Danika held the rope tightly as she looked over her shoulder at the ground several meters below her. Above her, Nicolas was busy setting the next anchor utilizing the cams, nuts, and hexes he’d assembled for their climb. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves, pushing the rope away from her as she waited for Nicolas to finish so she could start her belay. She’d only climbed a few times and found the entire experience physically and emotionally draining.

“Dani, you can start your ascent,” Nicolas yelled to her. He was about 15 meters above her but he may as well have been two kilometers. She checked the clips and safety devices and began her ascent. It took her several minutes to reach him and when she did, her legs were shaking and spent. The top of the mountain was still another hundred meters or so above them. She sighed and waited as Nicolas transferred the rack to her.

They had taken turns for the better part of the morning, making their way up the east side of Naica Mountain. While it was the steepest way to reach the summit, it was also the least likely to be patrolled by drones. When Nicolas had approached her with the idea of taking two separate teams to meet near the caves, she had eagerly agreed. Now she was questioning the wisdom of that decision. She swiped the back of her hand across her brow, wiping the sweat that had beaded on her forehead. While they had started at sunrise, it was now almost noon and the heat of the day was beginning to take its toll.

“You’re doing great, Danika,” Nicolas encouraged her. She thought she detected a hint of pride in his voice and she beamed under the compliment.

“I think someone’s going to owe me huge when this is over,” she smiled, laughing as he chuckled over her bribe.

Reaching in front of her, she set the next anchor, working as quickly as she could, but double checking her work to ensure their safety. She ran the rope through the anchor and, hoisting herself forward, began setting the next anchor. It was tedious, physically demanding work, but it also made her feel more alive than she’d felt in a long time.

“I swear I’m getting slower and this mountain is getting taller,” she said over her shoulder.

Below her, Nicolas laughed. “Take your time, chérie. I’m enjoying the view.”

She smiled, wondering if he was referring to the breathtaking scenery or her ass. She wanted to think it was the latter.

She continued climbing and setting anchors for the next hour. When she reached the summit, she set the last anchor and pulled herself onto the flat surface. She rolled onto her back, breathing hard, glad to be at the summit. She closed her eyes, enjoying the hard ground beneath her and the chance to rest her arms and legs. Several minutes later she heard Nicolas pull himself onto the summit, dropping next to her, his clothes clinging to him. His usually perfect hair fell across his forehead and into his eyes, the locks damp from perspiration. He stretched out on his back, folding his arms beneath his head.

“Tell me again why we just couldn’t come up the west side where there’s actually a trail,” Danika laughed.

Nicolas reached over and found her hand. “I know this was strenuous, chérie, but most necessary. We can’t risk the Order discovering you or finding your sister. We can move much quicker with only the two of us, oui?”

She loved the way he infused French into his English. A smile lit her face as she squeezed his hand back. She knew why they had separated from Duncan and Caitriona, but she was grateful for the playful reminder, especially when her arms and legs were screaming at her.

Giving his hand another squeeze, she got up and began undoing their ropes and lines, stuffing their gear into the backpacks they had abandoned as soon as they reached the summit.

After several minutes of watching her work, Nicolas got to his feet. “Shall we?” he pointed ahead. She handed him his pack and nodded, falling in behind him. He set a moderate pace she found easy to match. From here, they would go across the summit and then descend the short distance until they met up with Caitriona and Duncan near the entrance to the caves. Once together, they would attempt to channel their energies with the help of the Crystal Caves. If they were successful, it would open an entirely new playing field in their fight against Hawkins.

The trek across the top part of the mountain didn’t take long. Within 30 minutes the ground began to slope and they started their descent. The trail—if Danika could call it that—grew more narrow, and they were forced to move back to a single file formation.

“What’s next if this doesn’t work, Nicolas?” Dani called out to him, tired of walking in quiet solitude. She needed conversation and human connection.

“I’m not sure, chérie,” he said, holding out his hand as he helped her over some large rocks. It was a chivalrous move since she’d just climbed her way up the face of a mountain, but she accepted his hand, her face flushing at the feelings his touch evoked. “If we follow Caitriona’s visions, then we have to assume there is power in our combined energies. If this doesn’t work, we will need to explore other angles.”

Danika didn’t press him further and they continued walking in silence. Nicolas didn’t seem interested in talking so she trudged along, lost in her own thoughts. Danika shifted her pack on her shoulders, the weight of the equipment and supplies digging into her flesh. She wished they could have used one of the shuttles, but Duncan and Nicolas didn’t want to call attention to their expedition. She also wished she could have said goodbye to her sister. The last time she’d seen her sister, they’d argued about the unborn child Caitriona carried. She couldn’t imagine the horrors and atrocities Caitriona must have endured at the hands of Hawkins, but she did know the child inside her deserved a chance at life.

Nicolas stopped walking and unscrewed the lid on his canteen, taking a deep drink of water. He offered her a sip and she took the canteen, taking a long drink before handing it back. The water felt cool and refreshing. She wet her lips and slid the backpack from her shoulders, setting it at her feet.

“How are you doing, Danika?” Nicolas asked, eyeing the pack.

“I’m fine,” she lied. “Just taking advantage of the stop.” She grinned at him. He arched an eyebrow but didn’t challenge her further.

“Not more than another hour,” he told her. “I can feel Caitriona. They are close.”

Danika breathed a sigh of relief. She would be glad to see her sister again, and in truth, was excited to test her powers as well.

“Can you feel the baby?” Danika asked, changing the subject.

“No, chérie. It could be the baby is still too young. I will try again when she is further along.”

“Or it could be the child is Hawkins’ and doesn’t have a strong enough connection to magic, right?” she asked.

“Possibly, but it’s too early to say and this is uncharted territory for all of us.” He seemed lost in his own thoughts, unwilling to continue the conversation. “Come, chérie. The others will be waiting.” He retrieved her pack from the ground and helped slide it onto her shoulders. Placing the canteen back around his neck, they started out once more, the unanswered questions and uncertain future lingering between them.