The movement beneath their feet grew stronger.
It began as a low vibration, so deep that Jude felt it in his bones before he heard it. Pebbles danced across the stone floor. Dust drifted from the ceiling, and somewhere far below, an enormous stone object groaned as though it had been sleeping for centuries and was finally stretching its limbs.
"Everyone away from the edge!" Serena ordered.
Jude barely heard her.
He was still staring into the darkness.
"Sol!" he shouted. "Sol, answer me!"
For several seconds, there was nothing.
Then came a faint sound.
A small, distant laugh.
Jude's heart tightened.
"Sol?"
"I'm all right," the boy's voice echoed from below.
The words were faint, but unmistakable.
Jude moved towards the edge again.
"Don't move!" Sophie cried, grabbing his arm.
"I need to get down there."
"You're not going anywhere until we know whether this ledge can hold your weight."
"He's down there, Sophie!"
