“I can’t do this alone,” I said. “Please don’t go.” She started, eyes narrowing as she looked up at me. “What?” “I thought . . .” I could not get the words out. “You thought I wanted to leave?” She looked almost wounded. “Where would I go?” The floor seemed to have disappeared beneath me, and I was plunging through the Storm Wall’s many hundred levels toward the planet’s core. But she caught me, reaching up to brush dark hair from my face. “You’re the only mystery I have left.”
