“What the … hell just … happened?” she gasped and turned.
The two trees whose girth had been small enough for her wrap her arms around had expanded in width and height, reaching towards the gray sky of the underworld. Katie craned her neck, unable to see the tops of the trees. Their trunks had grown outward from the trail until they were as wide as a football field. Their massive roots ruptured the ground that had been the trail, creating a ravine she could see even from their safe distance.
“Don’t feed the trees.” She repeated Gabriel’s warning, stunned. She shuddered and glanced at the phantom. “Where is he?”
Andre shrugged. Katie heard nothing outside of the rasping trees. Gabriel was gone. Andre motioned her to follow him, and she drew a few more heavy breaths before following.
“We’re going towards the lake,” she said.
He nodded.
“Are you getting us out of here?”
He shrugged again.
“Do you have a plan?”
Andre shook his head.
“Wait, so I just ditched my guide to follow you and you don’t know where you’re going?” Katie demanded. “Was that supposed to be a rescue?”
The phantom ignored her and continued to walk.
“Rhyn’s rescues look like well-planned military campaigns compared to this,” she muttered. Her thoughts went to him and her latest dream. He claimed to be coming for her. She didn’t think she’d ever leave the underworld, especially now that she didn’t have Gabriel.
Katie looked over her shoulder again towards the massive trees. She didn’t know what happened with Gabriel, but she hoped he was safe, wherever he was. Her fate, she was certain, was sealed.