"Ready?"

  "I think so."

  Arada gave her brother an encouraging look. "Then let's go."

  After she said it, they stepped onto the sandy ground that had been submerged under water all day. As soon as they felt the ground beneath their shoes, they broke into a run.

  "I don't think it's going to get much lower than this," Arada said. "We can't linger; who knows how quickly the tide will start rising."

  As they sprinted over the soggy seabed, Arada watched as a path gradually revealed itself toward the other shore. The tide was at its lowest point now, with the waves retreating as if they were prey being chased by a hunter.

  Irgos looked up, where dark clouds had gathered from the north. The pale blue glow on the western horizon was the only source of light left.

  "I can't believe this is the third thunderstorm in a week," Irgos said. "We never had weather like this in Overmore."

  "Maybe it's just coincidence," Arada thought. "Or the weather here is just different from Overmore." She remembered how many people had contributed to creating a dynamic ecosystem there. But it seemed unlikely that it would completely shield them from the rger weather systems.

  "Whatever it is, Aplin was right," she continued. "The climate really is all messed up."

  Irgos nodded. "And we haven't even talked about the tornadoes..."

  What?

  For a moment, she wasn't sure if she'd heard him correctly. She looked at her brother as if he'd made friends with Culex.

  "Oh," he said, noticing her extremely confused look. "When you were sleeping in Aplin's bunker, we talked for a bit. He told me that, some years back, a tornado fttened part of Ebrotown."

  Arada didn't want to believe it.

  "But they don't happen here," she protested. "Only in other continents or books. But not in Catsroes."

  Irgos snorted. "That's what I thought, too. But after the chaos we've seen in this nd, I'm not sure of anything anymore. Jelly monsters, Gian..., uh, Culex, magnetic belts, and hydrohovers—what else is out there?"

  Man, a tornado?

  "Tell me more about it ter. Right now, let's just make sure we don't get soaked."

  Raindrops started falling one by one. The clouds released more and more water, and before they knew it, they were running through a downpour. The rain made the seabed even soggier, which made running a real challenge.

  Arada gnced at the tide. It hadn't seemed to recede any further for some time.

  "We have to hurry," she called through the pouring rain to her brother. "The ebb has already peaked."

  "Got it."

  * * *

  After about twenty minutes of running, the opposite shore was close enough that they could almost taste victory. They were soaked to the bone, exhausted, and hypothermic. But stopping wasn't an option. The mainnd was the only thing giving them courage, the only thing keeping them going. Especially the promise of the answers waiting for them in Aquinox.

  Arada gnced over at Irgos. His face was a mix of sweat and rain, making it impossible to tell one from the other. But like her, he looked like he was at his limit.

  We're almost there. Just a few more minutes, then we'll find some shelter.

  Finally, the storm decided to join them. Distant rumbling rolled over the sea. Fshes of lightning lit the sky, their only source of light guiding them to the shore.

  At one point, a bolt of lightning struck very close. For a moment, their entire path became visible. Compared to before, the strip of nd had narrowed significantly. The surf crept closer by the minute.

  Arada's attention was drawn to something on the path ahead of them.

  What is that?

  But as soon as the lightning fsh disappeared, she couldn't see it clearly.

  Did I see that right? Did that sand... move?

  The next fsh confirmed her suspicion.

  Somewhere between them and the shore, mounds of sand were shifting. It looked as if something was trying to break through from underground.

  Irgos seemed to notice it too.

  "Sis..." he panted. "What... is... that..."

  Suddenly, the ground gave way where the sand was moving. A rge mass of sand was pushed upward, and a gigantic gray snake-like creature rose from the ground, stretching itself upward. The thing stopped about ten meters above the ground, and it became clear how massive this creature was: it had a diameter of at least two meters.

  Arada and Irgos were forced to stop, halted by the unexpected obstacle.

  Is that... a worm?

  As if in response, the tip of the creature turned toward them. As the next fsh of lightning illuminated the sky, its 'head' became clearer. A single, rge, round eye stared at them.

  Though most of its body was still underground, the worm sprang into action. As fast as lightning, it lunged at the two of them. Arada reacted instinctively, diving to the left. She nded on her knees in the edge of the oncoming surf. If the rain hadn't soaked her already, she'd definitely be drenched now.

  But Irgos's reflexes were no longer sharp. She saw the worm sweep past the spot where she'd stood just a second earlier. Irgos tried to dodge, but at that moment, the worm ricocheted off the side of its own body, hitting him. As she got back to her feet, she watched helplessly as Irgos was catapulted backward by the enormous force.

  "IRGOS!" she shouted after him.

  The next fsh of lightning revealed something that nearly stopped her heart.

  Irgos had nded far back on their route, in an area already overtaken by the water. The water had an abnormal green color.

  Cold bloom.

  She sprinted toward where her brother floated on the water. He y motionless, in the middle of a color Aplin had warned them about. Her heart sank as he didn't move.

  Meanwhile, the massive worm crawled from its hole, heading toward the unconscious Irgos.

  "IRGOS!" she tried again, desperately.

  But it was no use.

  What now? If I don't do something, it's going to take him.

  The worm's tail slid forward, moving slowly in pursuit. It didn't seem to notice her.

  Wait. The crossbow.

  With one motion, she pulled Aplin's weapon off her back and loaded a bolt. She fired, hitting the worm's thick skin.

  For a moment, the worm paused and turned its head. Its single eye locked onto Arada.

  "Damn. Its hide is too thick. This isn't going to work."

  With little regard for the wound, the worm advanced on its new target. Its body slid silently across the wet sand.

  That thing is way too fast for its size.

  Another bolt of lightning rumbled through the air. As their new enemy dove straight for her, its angry eye stared her down.

  Arada loaded another bolt and aimed for the eye.

  I only have one left after this. I can't afford to miss.

  As if the creature sensed her pn, it twisted to the side, lunging at her from a different angle.

  Caught off guard, she adjusted her aim and fired. The bolt whizzed just above the worm's head.

  Damn.

  In her mind, she heard its devilish eye ughing at her. As it attacked, she spun, barely dodging the monster's sweep. It slid right past her.

  That was too close. If we hadn't rested on that isnd, I'd be dead by now.

  The worm regrouped, sliding back to where it had first emerged from the ground. At the same time, Arada loaded her st bolt.

  "This one has to nd," she said to herself. "Hold on, Irgos."

  The worm paused, seeming to eye her warily, waiting for her next move. Arada summoned every st bit of focus she had left.

  Suddenly, the worm raised its neck again. Just like before, it loomed several meters above her.

  It's about to lunge again. I have to shoot now.

  She aimed just above its head and fired.

  But as she watched the bolt fly through the air, she already knew it was a lost cause.

  Way too high.

  The worm noticed too, ducking slightly, dodging the high bolt.

  As she watched in despair, the underside of the clouds lit up. She felt the charge in the air increase. With a deafening roar, the clouds broke, releasing a blinding white light.

  Wait a minute... doesn't lightning always hit the highest point?

  Just as she thought that, she saw the bolt strike her still-airborne arrow, burning it to ash. But the charge hadn't yet reached the ground. The lightning found the shortest path down—through the worm.

  The heat from the incinerated bolt hit the worm right in its eye. As the rest of the charge hit it, electricity crackled through its body. When it was over a second ter, its only eye was bckened, along with its head. Lifeless, it lost its bance and colpsed into the water, motionless, like a giant beached fish.

  If we survive this, I'm going to start believing in gods, she thought, offering a silent thanks to the universe.

  But the fight with the worm had cost her precious time. The sandbar between the isnd and the coast had now vanished. She noticed a thin yer of seawater already pping over her shoes.

  The shore's gone. We're out of time.

  Arada didn't waste a second and rushed back to Irgos. He was still there, in the fluorescent green hue of the cold bloom. It clung to his soaked clothes like seaweed.

  She knelt beside him and checked his pulse.

  Weak, but he's still alive.

  She shook him vigorously.

  "Irgos. Wake up. We're out of time."

  Irgos y unconscious, his eyes closed, his brown hair drifting in the water.

  "IRGOS!" she pleaded desperately. "Please."

  She tried shaking him awake again, but it was no use. She felt tears well up. A familiar feeling washed over her, the same feeling she'd had when Irgos was attacked by the jelly monster outside Ebrotown—the feeling that she was about to lose the only person she had left in a world consumed by chaos.

  This can't be happening. Irgos, you have to stay with me.

  Realizing he wouldn't wake, she had only one choice.

  I have to drag him to shore. Before I lose my footing here.

  The lightning sounded farther away now. The worst seemed to be over.

  She grabbed Irgos under his arms and dragged him through the shallow water across the ground.

  Bro, I never realized you'd be this heavy.

  But she was spent. Exhaustion was taking its toll, and all strength had left her arms. Frustrated, she id Irgos down. She had only managed to move him a few meters.

  Her courage sank further when, even in the darkness, she saw the fluorescent green sludge floating between her legs.

  The cold bloom has spread over the entire water surface now. We must both be infected. How long until it takes over our bodies?

  She tried to pull Irgos along again. But again, she dragged him only so far.

  Wait! The worm...

  The lifeless body of the worm was still lying in the rising water, forming an unnatural bulge.

  But it gave her one st idea.

  If I use the worm... Yes, this has to work.

  She gathered her st bit of strength and pulled her brother with all her might forward. Once there, she id Irgos with his back against the creature's body, positioning his arms above his head.

  Now to lift him up.

  She climbed onto the rough hump and leaned against the worm on the other side, gripping Irgos's hands as she let herself slide backward.

  It worked. The rain had made the worm's skin slippery. Thanks to its curved shape, she was able to hoist him out of the water, lifting him onto the monster that had cornered them just minutes ago.

  She stopped once Irgos was more or less on top. Then she climbed up herself and turned her unconscious brother a quarter turn.

  This way he'll be more stable.

  Below, the infested water swirled around the dead worm, ready to engulf it completely.

  Now what? Soon, the water will rise here too, and then he'll drown.

  She tried once more.

  "IRGOS!" she yelled into his ear, checking his pulse.

  It's too weak. Something's not right.

  She could no longer hold back her emotions. Tears streaming, she searched desperately for a solution.

  Not Irgos. NOT IRGOS.

  But there was absolutely nothing she could do. She had nothing with her except her crossbow and an empty quiver. There was nothing that could save them from this situation.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw a light. She snapped her head to the mainnd, but as soon as she searched for the light, she found nothing.

  Probably just another lightning fsh. Or am I imagining things? Damn. I have no choice. I have to reach the shore and find something that can save him. A boat, or a raft.

  She took one st look at her brother. Her heart ached at the thought of leaving him behind.

  "Hold on," she said aloud, her voice breaking. "I'll be back. As fast as I can."

  With that, she jumped off the worm and waded through the knee-deep water, heading toward the shore where she thought she'd seen a light signal.

  The water was now so high that walking was a struggle. With every step, she sank deeper. Not because the seabed dropped, but because the tide was rising rapidly.

  I'm not going to make it.

  She started to run, but as the water reached her hips, that was no longer possible. Swimming was her only option now.

  Only thirty meters left.

  She dropped onto her stomach, letting her arms do the st of the work. One by one, they pushed the water aside.

  Left, right, left, right.

  In the distance, thunder rumbled, indifferent to their desperate plight.

  Just... ten...

  Left, right, left, right.

  She felt her body pushing beyond its limits. But she had to keep going. She simply couldn't stop.

  We need... to reach Aquinox. We need... answers. We... have to—

  Suddenly, her left arm gave out. After a final stroke, it hung uselessly above her head.

  Argh! Cramp...

  Her body was finally giving off clear signals of malnutrition and extreme exhaustion.

  Not... now... she kept telling herself, even as dizziness set in and darkness clouded her vision. Must... keep... going...

  Just two meters away from the shore, all the blood drained from her head. The st thing she saw was her floating body drifting toward the beach.

  I can't... anymore...

  She felt her consciousness slipping. Her body was shutting down.

  I'm sorry... Irgos... I... I...

  The st thing she felt her head touch the cold sand.

  Then, everything went bck.