My heart stuttered, but I couldn't risk looking out over the hell hole for what could be wrong with Darby and Jo, for what was creeping up behind me, for what might already be reaching a hand out to push me over the side.

The screams continued. Wait, not screams. Scream. Jo's scream, not Darby's, which somehow was even worse.

I gritted my teeth against the shrieking wind, my best friend's cries for help, the thing behind me that jumped my roots so hard, they cracked ...