Page 38 of Ruined Kingdom

I needed to keep going. He needed me now more than ever. I could just feel it in my bones.

“Your grandmother is right. We have plenty of people out looking for him. A few hours of sleep will do you good,” Garmilen chimed in after I didn’t answer Tieni.

I snapped my head around to glare at Tieni. “I thought no one else knew about us.”

“Kaine doesn’t know. Garmilen… Well, I’ve been working with him for many years. He knew your mother—but that’s hardly what’s important right now. I seriously think you need to sit down and take a breath, at the very least.” Tieni raised her voice, trying to sound more commanding.

The sound of crunching leaves stopped as I planted my feet into the soft earth. I crossed my arms tightly in front of me as if it would bring me some comfort.

“How could I?” The words came out of my mouth so softly that I was sure no one else could hear me. “How could I rest when he’s out there suffering? I won’t stop. He would do the same for me.”

Sophia.

I snapped my head around, forgetting everything else.

I can hear you. Where are you?

Sophia… It’s so cold.

Don’t worry, I’m coming!

“He’s close. I can hear him.” I glanced at Tieni, who was confused because she couldn’t hear anything. I didn’t have the time nor the patience to explain anything further. I continued forward, following my instinct.

I could strangely feel myself getting closer to him. I approached what looked to be a giant rabbit hole surrounded by flowers and earth.

There was cold air puffing out of it as if it were breathing. Something about it was calling to me. “Guys, I think?—”

Before I could finish my sentence, my foot slipped, and I tumbled down into the hole.

Tieni and Garmilen’s voices got farther and farther away as I fell deeper into the darkness.

My body seized up, remembering the last time I’d been surrounded by darkness like this. All I could do was focus on the scent of wet earth and moss to remind myself that I was still alive and not floating in some “death abyss” somewhere.

Finally, my butt landed on something solid.

My eyes remained shut, but I felt around on the rock, which acted as my landpad.

I would have preferred to land on something much softer, but at least I didn't fall into the mouth of a monster. I peeled one eye open and glanced at my surroundings.

It was aglow with strange plants I’d never seen before.

I must have fallen into some cave system. I brought myself to my feet, taking a moment to rub my unbelievably sore butt before continuing forward. I was closing in on Kaine’s position now. I could feel it.

As I walked, I noticed how abundant the glowing flora seemed to grow around here. They appeared to be pulsating in rhythm to one another, as if they shared one heartbeat.

I reached out to a long yellow plant that resembled some sort of mushroom, and it closed in around itself, cutting out its own light. I had to be careful not to touch these or else I’d be in complete darkness down here.

That was when the sound of heavy breathing drew my attention away from the plants.

“Kaine?” I called out, only to hear the echo of my own voice coming back around to me.

Then I saw movement farther down the cave.

Relief swept over me.

I rushed to him without giving it much thought.

“Kaine, there you are?—”

---