Well, there was a table under the grate. But still, crawling into a vent? Wasn’t that a little dramatic? Even for Tori?
Depended on how badly she wanted to get rid of me.
Or was it a test? See how far I’d go to help her?
When I climbed onto the table and peered through, I could make out a distant light. It shifted, and I saw Tori’s face, illuminated by the light-ball spell Kit had taught her.
I lifted the cover and crawled in. I could still see Tori ahead, stopped, glancing around as if trying to figure out where to go next.
I felt my way along. When Tori started crawling again, I instinctively picked up speed, then stopped myself. I didn’t have a light ball, so it was almost completely dark. I had to take it slow and steady.
My fingers inched along the metal bottom. Then they touched down on empty air, and I pitched forward, but caught myself.
“Chloe?” Tori’s voice sounded oddly weak as it echoed down the vent. “Is that you?”
She waved the light ball around and squinted.
“Yes, it’s me,” I said. “Just hold on.”
“I . . . I smell something. It’s . . . it’s making me dizzy. I need— Oh, God, I feel sick. It’s some kind of gas.”
“Hold on.” I reached out gingerly. I couldn’t feel the floor. “There’s some kind of ga
p.”
“It dips a little. Just climb over. I . . . I really feel sick.”
“I know. Just wait until I—”
Fingers grasped my ankle. I jumped, and if it wasn’t for that iron grip, I’d have tumbled right into the gap.
“Careful!” Derek yanked so hard I fell flat on my face. “It drops off right in front of you.”
I kicked free and glared over my shoulder at him. “I know. That’s why I stopped. But thanks for almost scaring me over the edge.”
“You’re too jumpy.”
“Huh. Shocking, really. Between ghosts popping out and my werewolf boyfriend sneaking up, you’d think I’d have nerves of steel.” I turned back to Tori. “Sorry! We’re coming. Just hold on.”
“Who’re you talking to?” Derek asked.
“Tori.”
“What? Did she fall down that hole?”
“No, she’s right there.” I pointed.
He squinted into the tunnel. “Well, if she was, she’s gone.”
The light ball had gone out, but he should have seen her earlier. He had a wolf ’s night vision, which was how he’d noticed the gap.
“But you heard her, right?” I said. “We were talking.”
“I—” He lowered his voice. “I only heard you, Chloe.”
I started scrabbling forward. “Tori!”
Derek caught my ankles and pulled me back along the shaft. Next thing I knew, I was standing on the floor, struggling, with his arms around me.