Page 57 of Poison Sun

This was a terrible idea.

Why didn’t I just fire travel to the other side? Why didn’t I even think about fire traveling to the other side?

Because I didn’t want Blaze to cross alone, I think, the answer coming to me quickly.

Plus, this bridge is the entrance to a different realm. I can’t fire travel between realms. And crossing the bridge is a right a passage to earn our way into the Valley of the Vanished.

Who’s to say I wouldn’t get jumped by something on the other side if I tried to cheat?

But, despite the excuses, I just didn’t want Blaze to cross alone.

Instead, I’m letting both of us put our lives on the line. Not the smartest thing in the world, but this bridge is made of wood and basically falling apart as it is. If I try to fire travel now, I could char the entire thing and send us tumbling into the river.

Not going to happen. Neither of us is going to drown today.

So, I take a deep breath, forcing myself to focus.

The only way across is forward.

Feeling more confident, I stay close behind Blaze. He constantly looks over his shoulder to check on me, making sure I’m okay before taking his next step.

We find our rhythm after crossing the halfway point.

Maybe this won’t be so bad. Maybe we’re going to make it without?—

A sharp crack shatters my thoughts.

My foot plunges through a rotted plank, and for a heart-stopping second, I’m falling.

Time stills as terror sweeps over me, and I’m frozen, only aware of the dark, white-capped river that’s about to swallow me whole.

Then, with a jolt, Blaze’s arms lock around my waist in a firm, unyielding grip. The momentum swings me back onto the bridge, and just like that, I’m safe.

“Got you.” His breath is warm against my ear, and the sound of the river fades, replaced by the rapid beating of my heart.

But the moment is fleeting, broken by the creak of another plank.

“Come on.” He grabs my hand and pulls me forward, throwing all attempts of being careful out the window. “Run!”

There’s no time to think. No time to question.

There are only our feet pounding against the wood, and I swear I feel the planks give way behind us, although I don’t dare look over my shoulder to check.

With one final leap, fueled by fear and adrenaline, we land on solid ground.

My final look at the bridge is seeing the last of it collapse into the water with a thunderous crash.

The river quickly sweeps away the rotted planks.

That could have been us.

My legs shake, my heart pounds, and I dig my fingers into the soft earth, as if it can keep me safe.

“We did it.” I take a moment to catch my breath, my eyes meeting Blaze’s in a shared moment of relief.

He throws back his head and lets out a victorious laugh, the tension visibly draining from his shoulders. “We did,” he agrees, and then he gets himself together, as serious as ever as he holds my gaze. “We’re a good team.”

“You saved me,” I say, breathless. “I was about to fall into that river, and you saved me.”

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