Spence lay on hard-packed dirt, wet from the swamp water that had rushed out from the hole they had opened. Morgan jerked him to his feet. He turned around and realized Caleb hadn’t made it through. “Caleb!”

He frantically searched for the hole in the dome but only saw crumbling buildings, ruin, and dirt. It was as if the dome had vanished, and they stood in the middle of a destroyed, modern city. He extended his staff in front of him. It stopped with a clack. He stepped forward and extended his hand. The dome wall was still there but was hard and felt like glass. He couldn’t see it or the world from which they had escaped. He struck it with his hand but didn’t create a ripple or feel any give. Morgan joined him, and they both began pounding on the invisible barrier. Nothing.

“Oh my God. Caleb!” Spence shouted. He struck his staff on the ground, but it didn’t activate. “I’ll blast another hole! We’ll get Caleb out.”

Then he slowly turned around and slid down the dome until he landed hard on the ground. The energy from the bread was gone, and exhaustion filled its place. Tears rolled down his cheeks. Morgan sat beside him, laying her head on his shoulder. He heard her sniffle too. Spence barely noticed when she reached over and placed her left hand in his right. He squeezed it absently.

Spence stared at their new surroundings. The landscape was flat, with gray dirt stretching out in all directions. On top of the earth stood the crumbling remains of a city, the buildings ranging from total piles of stone to massive chunks and half-standing structures. None had glass in their gaping windows. Sections of paved streets peeked out here and there from beneath the rubble and layers of dirt and dust. A strong, chill wind whipped through their clothing and hair.

The sky was gray, with streaks of brown swirled throughout. The clouds swirled and moved swiftly across the sky, with occasional streaks of lightning flashing within. The water around their feet rapidly disappeared, the dry ground hissing.

“Well, we escaped,” Morgan said.

“Yeah, but to where? And what now?”

They heard a scuffling sound to their right—rocks skidding across stone—and rotated their heads to locate the source of the noise. Spence detected movement coming out of a dark opening in the ruined base of a building. Half a dozen shapes detached from the darkness, their bodies and heads covered in dark, hooded robes. The group moved toward them in an unsteady gait.

“Fuck!” Spence wasn’t even startled at the word that just issued from his mouth. He was numb. He had never given up hope of returning to Earth or succeeding in Nibiru throughout the quest. But now, it was obvious that they weren’t going to survive. There would always be another monster to fight or another twist to the game. Eventually, they would lose.

“OMG! That’s the first time I’ve heard you curse! And the F-bomb at that. Good job.”

“Sorry. First time in my life I’ve felt the need. I think the wait was worth it, though.” He tried to muster a weak grin.

Spence wiped his eyes and regained his feet; Morgan rose beside him. He drew a dagger and slashed the ropes binding her bow and quiver. She grabbed her bow and quickly nocked an arrow, and Spence struck the butt of his staff on the ground. Enough time had elapsed since the tip glowed again, and the compartment slid open. He wanted to use the staff to attempt to save Caleb, but then it wouldn’t have time to recharge to face their new adversaries. Without Caleb’s sword and muscle, his staff would be critical to his and Morgan's survival.

“Out of the frying pan, into the fire.” He would at least go down fighting whenever he lost that final battle.

“Yep. Just the way we like it,” Morgan replied.