Page 105 of Akarnae

“Through the river,” came the reply, as if it was obvious. At least she’d been given a straight answer and not another riddle this time. But still…

“I just crossed the river,” she said. “Remember?”

“I didn’t sayoverthe river, butthroughthe river.”

Alex looked at the rapidly moving water and took a defensive step away from the edge.

“Nuh-uh, no way,” she said. “You dropped me in here, so you can just fly me straight back out, thanks.”

“It doesn’t work that way,” the Library told her. “If you always relive the same experiences, you’ll never learn new skills or have opportunities to develop your character.”

“I’m pretty happy with my character as it is,” Alex said, staring at the water with rising trepidation. It was as if the river was becoming more violent the longer she looked at it. Even the craziest adrenaline-seeking daredevil would think twice before taking a plunge into the fathomless depths.

“Challenges are beneficial, Alexandra,” the voice said. “They make life interesting. Isn’t that why you came searching for me today—because you were bored?”

“Bored, yes. But not suicidal,” Alex argued. “And I wasn’t looking for you. I was just… looking around.”

“For a distraction.”

“Yes,” she reluctantly agreed.

“And here you’ve found one.”

Alex looked at the water again. Was it just her imagination, or did it look even deeper and darker than before?

“Do I have a choice?” she asked. She wanted another option;anyother option.

“You always have a choice,” the voice reminded her. “This one is just simpler than some of the others that you have faced—and have yet to face.”

“So, I can either stay stuck down here until I starve to death, or I can leave andmaybesurvive—but that’s not necessarily guaranteed at this stage? Great choices I’ve got there.”

“And yet, they’re still choices.”

Alex huffed out a breath. “Okay, I’m sorry if this offends you, but it has to be said: you’ve kept me safe so far, but, well, you’re abuilding.Sentient or not, I’m having a hard time accepting your guidance, especially when it comes to these die-hard trust exercises. Are yousurethere aren’t any other options?”

There was silence for a moment, and then—

“I’ve enjoyed speaking with you, Alexandra,” the voice said, and to Alex’s annoyance, it sounded amused. “I hope we have the opportunity again soon.”

Just like that the voice left, leaving Alex completely alone to face the raging river in front of her. She paced a few steps up and back as she tried to convince herself that it would all turn out okay. Part of her knew she would be fine, but another part of her was terrified anyway. It was just like when she’d jumped out of Darrius’s room above the clouds. She hadn’t died then, so she wouldn’t die now.

Or so she hoped, anyway.

“You can do this,” Alex told herself, and before she could change her mind, she closed her eyes and took a running leap into the river.

The force of the current pulled her straight under the icy water, tearing at her body and tossing her around like a rag doll. Within seconds she was dragged through the exit fissure, and all traces of the cavern’s glowing luminescence disappeared, leaving Alex in pitch-black darkness.

She frantically pushed against the tide, swimming with all her might to reach the surface for some much-needed air. The lack of light was terrifying, and even when she finally managed to break through the top of the water, the darkness was all around her still, along with the loud, echoing noise of the churning river.

The further Alex travelled, the more frightening the darkness became. She couldn’t see anything, not even her own hand in front of her face. In fact, she was becoming so cold that she could hardly evenfeelher hands. She needed to get out of the water, and soon.

Alex felt a shift in the current as it began to pick up speed. The noise grew louder, and as the river churned and gurgled she had a sudden, horrifying idea about where it ended.

“Oh, please no,” she gasped, as a faintly glowing light brought her destination in sight.

The river was about to end, all right. In a waterfall.

Alex struggled to move her frozen limbs, but it was too hard to battle the current. She barely managed to put up a fight before she was falling over the edge.

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