SARAH THREW A SPELL at the snow in front of the algifs and a wall of ice shot up, blocking their way. The icy air made it difficult to breathe. Sarah was gasping for air, forcing herself to breathe through her nose to slow the hypothermia creeping into her chest. Hopper continued to pull her along behind him. Nicole was in the lead.
A shattering crash of ice came from behind them and the algifs were in pursuit again. Sarah tried to speak. Her voice came out in a breathy squeak, “They’re almost on top of us!”
Hopper snatched her up in his arms and kept running. Nicole pointed toward the crest of a hill a few yards in front of them and called to Hopper, “That’s it! We just have to reach the summit. We can take shelter in the city.”
Sarah tried to bury her face in Hopper’s chest, but his b
