Keeper of the Lost Cities: Elysian

Chapter 67

How could they return now?

Their only hope now was that Elysian and Sandor would somehow find them in the deep waters before the mysterious attacker returned...

She couldn't just swim up to the surface because she would be leaving Keefe alone... and also because she had no idea where the hole in the ice was.

Now what happened to them was out of their control. All they could do was wait.

Don't panic, Sophie told Keefe with the same vigor she was trying to use to convince herself. We just have to hope that the others somehow find us.

But what were the chances of that?

Crazy things were happening, and she knew every second, that the chances of her drowning, being murdered, and being stranded forever were steeply climbing.

It wasn't long before she began to feel lightheaded. She didn't know whether it was from hypoxia or hypothermia, or both.

She did something. She wasn't sure what she did, or how she did it, but she felt its existence.

A plea for help to the universe.

And somehow... she felt someone hear it.

And she followed that signal, that connection, far into the distance...

She can hear us, a voice whispered, hushed. But how? Wait- she can't know-

Then the connection was shattered forcibly, and Sophie felt the final strands slip away just like the splintered cords of the rope.

She slowed down her brain to process what had just happened.

Those voices again.

Who were they- and what were their purposes?

Some of Wyrden's words returned to her mind. One of your kind must harness light and dark... listen to the voices... and embrace the change.

It had been the foretelling of Elysian's story. But the voices she had heard hadn't led her in the right path- it had been the voice of the abyss all along.

What if the voices meant the one she was hearing now? What if Elysian's story wasn't over... and it was continuing with her?

Something touched her leg, and her entire being nearly exploded with terror.

But nothing happened, and she waited for a few seconds in confusion before hearing Keefe's transmission.

Sophie, it's Elysian! She's here!

Something touched her hand. Elysian's hand- it felt right.

The relief she felt was overwhelming, but it immediately was replaced with worry. Keefe, tell her that we're not safe yet- our attacker is still out there.

Would Elysian's presence be enough to scare them away?

I told her, Keefe said. She's telling you to grab onto the rope about two feet in front of you, and then follow it and swim up as quickly as possible. She'll grab me and won't be too far behind.

The rapid instructions clicked into Sophie's brain, fueling her anxiety.

She felt the rope and began following it in the direction she thought was up.

But what about her? Sophie asked. What if I just swim away and leave you to die?

We have no idea who this person... or creature is going after in the first place, Keefe reminded her practically. Although it was easy for him to be logical in this situation- he wasn't even fully conscious. Me? Elysian? You? All of us? For all you know, you might be putting yourself in danger by going off alone.