Page 127 of House of Lilith

“That about sums it up,” I say, in the most serious voice of the day.

And sure, due to orders from the Boss, I was planning on avoiding shifting altogether. Still, I hoped to at least have the option.

But there’s no time for ruminating. The crowd is already parting to let us players through, and there’s the Archon, standing in front of the lake, her chair behind her, and holding the Box in her hands with a somber look on her face.

It’s too early to be so worried,my fox’s voice booms inside my head as I lead Ricky down the path, a couple of pairs of players behind Romanov and her brother.We still don’t know what the Box will come up with.

“Well, don’t blame me for not holding my hopes up,” I tell him.

Once we’re all lined up on the shore and my pack's buddies have all taken their leave, the Archon clears her throat and motions for the Pied Piper and Gleason — who's replaced her as our Academy's representative — to shake hands to activate the Box. Once they do, retreating to take their seats in the bleachers, she gets Hourglass out and flings it in the air.

The next thing I know, there’s an island rising out of the center of the lake and a bridge shooting out of it, producing a thunderous thud when it connects with the mainland.

Then, for a second, there’s only silence. I hold my breath as I watch Hourglass flip over and the sand start running.

I frown, my eyes darting left right, expecting creatures to populate either the island or the water.

Instead, I see the air above the lake get thick and the subsequent fog turn a menacing green shade.

My head snaps to the Archon, but she's already taken her seat, her back now turned to me and her eyes fixed on the lake in front of her.

And just like that, the players start moving. My eyes get drawn to Romanov, but she’s already walking with her eyes fixed on the lake.

I force myself to tear them away and start approaching the water myself.

*

For one long moment, we all keep standing at the shore, waiting in almost complete silence, only broken by a low murmur coming from the audience and the wind playing with the reefs.

Then one of the girls, a Grimm, takes a hesitant step towards the bridge and stops.

My eyes narrow.

For a second, she keeps standing there, then takes a step back.

But the next thing I know, another one of the Grimms walks over to her and gives her a shove that could hardly be called gentle.

And she flies forward, only regaining her balance once her feet are already on the bridge.

I suck in a breath.

But seconds pass and nothing happens.

I watch the girl throw a glance over her shoulder, a surprised smile on her lips. Then she just starts walking, down the bridge and straight for the island, slowly picking up the pace.

Still, nothing happens.

Holding my breath, I keep observing and I think I notice her start slowing down, but just as I see her walk a third of the bridge, she comes to a stop and bends over a little, as if she’s catching her breath.

Must be the fog, I think to myself. I don’t know how she didn’t realize it was way too soon to get her hopes up.

But what happens next still takes me by surprise. She stands straight and she keeps stumbling forward, but now her shoulders are shaking and her knees are giving out and she’s producing this quiet little sob, making me grit my teeth in anticipation.

Then she stops, abruptly, making my heart skip a beat. And she turns around and she starts trying to walk back, obviously struggling as the quiet little sob turns into a pained wail.

My fists clenching, I keep my eyes fixed on her. And the wail turns into a deeply unsettling scream and the next thing I know…

She stops, she flings herself off the bridge and comes crashing into the water.

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