Free Reckoning by Sonya Weiss

web blocked the way. I blinked when I realized it wasn’t a thick spider web but a curtain of Fuse. We would have to walk right through them to continue. I held on to the wall and searched along the ground for objects we could use to knock them out of the way. Sensing us, the insects stirred and their bodies swelled with aggression, lighting up the red stripe on their backs. The bugs didn’t really bother me, but I knew the girls would hate the idea of getting closer to them.
    “We need a bigger fire to get through there,” Stone said, slapping at the back of his neck. He jerked his head around as a bug zipped past us. “I have an idea.” He stripped off his shirt and held one sleeve against the fire-rock. The minute it flamed up, he held the burning garment at the bottom of the web. In seconds, the flame took off, flashing upward, incinerating the insects. A few of them flew off, back into the darkness behind us.
    I coughed and waved my hand to clear the air.
    After the smoke was gone, we could see the trail again, but as I watched, the ground shook and dropped, leaving a gaping hole too wide for us to cross.
    “This is the end of the road,” Emma said.
    “Wait for it.” Rock scraped against rock and a portion fell from the top of the Void to fit neatly into the gaping hole like it was a perfect match. I looked at each of them. “You only have seconds. Run and don’t stop for anything. If anything lands on you, keep going.”
    “What about Juliet?” Emma’s brows drew into a V of concern as she looked at my bad leg.
    “I’m taking her across,” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument.
    Emma nodded, squaring her shoulders. She whispered what sounded like a prayer and took off.
    I watched the ground behind her, memorizing the places where it suddenly gave way. I’d been in nasty areas of the Void before but never experienced this. I exhaled and turned to Juliet. “Ready?” I lifted her up. “Close your eyes,” I ordered.
    I ran and the ground dropped, taking my breath with it, but I managed to leap onto the next part of the trail each time. It felt as if I’d run forever, but it couldn’t have been longer than a few seconds. Once we were clear, the three of us turned to watch Stone run across. The determination mixed with fear was easy to read on his face.
    He was almost to us when the path beneath him gave way and he tumbled sideways toward the ledge. Because he was important to Juliet, and I couldn’t watch someone die, I dove for him and grabbed Stone’s flailing arm. He held on, digging in his heels. The weight of Stone’s body threatened to pull me over too.
    Juliet dropped to the ground beside me, and Emma next to her, holding onto her. Juliet inched forward to dangle her hands over the edge. “Reach for me.”
    Stone latched on to her arm. Juliet and I backed up slowly, pulling until Stone was with us on the path. Breathing hard, he scooted up against the wall. Juliet sat beside him and held his hand. Though I was glad we’d saved Stone, seeing the girl I loved holding hands with another guy made my stomach feel tight.
    “We’re going to sleep here tonight and get a fresh start tomorrow,” I said, trying not to let my dislike leak into my voice.
    “Spend the night in the Terrors? That’s safe,” Emma protested sarcastically, then cast her gaze downward when I glanced at her.
    Stone rubbed his arm where the skin had scraped off during his fall. “She has a point.”
    I could have said it was Stone’s fault we’d entered the Terrors, but I didn’t. What was done was done.
    “It would be better for me to wait until tomorrow,” Juliet said, no doubt wanting to stop any arguments from breaking out. She was barely functioning, and from the way she swayed, it was becoming more difficult for her to stay upright. At this moment, I would gladly trade the kingdom to get her out of here. I hated feeling helpless.
    Emma made her way to me. “There’s a hollow space in the wall. Maybe