I pushed past bushes and stumbled through tall grass. Even after crossing several fields, I could still hear voices shouting behind me. The rain poured, and lightning streaked across the sky. I had no idea where I was going as I made my way in the dark, and every time lightning flashed, I tried to take in as much as I could of the landscape. I climbed over a wooden fence, crossed another pasture, and kept moving forward.

Luke stayed to fight, to face men who had already overpowered him once back at the magic shop. He'd barely made it out of that fight alive. What were his chances this time?

A noise sounded close by, and I dove behind a bush and threw myself to the ground. I held my breath, waiting to be captured.

Nothing.

No sound of footsteps, no sign of flashlights. The night was now silent except for the occasional crash of thunder overhead. I didn't know how far I'd gone, but I was sure I wasn't far enough from the house to be completely safe.

I forced myself back to my feet. The rain was coming down in sheets. Drenched, I pushed my hair from my face and wrapped my arms around myself for warmth. I was cold, scared, and worried about Luke.

Is he still alive?

An image of Luke flashed before my eyes—of his body lying lifeless on the ground. I shook my head and forced the dark thoughts away. He would survive. I refused to consider any other possibility.

More lightning raced across the sky. I pushed through a thick row of thorny bushes that scratched my face and arms, and as I ran into another pasture. The ground suddenly disappeared from under me.

I reached out, grabbing for anything, but there was only empty space. I fell a long way down, knocking my arms and legs against something hard before slamming against the surface of water. I plunged down into the cold, wet darkness and the shock of the cold forced the oxygen from my lungs. My momentum had carried me down and I no longer knew which way was up, back toward the surface. I kicked my feet, my lungs near bursting for air, but my clothes and combat boots only dragged me farther down. I struggled, finally clumsily kicking off the heavy boots and began to rise. I kicked harder, forcing my body upwards.

When I didn't think I could survive a moment longer, I broke through the water's surface. I can breathe. I sucked in oxygen—sweet oxygen—and frantically moved my arms, trying to stay afloat.

I looked up and saw lightning zigzagging across the sky.

How far had I fallen? Ten feet? Twelve feet? I kicked forward, reached out, and felt smooth stone. I slowly swam, my fingers in constant contact with the stone surface.

A perfect circle—I'd fallen into a well. My arms and legs were bruised. I'd hit them against the wall on my way down. I looked up at the sky again as I searched the smooth rock with my fingers. There were no handholds. No way to climb up and out. The water was so cold, I began to shiver. Would I die down here? No one knew where I was. I forced down my panic and tried to stay calm.

I sensed something.

An unnatural chill ran down the back of my neck. A breeze moved past me. I had the feeling that whatever hovered near me wasn't of this world.

I heard a whisper. My ears strained to make out the words, but there were none—at least, none I could decipher. More noises that didn't sound human echoed in the small space.

I spun around in the water. "Who are you?" My words were forced out between chattering teeth.

Another growl, this one louder and closer.

"What do you want?" I desperately continued treading water, trying to keep my head above the surface.

"You," echoed in the darkness, and as it rang out, something grabbed my foot and yanked me under.

No! the word screamed inside me. I kicked hard, forcing myself back up. I broke the surface and sucked in a mouthful of air only to be pulled under again. Whatever had me was strong. I kicked and struggled, frantic to break free from its grip. I couldn't breathe. I did a couple of hard scissor kicks, and for a moment my head bobbed above the water again. I sucked in another lungful of air before it dragged me back under.

Whatever had me was going to drown me, just like that girl in the lake. Suddenly the image of Luke standing at the edge of the lake filled my mind. His head had cocked to the side as he listened for the murdered girl. What was her name? Sarah.

As soon as I recalled her name, I heard a small voice in the corner of my mind say, I'm here.

I opened my eyes, and in the dark water I saw a flicker of light. A face appeared before me—the face of a pretty girl about my age.

"I'm here." The words were louder this time. As I heard them, a light expanded and encircled me, suspended in the water. I felt warmth fill my body. With it came a surge of strength.

I kicked powerfully and suddenly I was free. My arms moved like windmills as I frantically forced myself up to the surface. I gasped and sputtered for I'm not sure how long before I heard another growl. Fear ran through my body. I knew the thing would try and drown me again.

I had nowhere to go, nowhere to run.

Then a voice shouted my name. "Colina!"

I realized the sound came not from within the well, but from above.

The voice grew louder. "Colina!"

I looked up—lightning lit up the sky around a shadow this time.

Luke.

I frantically shouted back, "I'm down here! I can't climb out!"

"They're coming. Hide and stay quiet, I'll come back and get you out when they leave." Luke spoke in a harsh voice, almost too soft to hear in the echoing darkness of the well. His silhouette hung above me for a long second. Then he disappeared.

"Luke," I whispered. There was nothing but silence.

I kept treading water, so cold now that I could no longer feel my face. My limbs were frozen, and I was having trouble forcing them to cooperate. But I had to keep moving. I have to stay afloat.

I heard a sudden commotion overhead, loud voices shouting. I was about to shout back when I realized it wasn't Luke speaking. A flashlight shone down against the wall of the well a few feet above me. I watched as the circle of light started to slide toward me, illuminating everything in its path.

I've got to hide.

I knew what I had to do, but oh, I didn't want to. My mind and body rebelled against the idea of forcing myself back down into the dark water. The light was only a few inches above me now. I took a deep breath and allowed myself to sink.

I kept my eyes open, searching for—what? To my surprise, I realized I wanted to see Sarah's reassuring face, but there was nothing but inky blackness before me. I held my breath. I had to stay under as long as I could, but I felt so cold I didn't know if I'd be able to move my limbs again to swim to the surface. My thoughts began to slow down. My lungs burned. I felt as if I were huddled in a cocoon or wrapped in bubble wrap. It would be so easy to just let the water in and end it all.

Just let the water in, a whisper suggested in the corner of my mind.

Horrified, I realized the thought hadn't come from me. Something else was talking to me, trying to lull me into doing the one thing I shouldn't do. It wanted me to die, but I refused to give in. Luke needed me. Darla needed me. I forced my legs to move, to kick and I pushed through the water with my hands, willing the surface to appear. One more stroke, another kick. I was almost there.

Finally, I broke the surface. I looked up into quiet darkness. Only thunder rumbled in the distance.

I treaded water and waited. Luke will be back soon. He will save me.

The cold was seeping into my limbs and making my thoughts sluggish. In a moment of delusional panic, I wondered if it actually had been Luke calling my name, telling me to keep quiet. Had I really seen him? Or had it been wishful thinking? Time passed, and my whole existence narrowed to how cold I'd become. I'd never felt so frozen.

There was a loud splash, and then something brushed against the back of my head. I immediately thought of whatever had pulled me down earlier and envisioned it touching me. I cried out in panic.

But then I spied a figure standing above. "Grab the rope," Luke called down.

I turned and reached for it. Or at least, I tried to. "I c-can't climb up...t-too cold...I'm s-so c-cold," I barely managed between shakes.

"Tie it around you!" he shouted.

I knew about knots. My brother James had loved to rock climb. He'd taken me with him on a few adventures over the years. Thanks to him, I knew how to rappel down a cliff.

I can do this. I grabbed the rope, but I could barely feel my hands. My fingers fumbled; it took me a half dozen tries before I got the rope around my chest and made a decent knot.

"I'm ready!"

The rope jerked, and slowly I began to rise.

When I approached the mouth of the opening, Luke rasped, "You have to climb out the rest of the way."

I grabbed at the dirt and grass, pushing with my feet against the stone. Somehow, I pulled myself out of the well and collapsed.

Luke fell next to me, breathing hard. He touched my shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"I'm...c-c-cold," I said between tremors. The shivering had grown worse, far more violent now that I was out in the open air.

Luke rose to his feet and pulled me up into his arms. "There's a barn about a quarter mile from here. It's where I found the rope."

I tried to walk, but my legs wouldn't work.

Without warning, Luke swung me into his arms. "I've got you."

Warmth wrapped around me. It felt good to be in his arms again. I rested my head against his shoulders, closed my eyes, and let him carry me toward shelter.