How did she do it? She doesn't know. Her legs moved faster than usual. Lying on her stomach on the floor, her two paws grab one of Nick's arms, preventing the fall that would lead to his death.

"Judy!"

He said, amazed, seems to have woken up from a trance and not knowing what to do.

"Come on, Nick! Help me!"

Judy begged between a quick breath. Nick's weight was too much for her, and his arm and leg were already starting to slip off her paws.

"Let go of me! You won't make it," he said, while in his mind, he was trying to find something to hold on to, in order to carry a little weight. But there was nothing.


Judy's tears began to form in her eyes. The force required, hurt every inch of her body. The weight was unbearable and the stone underneath her, somehow, provided the support to hold the beaks of her feet and avoid slipping them into the abyss as well. But it wouldn't be for long.

"You won't make it!"

"Shut up! No way I'm going to drop you. Either you help me or we'll both fall!" she screamed between her teeth.

"Drop him!" the creature's voice grunted loud and strong. "He's mine!"

And she advanced to Judy. The creature pushed her violently to the side, making her release Nick and roll over to the wall of that place. A paw went to meet the ground support. She coughed and tried to get up. But finally, her body did not obey her. She was exhausted and there were no more forces left to get up. Besides, the push made her let go, Nick.

"NO!" and she cried.

With her fist closed, she hit the ground. She had lost Nick forever. Her heart broke into a thousand pieces.

However, inside the abyss, Nick had managed to cling to the earth wall with his claws. His feet, miraculously, found a stone outside the place that supported him. Ignoring what was going on under his feet, he asked all his strength and began to climb the wall. From where he was, it was not long before he reached the top.

"An impertinent rabbit. Always getting in where she's not called!"

Nick heard the creature's voice say. If he didn't hurry, it would be Judy dying. He had to climb. He had to make it.


Judy didn't move. Her spirit had died with Nick. The creature stood in front of the rabbit. Without delay, she advanced. The pain was terrible when the creature's paws grabbed her by the neck. Her right arm throbbed. The serpent in her skin began to shine. The air began to run out, but Judy just closed her eyes and waited for death to come to her. She wouldn't fight anymore. She was fed up and Sae had also deceived her, giving false hope, and turning against her, taking Nick with her. The ritual was over. Everything was going to be okay. Would it...wait? If Nick fell into the abyss, the creature was supposed to be gone and everything would be back to normal, right? But the creature was still there, grabbing her by the neck. The melody wasn't over, and the priests continued to sing it and beat their sticks. Something was wrong. She opened one of her eyes, the air was beginning to run out, but through the corner of her eye, she glimpsed something that made her hope gain willpower again. Two paws appeared on the floor of the abyss. Nick! He had succeeded. Without any delay, Judy took both paws to the creature's arm. When she touched her with her right paw, the creature grunted, and that caused her to move away and release the rabbit. Judy fell to the ground, coughing to catch her breath. Then she saw the serpent shine on her arm. Whatever it was, it would help at that moment. Furious, the creature advanced once more to her and Judy stretched her arm again to touch her. She grunted again, carrying her deformed paws to her horrible face.

However, Nick had managed to get out of the abyss completely. With his paws and knees on the ground, he tried to recover his accelerated breathing. He had managed to survive. Then, raising his head, he saw Judy leaning against the wall with the creature in front of her. She grunted with pain.

He got up and started running towards the rabbit. When Judy realized it, she stopped him.

"We need the obscure camera!" she shouted.

"We don't have time for this," he shouted back.

"Without it, we don't complete the ritual.

Damn it!

"Where's the damn camera?" Nick looked everywhere with his eyes and didn't see the damn camera anywhere.

"On the other side of the tunnel."

"What?! No way..."

"Do as I say and NOW!"

It wouldn't be worth arguing with her. Although reluctant to leave her there alone, if the camera was the solution as her partner said, then he really had to go get it. Nick ran into the tunnel, crossed the darkness and searched for the camera. It didn't take him long to find it and he ran to grab it, but unfortunately, luck didn't smile at him, and he was raised very high, falling to the ground and rolling until his back hit the cold wall.

Judy was still struggling with the creature. Although the serpent was helping her, she had to deviate from two great claws in her direction.

"You're going to die!"

The angry voice said. Once again, she advanced to Judy and, one more time, she stretched her paw to touch the creature and she strayed. She would be able to keep that thing away for a while as Nick recovered the camera, but her arm was already throbbing with pain.

Damn it, Nick! Hurry up!


Nick coughed and grunted from the pain that filled his body when he tried to straighten up and get up.

"I said I needed you!" Sae was in front of him. Glorious as an angry goddess. "Why didn't you give in?"

"I gave in," he replied sincerely. Meanwhile, he searched the camera with his eyes. The distance had gotten longer, and he had to distract Sae so he could grab the machine. "But there is a female that I want to protect" and with a mocking smile, he strayed and ran to the camera.

He managed to grab it and wasted no time in putting it in his vision and shooting. Sae trembled and screamed but did not disappear soon. She advanced to him, but Nick stood firm and fired again. She squealed and carried her paws to her face. One, two and three and Sae disappeared at last. Nick breathed a sigh of relief and ran back to Judy.

To be continued…