My breath came out in steamy puffs that I could barely see in the gloomy cave. The air was cold, but for some reason I wasn’t shivering even though all I was wearing was my T-shirt and sleep pants. Strange.
I tried to peer through the darkness and wished I had a flashlight. Out of nowhere, a glowing crystal appeared, floating in the air before me. I reached for it, and as soon as my fingers closed around it, it grew bright enough to illuminate the cave.
I turned in a full circle. The cave was small with an uneven floor and two branches veering off in opposite directions. I had no idea which way led out, but something tugged toward the one on my left. Deciding to follow my gut, I headed down that tunnel.
After a few minutes of walking, the floor sloped downward, and I knew this was not t
