The tunnel stretched ahead like the throat of something dead and patient. My arms felt like someone had dipped them in lava and then decided to add some extra lava for flavor. Every step sent fresh jolts of agony through my nerves, but I'd walked through worse. Probably. The memories were getting fuzzy around the edges.
Cel kept glancing at me like I was about to keel over and die. Which, fair. I probably looked like I was auditioning for a zombie movie.
"You're doing that thing again," she said.
"What thing?"
"That thing where you pretend you're not in excruciating pain."
I grinned at her. Probably looked deranged. "I'm not pretending. I am in excruciating pain. I'm just choosing to ignore it until my body gives up or we find somewhere safe. Whichever comes first."
"You're insane."
"Yeah, well. Sanity is overrated when you're stuck in a cosmic horror's botanical hell garden."
