Daniel sits up and scrubs his face. "No," he groans, "she just needed some space."

Ava straightens. "Is someone in here with you?"

"Did something happen? Where's Rae?"

Ava flinches. "It was just a bad dream. I'm sure she's fine."

I grab Ava's shoulders. "Your dreams aren't just dreams. What did you see?"

Ava shakes her head. "No. I'm wrong. Why would Erick-?"

"You saw Erick? Where, Ava!?"

"I-I don't know. It was dark and Rae was running. She was scared."

"Stay here, wake the others. I'm going to find her." I yank my shoes on and Daniel gets off the bed.

"What? I'm sure she's fine. Ava said it was just a dream."

"You don't get it!" I shout at him. "Ava's been right about everything so far. I'm not taking the risk! If Erick's done something to her... I'll kill him."

I dash out the door and down the motel stairs. I leave the gates behind, despite the guards shouting at me to come back.

"RAE!" I scream.

It's dark out. The moon is hidden behind clouds. I can't see anything.

"Raven!" Daniel catches up to me and pulls me back. "Stop! It's too dark to see anything. You won't be able to find her."

I shove at his chest. "Get off me! I should've brought her back as soon as she left! I should've known something would happen!"

"It's not your job to know."

"Yes! It is! With Will go-gone, it is all on me. They look up to me! I keep them safe! I have to!"

He grabs my shoulders, minding the bullet wound. "It doesn't have to be your burden alone, Raven. Take a breath. We can find her."

"I can't lose her," I sob.

"Raven!"

Daniel turns at the voice and waves.

Nick runs up.

I scrape my tears away. "What are you doing out here?"

He nods at Daniel. "He filled me in. I'm a great tracker. I can help. Follow me."

I latch onto Nick's shirt as he guides us through the dark.

As we walk, the moon must come out from behind the clouds, because a silver glow lights up the ground where I look.

Nick finds a snapped twig with a patch of Rae's shirt on it. "This is good."

"She was running," I whisper, taking the scrap and holding it gingerly in my hands.

Nick and Daniel share a glance, then keep going, tugging me along.

My hands tremble as I hold the scrap of her shirt to my face.

I can't lose her. I can't. I can't lose anyone else. I can't go on if she's gone.

I remember the look she gave me when she left. It's not good enough. I hold back tears. I've already cried in front of one stranger, I don't need to cry in front of two.

Not good enough.

I squeeze my eyes shut. I can't lose her.

A scream pierces the air and my eyes flare open.

"Raven, wait-."

I ignore Nick and take off into the woods. "RAE!" I bellow, leaping over fallen trees and slapping branches out of the way. "Raelynn! I'm coming!"

"Get off me!"

My head snaps around towards a cave.

Her voice is echoing out of it.

I run to it, but freeze in the entrance.

Something's wrong. I can't get my legs to move. I shake with the effort to push myself forward, but everything in my body fights me.

There's something in there.

Something ancient. Something that won't be happy to be awoken.

I grit my teeth. I can't leave her in there alone. But I can't get my body to move.

Damn it, Raven. Alex is right. You're nothing but a curse. You're nothing.

Someone grabs my arm and I swing.

Daniel ducks with a shout.

I don't apologize.

"What's going on?" Nick asks, his hands up in surrender.

"I can't move."

"You seemed to move fine just a second ago," Daniel mumbles.

"No, I mean I can't go in."

"Why not?" Nick asks, raising his eyebrows.

"Look, I get it! I'm the psychopath that believes in magic and everyone else thinks I'm a lunatic! But there is something preventing me from entering this cave!" My body fights me when I try to step over the threshold. It trembles and my nose starts to bleed.

"Stop! Stop!" Nick orders, pulling me back.

"Please!" Rae screeches. "Let go of me!"

"Push me," I snap.

"What?" Daniel asks.

"I said 'push me', damn it!"

Nick slams his body into mine and I go toppling over the threshold.

Once I'm over, something deep within the cavern rumbles.

The earth shakes under our feet.

"I don't like the sound of that," Nick mutters.

"HELP!"

"Rae," I breathe, hurrying forward.

The silver glow lights up the cave as I run. The moon must be shining inside.

The tunnel I've been running down opens into a circular cavern.

Erick is wrestling Rae, trying to press a hunting knife to her throat while she tries to get it away from her.

They stand near the edge of a ravine.

"Erick!" I shout and his head snaps around.

Rae stomps on his foot and tries to run towards me.

Erick lunges, grabbing her around the waist and pressing the blade into her stomach. "STOP!"

I freeze, putting my hands up. "Please," I rasp. "Erick, don't do this."

"You think you can kick me out and steal my girlfriend without consequences?" He hisses.

"I didn't steal her," I snap.

"Bullshit!" He roars. "Don't think I haven't noticed her pining after you! It's sickening!"

Rae closes her eyes and tears roll down her cheeks.

"The only thing that's sickening is you," Nick growls. "Step away from her."

The cave trembles again and I yelp as stalactites crash to the ground and shatter.

"Erick, please, step away from the damn edge! I'll leave the cave if you want!"

Erick glances back at the ravine behind them and nods. "Yeah, okay! Back up! Go!"

"Nick, Daniel," I order, backing up.

"We're listening to him?" Daniel growls.

"What choice do we have?" Nick asks, his hands up.

I hold Rae's gaze steady. I'm here. I'm here.

Something snarls from deep within the ravine.

Erick's head snaps back to the edge. His wild eyes search the darkness. "What was that? What are you doing?" He shouts, turning his gaze on me.

"ME!?" I shout. "Look at you! You're holding a knife to Rae! Let her go!"

Rae's closed her eyes now, holding her cross to her lips.

Erick eases the knife off her stomach and her eyes flare open.

She slams her elbow back, into his nose.

He bellows and stumbles backwards, his foot hitting the cliff. Rocks clatter below, faintly.

"Erick!" Rae shouts, lunging.

"Rae, don't!"

She catches his hand as he goes toppling over the edge. She hits the ground, but starts sliding.

I grab her other hand and dig my heels into the ground.

"Raven!"

Nick and Daniel lunge for me, but we slide too fast.

I scramble for my dagger and plunge it into the side of the cliff.

Erick and Rae's weight drop and I scream into my teeth as my arms threaten to pull from their sockets.

My stitches rip, but I can't do anything to ease the strain on my shoulder.

Nick holds onto Daniel's legs as he leans over the edge, extending his hand.

"Raven! Take my hand!"

I sob and look down. "Erick, you have to climb!"

"What!?"

"Do it!"

Erick looks down at the gaping mouth of darkness below us. He gulps and reaches up, digging his nails into Rae's shoulder.

She screams into her teeth. "Hurry!" She sobs.

Erick's arms tremble as he tries to hoist himself up Rae's side.

My fingers slip on the hilt of my dagger. I meet Rae's eyes. "Let him go."

Rae's breath leaves her in a whoosh. "What?" She breathes.

"I can't hold-." I groan, "-all of us. You have to drop him!"

She looks down at Erick as tears prick his eyes.

He clings to her hand, shaking his head.

She looks back at me, eyes wide. "I can't."

My bones shift and crack as their weight keeps dragging my shoulders down. I pant, "I can't hold on. Please."

"I love him," she whispers, staring into my eyes.

I sob and shake my head as blood starts to drip from my nose. "Rae. Look at me. I love you. Okay? I love you! Please! Drop him!"

She closes her eyes. "I. Can't."

"He tried to rape me."

Her eyes flare open and meet mine.

"You're lying!" Erick shouts. "She wants you to drop me! Don't listen to her, Rae!"

"I'm not!" I scream, desperately. My fingers slip even more. I don't have long. "My birthday last December! He kissed me and I told him to stop! He tried to take my pants off and I broke his nose! Please, Rae! I-I can't hold on."

Her expression solidifies and for a second, I think I've gotten through to her.

"I'm sorry," she whispers.

"No," I rasp as my brain tries to think of something.

She opens her hand.

I try to tighten my grip, but there's too much sweat between us. "RAE!"

Her hand slips from mine and they go falling into the abyss, together.