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“Bail out!” Dewey fluttered into the air as the car slowed to a stop.

He headed for the elevator as Paige peeked over the side of the car. The hefty monster twisted, his dark eyes following the wooden vehicle across the space. He narrowed his eyes, his bushy eyebrows wriggling before he pounded toward them and swung a balled hand at the mine car.

Paige’s jaw dropped as she ducked inside, clinging desperately to the wood surrounding her.

The yeti’s thick paw collided with the cart, sending it tumbling through the air. It smacked into the stone, smashing into pieces. Paige’s purple form slid down the wall while the air blew out of her lungs from the impact.

Her eyelids struggled to stay open as she fought to suck in gasps of air.

“Paige,” Dewey shouted.

The gigantic monster lumbered toward her, his blue-black nose wrinkling as he tugged his lips into a sneer.

Paige dug her feet into the ground, trying to push herself up and scramble to stand. Tears welled in her eyes when she realized she’d never make it in time. She squeezed her eyes closed, feeling the warm liquid gush onto her cheeks as she prepared for the fatal blow from the yeti.

“Paige! Get up,” Dewey shouted.

Paige opened one eye, her features still pinched in anticipation of the hit. The yeti hovered over her, his attention focused behind him.

Dewey buzzed around the yeti in a dizzying array, pummeling him with rocks. The white Sasquatch held his arms up, shielding his face from the attack as he roared with displeasure.

“Run for it,” Dewey shouted, tossing another rock that struck the creature in the head.

It growled and swiped in the air for Dewey. Dewey flitted away, circling behind it and hurling more rocks.

Paige used the wall to climb to her feet, steadying herself before she ran toward the elevator. She skidded to a stop when a cry sounded behind her. A glance over her shoulder made her eyes go wide.

The snow creature had caught Dewey, squeezing the little dragon in his massive paw. Dewey kicked his feet, pushing against the beast’s index finger as he tried to free himself.

His snout dove toward the finger and bit it.

“Get off him,” Paige shouted, racing back to the creature over three times her size and kicking it.

The furry snowman glanced down at her before he returned to squashing Dewey.

“I said, let him go!” Paige said, kicking his shin again.

“Run, Paige. Take the Holigramium and get out!”

“I don’t think so,” Paige said with clenched teeth. “Nobody hurts my partner and gets away with it.”

She leapt up, latching on to the creature’s long, coarse fur, and used it to climb up his lanky leg. She continued her ascent over his potbelly and up his chest before she reached his shoulder, scrambling onto the one opposite of the hand holding Dewey.

The yeti tried to swat her off, but she clung to the hair on his face, avoiding his hand.

With her teeth pressing into her lower lip, she cocked a fist and smacked the creature in the nose. “Let go! Let go!”

She bonked the black-blue button several more times as the creature cried out, waving his arms around while he tried to rid himself of his tiny attacker. His fingers unfurled, and Dewey flew free.

“I’m free! Jump, Paige!”

Paige gave the monster one last smack before she slid down his fur and landed in a tangle of limbs on the ground.

Dewey pulled her to stand, and she ran for the elevator with Dewey flying beside her. They entered the large cube and pushed the metal gate closed. Dewey pressed the button for the lift. It rose slowly into the air as the yeti stormed toward them.

“Come on, come on,” Paige mumbled under her breath as she jiggled her knees back and forth.

She shot a worried glance at the beastly creature thundering toward them. She flicked her gaze upward, wondering how far away they were from the next level.