Cannon pulled. An ordinary man might have been defeated by the pull of the sinkhole. But Cannon, bracing his feet against a rock that ringed the sinkhole edge, pulled Ryver up a foot, freeing her chest.
Sweet, precious air filled her lungs, and the looming darkness in her eyes retreated. He pulled once more, and her lower half was freed. The sinkhole reset itself with a final protesting slurp, waiting for its next victim.
As she emerged from the muck, her whole body seemed to collapse in on itself. Crumpling at the sinkhole’s edge, Cannon let her catch her breath for several seconds before crouching down beside her.
“I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry.” It sounded like a mantra.
“No… it’s… okay,” she breathed. “I should… have… looked…”
Brushing her filthy hair from her face, he stared into he
