We lose sight of the cart in the thick ash. It requires all our concentration to keep to the road. I can no longer see Will, although he never lets go of my hand. We call out to the others to keep our group together.
After a few hours, they want to stop to rest, but I make them keep going. I’m not sure how far the lava will travel and we are moving slowly. As evening falls, we stumble across the cart waiting for us. Mother has been leading the mules along the shadowy road.
That night we rest on the side of the road. I curl up between Will and Elisia with our heads under the cart to keep the worst of the ash off us, but I struggle to sleep. The night is punctuated by the coughs of my companions. I’m afraid if I sleep, I will lose my grip on this world. I hold onto Will’s hand as he did th
