"Well," Courtney said, tightening her hold on Collin and Morgan, "I'm ready whenever you are."

Morgan nodded. "I'm ready . . . I guess."

Collin gulped. "Okay. I'm going to count to three, then we're going to jump in."

Courtney took a deep breath.

Morgan took an even deeper breath.

And Collin started the count down.

"One."

Laughter shook the invisible surface below them.

"Two."

Collin peered down into the hole, gulped again, then smiled at his sister and Morgan.

"Three."

They jumped together -- and fell.

Down.

Down.

Down.

All they saw was darkness as they tumbled over and over and over.

And Courtney wondered if they'd made a mistake.

Courtney wondered if, in fact, they'd been devoured by the dark.