Abe was left in complete darkness. “Ava?” he whispered. He tried to process what he’d just seen. She had screamed a couple times, spun around, and then...disappeared. Her light, the scuffling of her feet, her breathing, her voice -- all gone. He couldn’t see two inches in front of his face, but he knew what must have happened. If someone had taken her, he would have heard it. He would have heard something.

If he was right -- and he knew he was right -- he had one hour. They would lose the red-headed girl, that much was sure. But if Abe didn’t wait right here, he might just as easily lose Ava. He’d never be able to find this exact spot if he went wandering off through the catacombs, never mind how disoriented she would be when she came back.

At least he did have a light of his own. He clicked on the flashlight of his phone, but jumped and nearly dropped it in his shock. There, not five feet from where he stood, were the wide and watchful eyes of the red-headed girl.