Chapter 19: From the Jaws of Death
Ariella gazed at her friend, who seemed eerily calm, but she could feel the weight of the tension still hanging between them. "We should think of a solution soon, or we will really die in here," she whispered, her voice trembling with fear.
Elara, who had been deep in thought, suddenly lifted her head, her expression lighting up with an almost magical spark. "I know how we'll get out of here!" she declared, a smile breaking across her face, as though a brilliant idea had just clicked in her mind.
Ariella's heart leapt with hope, though her voice was a mere whisper, barely audible as the air felt thicker with every passing second. "What are you thinking?"
Elara's gaze held a spark of confidence as she spoke, her words steady, even though they both felt the dread in their bones. "Do you remember how we got to the crevice last time? The Queens said the key was the glow of both our stones. Perhaps that can get us out of here as well."
Ariella thought for a moment, the hint of agreement flashing in her eyes. They had nothing to lose. It was worth trying. They both reached out, hands trembling as they held their glowing stones. As their palms met, the red glow on their skin faded, replaced by the familiar, calming blue and white, their stones now gleaming brighter than ever before.
Suddenly, the ground beneath them began to tremble. Before their eyes, the earth split open, and they saw the towering trees above them. They were gently lifted, their bodies hovering for a moment, before they were placed safely back on solid ground.
Elara took a deep breath, looking around, as though the reality of their survival had just begun to sink in. "It feels nice to be back. I can't believe we escaped from the jaws of death just like that, when I had almost given up."
Ariella smiled warmly, trying to shake off the feeling of dread that still gripped her heart. "All thanks to your quick thinking. Always try to analyze the situation calmly, rather than panic and think the worst. You saw how that worked out for us, didn't you?"
Elara's expression shifted to one of determination. "Where did he go? It's time to show him what we're really made of. It's not that easy to get rid of us."
Ariella opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, a piercing scream echoed in the distance, sending a jolt of fear through both of them. A scream of terror that could only mean one thing.
"That's him," Elara hissed, her voice shaking despite her attempts to remain composed. "He must be doing something to the villagers. Quick, let's go deal with him."
Without a word, Ariella nodded, and they both sprinted toward the village, their feet pounding against the earth as they ran faster than they ever had before.