The floor broke open.
It did not crack.
It did not shake first.
It split in two.
A deep line tore across the chamber floor. The stone opened like something had cut it from below.
A loud roar came from under them.
It was not fire.
It was not wind.
It sounded alive.
"Sebastian—!" Vivian shouted.
The ground vanished beneath them.
Sebastian grabbed her waist.
They fell.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Above them, people screamed. Stone crashed. Light flashed everywhere.
Then—
They hit the ground hard.
Sebastian twisted in the air and landed first. Vivian fell on top of him.
Pain shot through his back, but he ignored it.
"Vivian," he breathed.
"I'm here," she said quickly, holding him.
The air below was different.
Cold.
Heavy.
Old.
A faint light glowed on the walls around them. It was not from the chamber above.
It felt raw.
Wild.
Sebastian slowly stood and helped Vivian up.
They were no longer inside the trial chamber.
