Page 32 of Explorer’s Revenge

THIRTY

WILDER

S crambling around, I manage to grab Maeve’s dropped knife as she screams, being dragged to the edge. I slam the blade down on the rope, snapping it, and with a twang, it falls back into the hole as Logan hauls her away from the rim.

She’s panting, soaked, and wide-eyed, but she’s alive.

Gripping her face, I run my eyes over her. “How the fuck did you get out?”

“Just lucky, I guess,” she rasps, “but we won’t be if we stay here. We need to move.”

She’s right, but I steal one last look at the hole before helping her to her feet. I didn’t want to leave her, but I had to get my team to safety. I threw the rope in to head back down myself in search of her, but she beat me to it again. I guess I just keep losing to her.

Our bags are packed, so we toss them on, then I grab Maeve’s.

“Way, give me your bag.” I grab the one he throws, and he understands instinctively, hauling her up on his back despite her grumbling.

The heavens open, and rain lashes down. When I look up at the darkening sky, I realize it isn’t just a little rain.

“Shit, I knew the weather was getting bad. It’s a fucking storm. Our boat won’t come back in this. I hope it lets up,” I lament.

Logan pulls something out and looks at me with an anxious expression. “Not just a storm, it’s a fucking hurricane, and we are in its path. They aren’t getting to us anytime soon.”

“We have bigger issues,” I comment as I glance around at the city.

“Like what?” Rick asks worriedly before looking at the hole.

“We are in a valley. If this is a hurricane, then it’s likely this whole place will flood and be under water.” I meet their eyes. “That would turn it into a perfect hunting ground for that thing. We need to get to high ground now.”

That gets everyone moving.

The dirt roads turn into a maze of slippery slopes, but we climb up as fast as we can. Maeve clings to Way, and I know she hates it, but it’s faster for us, and when we reach the steps, I let them go first. I keep my eyes on them as Way climbs, holding her under her thighs to secure her.

“Go,” I order Aiy. He nods and keeps his hand on her back as he ascends behind them.

“Brother,” Rick begins.

“Go,” I demand, pushing him and Logan up the steps. I stay in the back, my machete out just in case—not that it would do much against that . . . thing.

The ground shakes, and a bellow reaches us. That monster is mad.

I glance up to find Maeve and my team near the top, so I spare the chasm one last look before I turn and sprint up the stairs faster than I have ever moved in the past.

I find them waiting at the top, all looking into the city. No wonder no one has found it. They probably have but didn’t survive to tell the tale.

I glance back to see the hole filling with water. The rain is going to flood the valley. The creature is next to it, looking massive even from this far away, and as it lifts its head, bellowing a strangely beautiful sound into the storm, I realize just how truly fucked we are.

“Wilder,” Rick murmurs.

“I know. High ground, now. We’ll take shelter only when we get there. It will eventually grow bored,” I say.

“Are you sure?” Logan asks as he stares at it. “It looks mad as hell.”

“I’m sure. We didn’t see it outside of the island, so it has to stick close to here. Animals are territorial. We probably stumbled into its home and made it angry. Out of sight, out of mind.” I push my wet hair out of my face. “Let’s move.”