Boo stiffened, his glow flaring with distress. "No! Nothing will happen to you, Teacher!" he said stubbornly, hugging her even tighter. "I won't leave you. I'm not scared when I'm with you."
Alina's breath trembled, her lips tightening in fear and determination.
And Boo, sweet brave little Boo, kept playing quietly with a strand of her hair, murmuring to himself.
"Teacher and Boo will find everyone… we'll save them… we'll be okay…"
His tiny voice echoed softly through the dark cave.
Far behind them, beyond the barrier, Dante's hand stayed pressed against the wall, his eyes burning with worry.
Dante's aura darkened like a storm collapsing in on itself, shadows curling and twisting around him in a frantic pulse he could barely control. He pressed his palm against the barrier again and again, each time the force throwing him back, but he refused to stop. He refused to stand still while Alina and four babies were somewhere inside that cursed cave.
