Chapter 9
It didn’t look like anything Ever had seen before. On the edge of the pond, she could see that the liquid was not only black but also extremely thick. She didn’t understand how anyone could swim in it. The Man had assured her that others had, and she tried not to distrust him, but there was hesitation in her heart. Somehow she knew he sensed it.
“How deep is it?”
“Deeper than it looks,” he responded.
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“Do you understand how to find the illuminarion?” The Man had spent several hours describing the things Ever would feel once she jumped in, and how to keep her mind from becoming overwhelmed by the darkness.
“Yes, let me just make sure. You said that I need to dive in and start swimming immediately. Although my lungs will burn as they feel de
