Page 19 of Daemonium

Lana’s gaze darted around, her head slowly turning this way and that as she scanned the woods. "This place gives me the creeps, even more than you ever have Ciaran.”

"Stay focused and stop flirting with me," he retorted.

Brody and Dion took up the rear, their heads swiveling as they kept watch. The rest of the group stayed in tight formation. As we continued along the trail, the lights began to grow dimmer, the fog thickening around us once more. Grace stumbled on a root, and I caught her, steadying her before she could fall.

"Careful," I murmured.

"Thanks," she replied, giving me a small, grateful smile.

We pressed on, the trail winding deeper into the woods.

"This is getting ridiculous," one of the fodder girls said, her frustration evident. "How long are we supposed to keep going?"

“I’m assuming until we reach the end,” my brother replied sarcastically, sticking close to Hayven who had resorted to ignoring him.

We kept going until we reached a small clearing. A large lake stretched out before us, and the start of a low bridge was visible, its end slanting down into the fog, making it impossible to see where it led. Off to the side, a sign in the form of a rhyme greeted us.

"Cross the bridge, take the plunge,

Beware the chill, it won’t last long.

Step by step, don’t you lag,

Or in the depths, you'll surely be dragged."

“I knew depths had to do with water,” Dion said with a sigh.

Maverick glanced at the sign and shook his head. “Looks like we’re in for a swim. Anyone bring their floaties?”

Roger voiced his doubt. “Are we seriously supposed to cross this? We don’t even know where it leads.”

“Then you can stay exactly where you are,” I replied bluntly, my patience wearing thin. I wanted nothing more than to make him stop breathing altogether, but I was keeping myself in check for Sunshine’s sake.

Without another word, we began to proceed, moving slowly forward onto the bridge. The wood creaked under our weight, and the fog continued to swirl around us, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead. As the bridge slanted down, we started to enter the water. It was chilling, the cold seeping through our clothes and biting at our skin. I used the opportunity to rinse my hands of the blood, on them relieved I could properly touch Sunshine again.

She shivered, and I reached for her hand, offering what little warmth I could. Each step took us deeper into the icy water. The others followed in silence.

Earl, the weak man Grace had decided to rescue was almost knee-deep when he boldly spoke. “I don’t like this. Not one bit.”

“Just keep moving,” Maverick encouraged, though his usual humor was absent.

As we continued, the water nearly rose to my waist and Sunshine’s stomach. I kept a close eye on her, ready to support her if she faltered. The bridge flooring suddenly turned to metal, a grate-like structure beneath our feet.

Lana cursed under her breath. “If it gets much deeper, I won’t be able to reach.”

“That’s why you have me,” Ciaran responded, his voice calm and confident.

She shot him a skeptical look. “How is that supposed to help in this situation? Unless you’re offering to be the door, and I can be Rose?”

He scoffed. “Don’t insult me, Puppet. We’d obviously drown in the icy water together.”

“Is that supposed to be romantic?”

“Sure. I’ll serenade you as we go down.”

Their banter, despite the circumstances, brought a small smile to Grace’s lips. Suddenly, a slowed and distorted version of "Ring Around the Rosie" began to play, the children's voices echoing through the fog.

"Oh, hell no," Dion uttered. "I've seen this movie before."

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