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“Oh no,” Dewey said, wrapping his arm around the dangling cord with the controls. “Hang on.”

Paige’s eyes went wide again as the yeti swiped at the car, crumpling the gate. The metal pushed into the elevator as it continued to trundle upward.

The angry abominable snowman growled and swiped again, jolting the car.

Paige swayed on her feet as the opening for the exit came into view. “We’re almost there!”

“Not gonna make it,” Dewey cried through clenched teeth. “He’s going to rip us from the cable!”

“Come on!” Paige said, tugging open the gate across from the mangled one.

Dewey let go of the cable and flew across the lift car, grabbing Paige’s scarf and tearing it from around her neck. He squeezed through the opening into the passageway above. “Come on, Paige. Squeeze through! I’ll get in my carrier.”

Paige slid her arms onto the ground above and poked her head through the opening. She kicked her feet, climbing the elevator wall and sliding through. She made it halfway, flailing her legs in the air to propel her forward.

Dewey wrapped Paige’s scarf around his belly, glancing at her as she struggled to haul herself through the opening.

His eyes grew wide, and he pointed a finger behind her. “Paige! Look out!”

The yeti grabbed the elevator car and tugged on it. It swung on the cable. The cable screeched, fraying from the tension.

“Oh no,” Paige said, freezing as the car smacked against the wall.

“Paige, get out of there,” Dewey shouted as the cable unfurled further.

He shook his head and threw the scarf down, buzzing over to Paige and grabbing her hands. His face scrunched as he batted his wings hard and tugged.

Behind them, the yeti shook the elevator car.

“Help me out, Paige. That cable’s not going to last much longer!”

Paige pulled her knee up as far as she could, digging her foot into the edge of the rock and pushing. She slid from within the elevator as the cable finally gave out. The car dropped down to the bottom with a massive boom.

She twisted to view the open shaft, her eyes wide and her heart still pounding.

The yeti peered from below, growling. He reached a massive paw toward the top and scrambled toward them.

“Let’s go,” Dewey shouted, already flying to the carrier and wrapping the scarf around him as quickly as he could.

He nestled into the blanket and flipped the top over him. Paige snatched the strap, tugging the zipper closed as she raced to the door and flung it open. Snow whipped in, sending an icy chill up Paige’s spine.

The yeti screeched behind them, climbing into the passage. Paige glanced over her shoulder, her eyes widening as the beast climbed to his feet, slouching not to hit his head.

She darted into the storm, letting the door swing shut behind her.

“I hope you’re bundled up,” she said as she pulled a glove onto her left hand and bit the other one between her teeth.

She mounted the snowmobile, shoving Dewey’s carrier behind her as she plopped onto the seat. She turned the key to the on position before she pulled the starter cord. The machine revved but did not start.

She tried again without success.

“Come on,” she mumbled with the glove still clenched between her teeth.

The door to the mines burst open, and the yeti scanned the landscape with narrowed eyes.

Paige’s heart thudded against her ribs, and she tugged frantically at the start cord to no avail. The yeti spotted her, a grumble emanating from it as it stalked forward.

“Come on, come on, come on,” she murmured under her breath.