We fell through the void, Luna's voice echoing around us.
"You've learned nothing of loss. But you will."
The red light swallowed us whole. That massive heartbeat grew louder, drowning out everything else. My stomach lurched as gravity reasserted itself, pulling us down toward something I couldn't see.
Astro's hand found mine in the darkness.
Our marks flared, the golden chain between our wrists blazing bright enough to illuminate the void. I saw his face in that light, silver hair wild, eyes burning with determination.
And fear.
He was afraid.
For the first time since I'd met him, I saw genuine terror in his expression.
"What is it?" I shouted over the wind and the heartbeat and Luna's fading laughter. "What's waiting for us?"
"Choices," he said. "Terrible choices."
Then we hit ground.
The impact should have shattered bones. Should have killed us outright. Instead, the earth absorbed us like water, dragging us under before spitting us back out onto soft grass.
