"We must find the tunnel that leads out."
"Yes, but which one?" Felicity says. The tunnels, lit by torches, flicker with shadows. Five tunnels. And we've no idea how long each one is--or what is waiting for us at the ends.
"We've got to separate. We'll each take a tunnel." "No!"Ann wails.
"Shhhh! It's the only way. Each time we come back to the center. If you find the one, shout."
"I can't, I can't," Ann cries.
"We stay together, remember?" Felicity says, invoking the words we spoke in my room at Spence. It was only two weeks ago, but it feels a lifetime away.
"All right, then."I say.
I grab a torch from the grisly wall, and we enter the mouth of a darkened tunnel. The flame illuminates the few yards in front of us and nothing else. The light falls on the rats that scurry at our feet, and I have to stifle a scream. We push on until we reach a dead end.
"This isn't it," I say, turning back.
A high-pitched keening echoes off the walls. It bounces around the bones of the dead, those unfortunate playthings of the Poppy Warriors. I would give anything to escape that awful sound. Above us, the door has been battered, but mercifully, it still holds fast.
The great black birds we saw outside circle us in the catacombs. Some have perched on the steps. Others flutter to the ground, cawing. The second tunnel yields another dead end. Ann's sobbing openly by the time we have stumbled through the third tunnel, the weak light of the torch showing no way out.
Azreal's voice drifts down to us. "I can hear you, my pet. I know which one you are--you're the plump one. How will you run from me, my beauty bones?"
"Ann, stop crying!" Felicity shakes Ann, but it does no good.
"We're trapped," she sobs. "They'll find us. We'll die here."
The keening of the Poppy Warriors has turned to growls and squawks, like a reverse hunt in which the animals corner the humans. The sound makes my skin crawl. "Shhh, we'll find it," I command, leading us back to the open circle. More birds have arrived. The air is thick with them.
"Only two tunnels left," Azreal calls out. How does he know that? He isn't at the door. Unless there's some other way in, a way only they know.
My heart beats wildly, and I fear I shall faint, when Felicity shouts, "Gemma, your amulet!"
It glows dimly beneath the fabric of my dress.
Ann stops crying. "It must be showing us the way out."
Dear God, yes, a way out! With frantic fingers, I pull at the necklace, but it's stuck on the lace of my dress. With one hard yank, I pull the amulet free. It sails through the air and skitters across the floor, landing somewhere in the dark.
"We've got to find it. Quick, help me look!" I shout.
The cavern is dark. We're down on hands and knees, hunting for anything shiny. My heart's a hammer swung hard and fast. I have never felt such fear. Come on, come on. Find it, Gemma, that's a good girl. Keep the fear from your mind.
Something glints in the dark. Metal. My amulet!
I rush to the spot. "I've found it!" I say.
My hand reaches down, but the metal doesn't come up in my hand. It is attached to something. A steel-toed boot. It takes shape under my fingers as a scream lodges in my throat. When I look up, I see Azreal glowing in the torchlight.
"No, pretty pet. I've found you."
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
THE GREAT BIRDS CAW. THERE IS A HUGE FLAPPING of wings as they leave their perches. As they fly down, they change shape, becoming men, until they are the Poppy Warriors, surrounding us, cutting off all escape.
Seeing my shocked expression, Azreal explains."Yes, it was the Order that cursed us so for our games. It's been so very long since we've had such beauties to play with. So long since we've been able to visit your lovely world and bring back pets." He entwines my hair around his fingers like laces. His breath is hot in my ear as he leans in close. "Such a very, very long time."
My throat's dry as kindling, and my legs tremble.
"I don't think this will do you any good now," he says, dropping the lifeless amulet in my hand. "Now, who shall we play with first?" Azreal stops in front of Ann. "Who would miss you, pet? Would anyone sighedy-sigh over one more lost maiden? Perhaps if she were the fairest of them all. But this is no fairy tale. And you are not fair. Not fair at all."
Ann is so terror-stricken she's nearly in a trance.
"It would be a blessing if we took you, hmmm? No more burning inside while the others have all they could ever want and more. No need to cut into your own flesh. No more keeping your mouth closed tight around the scream that explodes inside while they mock you."