Chapter 37 Healing Begins

• We staggered out of the tunnels into the open, the wind carried a sharp chill. Every muscle in my legs burned from exertion, but the coolness felt good after the oppressive heat we'd experienced. Nevertheless, the woods that lay ahead appeared no more consoling than the maze of stones from which we had just emerged.
• Breathless, Sebastian leaned hard on me. The strain of the last several hours was evident on his pale and strained face. I could feel his weight pressing down on me, and I had to muster all my strength to keep going and moving. It seemed like we were postponing whatever horrors around the next corner with each step we took forward.
• "How far do we need to go? How far?" Even though his voice was weak, there was a bit of resistance in it—like he doesn't want to give in to the pain.