"Do you think they're still following us?"

Robie didn't even look my way as he mumbled under his breath.

"Think they'll find—"

"No." Robie snapped as if it was supposed to be obvious.

"—us. Rude." I snapped back. "and why not?"

"AJ, are you blind?" Robie started. "Did you see them? Their magic was pathetic!"

I didn't waste any time forming a response, we needed to get Nico somewhere safe. He was dying. I could sense it through every bone in my body.

I looked back at my friends. Lu and Bleu were carrying Nico but Jia was nowhere to be seen. I was wary of her, even though she was Lu's sister. Jia had a habit of disappearing only to show when chaos strikes. 

My mind wandered as I weaved through tunnels and archways. We had taken refuge in one of the temples on the island, Robie and Bleu leading the way.

I sighed. How could so much happen in such a short amount of time? 

We had arrived in Cadair just this morning, somehow ended up off the coast of Ethos, far from the city and now Nico was fighting for his life. I was terrified but I knew better than to question Robie. He knew this place inside and out, but my friend was losing consciousness and I was getting impatient. 

At last, Robie stopped in front of an open room, Nico collapsing almost immediately. Lu and I cleared the bed as Bleu searched the room for anything that could help. Even though he didn't like to show it, I knew he felt helpless too. He was lost and soon we'd all be.

"AJ!" Bleu jarred me back to reality. "We can still save him. We can do this."

I took a deep breath, wiped the tears forming in my eyes, and got ready for what I knew would be the longest night of my life.