Chapter 14: A Creature That Just Won’t Die
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They burst from the entrance of the cave as the ground roared behind them with the dust and gravel trailing their feet, violet light still clinging to their skin. Xander stumbled into the clearing, lungs burning, the crystal still clenched in his shaking hand.
The cave let out a final, deafening groan as chunk of the entrance caved in with a thunderous crack. Xander turned instinctively it, wild-eyed and his breath shallow.
"Eli...?"
Iris froze beside him, eyes wide. The sky above them flared orange with dusk, but it felt cold. She looked back. Nothing came out.
More boulders tumbling forward.
’He’s not here.’
"Where is he?" Xander asked, already stepping forward. "Where the fuck is he?!"
Iris didn’t speak, another section of the cliffside collapsed with a shuddering roar, the cave mouth shrinking in real time.
’Shit.’
Then Xander bolted.
"Xander, stop!" Iris lunged, grabbing his arm. "You can’t—"