its path, picking up speed again and spinning by me. I glanced down at my arms. They were covered in white dust from the ceiling.

Now that I wasn’t facing imminent death, I began to form a plan to get the ladle, fill it with healing water, and bring it to Ven. The first step was securing the ladle. I unbuttoned my shirt and tucked it inside, buttoning my clothes over the artifact. I checked to make sure my shirt was tightly tucked in and shifted my thoughts to getting out of the room.

The door wouldn’t work any longer, but I was sure there was another way out. We thought monks had used the ladle in the past. If they did, they would need an escape route in case someone accidentally triggered the wheel of death.

Where was the emergency door?

The fountains were the first place anyone would go to escape the wheel. I held my breath as it rumbled past me again. Its weight and destructive force were frightening even though I was safe for now.

If the fountains were a natural hiding place, any escape door was probably located inside. I turned slightly and examined the outer wall of my fountain, looking for anything indicating a door. I pressed everything I could see and ran my hand over the surface of the walls and floor. Nothing happened.

What if I was in the wrong place? Did I have to check all the other fountains until I found the one with a door? What if my guess was incorrect, and I was looking for something that didn’t even exist? I closed my eyes. I decided to check all of the fountains on my side first, then cross over and investigate the other side. I didn’t know how long the big rock would keep its momentum, but I guessed it could continue moving for some time.

As the stone wheel rolled past me again on its way to the other side of the room, I jumped out of the fountain, ran as quickly as I could, and dove into the next fountain.

After examining it, I realized there wasn’t a door in this location. Two fountains later, I sat back to catch my breath and looked across the room. Something caught my eye in the fountain directly across from me.

A deity inhabited each fountain. The one across from me held a representation of the Stone Goddess. My heart sped up. Was that the fountain with the door? It would make sense to indicate which fountain had the escape route. The Stone Goddess kills, but the Stone Goddess also saves. There was a poetic symmetry somewhere.

I prepared myself and waited. As the stone wheel rolled past again, I dashed across the room and scrambled up into the fountain of the Stone Goddess. I made it with only a second to spare as the rock rumbled past me once more.

A moment later, I was examining the alcove, searching for a mechanism to open a secret door. I pressed everything imaginable, but I found nothing.

Did Ven have much more time? What if he was already dead? When Morley and I lifted him, Ven had groaned, so he was alive at the time. I clung to the hope that I could find Ven with time to spare, but that would only be true if I got out of here.

My arms were still covered in white dust. Was something the matter with white dust? It was dangerous, but I carried a cure with me.

I took the ladle out of my shirt and grabbed onto the Stone Goddess’s hand, using her to hold steady as I reached into the water and filled the ladle.

I took a sip, relishing in the cold drink. As I refreshed myself, a previously-unseen door swung open by itself, revealing a dark passageway. Either pressing on the hand of the Goddess opened the door or taking a drink did.

Before I left, I was going to take some magic water with me. I carefully filled the ladle again, then moved awkwardly around the fountain into the dark passageway. A giant insect dropped down in front of me, and I batted it away. Shuddering, I stood up in the passage.

I was comfortable with man-made obstacles, but I didn't like any biological threats. It was dark in the tunnel, and it was difficult for me to see. I hoped I wouldn’t run into anything terrible.

After a few minutes of clumsily shuffling through the darkness, I bumped into a door and spilled some of the precious water.

“Fuck.” I felt around, being careful not to drop any more. I didn’t know if the amount of water was crucial but it might be the difference between life and death for Ven.

The door swung open, revealing so much light that I started to blink. I moved slowly out the door being careful not to empty the ladle. When my eyes had adjusted to the brightness, I saw Morley with his back to me, kneeling next to Ven. Ven was unconscious on the floor.

I strode ahead, keeping my eyes focused on the ladle. As I approached, Morley heard my footsteps and turned around. “My girl, I thought I lost you.” There were tears in his eyes.

“I’m tough to kill.” I smiled when I saw he was alive. “I brought the ladle, and it’s full of water.”

“Ven needs it right away. He stopped breathing.”

I knelt down beside Ven. His body looked as solid as a board, and he was clenching his muscles. Morley was on his other side and opened Ven’s mouth.

“Do you think I should just pour it in?”

Morley nodded, his eyes shining. He had waited twenty-five years for this moment.

I placed the ladle against Ven’s lips and tried to keep my hands from shaking. I tipped it carefully until all the water dribbled into his mouth. After that, all we could do was wait.

After a minute had passed, there was no sign of movement. My tiny flicker of hope turned into despair.

“This stupid ladle’s not doing anything.” I felt a lump in my throat. Everything we sacrificed had been in vain. Ven was going to die today. I couldn’t stand it.

“Be patient.” Morley was trying to be kind, but I could see he was losing hope. The years spent searching had been a fool’s errand. We had risked our lives for an illusion.

I closed my eyes, pressing my fingers against his neck, tears spilling out as I frantically checked for a pulse. Nothing. He had no heartbeat.

Ven was gone.