Page 48 of The Girl Out of Time
“We’re going to fall,” Emmeline breathed.
“I’ll pull you up. Just wait…”
She looked up, her eyes wide. “You’re sliding toward me. The floor can’t hold.”
“I’m not giving up!”
One of her hands slipped; she screamed and swung in a wide arc. “You have to let me go, or we’ll both fall.”
What on Earth—“Are you out of your mind?”
“It’s how it always is in the books.”
In another situation, he might have laughed. “This isn’t a book!”
“Theo, let me—”
With one last loud crack, the floor gave in. Time slowed as Theo was dragged into the depths with Emmeline. For the longest second, heconsidered how to save them. If he could reach her and wrap her into his arms; if they fell at the right angle, could he make them roll away—
Below them, a few feet off the ground, the air shimmered like it would on a blistering hot day. Theo caught Emmeline and pulled her into a hug. He prepared for the inevitable crash with the ground …
And then the ground disappeared.
Chapter 13
The first thing Theo heard were the soft tones of violins. Then, voices—hushed, murmured—and the clinking of glass. Perhaps a standard post-death reception?
Damn. Wescott will not stand for me dying.
He opened his eyes to a dimly lit corridor of some mansion, or a castle, even, with a patterned red-and-gold rug that ran along the hallway and a few lit sconces casting soft shadows upon the stone walls.
“No chance.” Emmeline was next to him, getting the scope of their surroundings. “I did it again.”
He touched his cheek—felt warm and real enough. “We’re not dead. How are we not—where are we?”
“I have an inkling.” She grabbed him by the hand and led him down the hallway.
It opened into a long, spacious room. There were the violins—in the arms of a quintet, performing on a raised stage—and there were the murmurs and clinking of glasses from dozens of people, dressed in elaborateclothes: wide-skirted gowns for the ladies and embroidered coats with lace jabots, long waistcoats, and silk stockings for the gentlemen. They wore masks, ranging from simple black bands to entire sculptures topped with gems and feathers.
Mirrors, decorated with wide silk ribbons in different colors, lined the walls, reflecting the guests and the light from the massive chandeliers hanging off the vaulted wooden ceiling. By the shorter wall opposite the musicians’ stage stood a table lined with plates of pastries and a massive bowl of punch.
None of this made any sense.
“We’re back,” Emmeline whispered. She seemed more excited than shocked, or surprised, even.
“Back where?” What happened?Did they fall and survive, but he hit his head so hard he’d forgotten everything?
“In the past.” Emmeline ventured toward the dancing and conversing guests.
“Now, hold on.” He ran after her. “The past? How are we alive?”
“Oh. Right. This one is difficult to explain, especially because I’m not entirely sure of it myself, but …” She looked around, lowering her voice. “I think when we fell, I transported us here.”
“Youwhat?”
“Sometimes I make these—” A waiter passed by, offering champagne glasses. She took one and offered Theo another. He accepted—he felt he might need it. “Passages between different time periods,” she finished.
On the other hand, maybesheshouldn’t have any more alcohol.
