Reign (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale 4)

Nan slipped on the riverbed and fell on her rear. Anders’s movements became more frantic, but she promptly got up and ran for the door.

Mina made it first and turned the hatch wheel, but it wouldn’t budge. “Ever help!”

Both girls tried to turn it together. Nothing happened.

Water started to spill slowly back into the lakebed, soaking their shoes.

Nan, muddy and covered in sand, reached the wheel and tried as well. Anders looked confused and upset. “It’s stuck!” Nan yelled out. Fear was all over her face as she gauged the distance back to shore. The water wall clearly wouldn’t hold much longer. “We need to run for it!”

Ever shook her head, her face red from exertion with all the straining. “We won’t make it.”

“What are you talking about? You can fly!” Nan choked out.

“I’m not leaving either of you!” Ever screamed. “Back up now!”

Mina and Nan let go of the door. Anders crawled up into Mina’s arms and they watched as Ever closed her eyes and concentrated on turning the hatch handle. She got it to move, but even once turned, it wouldn’t open. Her forehead glistened from sweat. They could hear the giant door groaning, as it glowed brightly from Ever’s magic.

“Ever, hurry!” Nan screamed and wrapped her hands around Mina.

The door flew open, splashing water everywhere and revealing a downward staircase that was quickly filling with water.

“Go now!” Mina yelled, carrying Anders down the stairs into the darkness. Nan and Ever were on her heels. “Ever, can you get the door?”

Ever turned and used magic to pull the door closed just as the wall of water broke. The hatch fell back down, but didn’t latch because of the rushing water pouring into the stairwell.

Mina dropped Anders and ran for the hatch wheel. The force of the river almost swept her away. She held her breath and dropped her head under the water. Bracing her feet against the frame of the door, she pulled with all of her might. It felt like eternity, and her hands kept slipping, but if she didn’t close the door and stop the water, they would surely drown. Another pair of hands closed over hers and together they were able to turn it until they heard a click. They’d sealed off the onslaught of water.

The flood level began to recede, drains pulling gallons into the walls of the culvert every second. As Mina’s head broke the surface of the water, she looked over and saw Nan holding onto the large handle, her eyes squeezed shut.

“Thank you.” Mina coughed.

The rushing water pulled at them, but Nan smiled and nodded.

Mina reached up to wipe the water from her eyes.

“Don’t let go!” Nan reached out with one hand to stop her from releasing the wheel but realized her own mistake. She slapped her hand back on the cold metal and gripped even tighter with both hands.

“I think it’s fine. The river will keep the door sealed now that it’s closed,” Mina tried to reassure her.

“How do you know?”

“I don’t, but Anders seems sure.” She pointed to the Baldander who was now waiting a ways down the tunnel looking at them eagerly.

Ever walked up to the door and inspected the lock. “I wonder why it wouldn’t open. It’s kind of odd for them to send you this way if it’s going to almost kill you.”

“It’s been welded shut.” Nan pointed from her perch on the stairs. She finally released one hand to point at the bead trail that ran around the whole door.

“It’s a good thing it was shoddy work, otherwise I might not have been able to get it open,” Ever admitted.

“No, it’s a good thing you were with us. Otherwise we wouldn’t have made it.” Mina looked up at Ever gratefully.

Ever shrugged her shoulders. “Don’t mention it…really.”

“Now what?” Nan asked finally gathering enough courage to let go of the door handle.

“We follow the wet rat.” Ever pointed at Anders in his otter shape, who was shaking the water from his wet fur and giving her a pointed glare. He moved forward and then turned back to the tunnel, trying to get them to follow him.