Chapter 24

Dewey fluttered to the side Paige slammed herself against and latched onto the edge, hanging over it to weigh the mine car. It slammed back to the tracks, rattling along the metal bars.

"Get the brake fixed," Dewey screamed as he climbed back into the car.

Paige dangled over the edge, trying to dislodge the rock stuck between the handle and the wheel. She balled her hand into a fist and smacked it a few times before Dewey shouted again.

"Watch out! He's going to ram us again!"

Paige ducked back inside the car, hanging on as the other car with the massive yeti sped down the steep slope. She braced herself, preparing for the impact while their car began to climb a small grade.

With his immense weight, his car stalled on the incline, tapping theirs rather than crashing into it. Paige leaned away as he tried to swipe at them before their car pulled away.

"Close one," Dewey said. "Quick, get that rock out of there!"

"Okay, okay. Wait a minute. You can fly. You go out there and get it!"

Dewey wrinkled his nose but launched over the edge and landed on the front of the mine car as it sped through the winding tunnel. He kicked at the stone with his foot until he knocked it loose, sending it skittering across the ground and bouncing off the stone wall.

It clattered back and landed on the track.

The yeti's cart barreled toward it. The wheel hit the rock, forcing it off the tracks. The cart careened into the air and toppled over itself before smacking into the stone wall and splintering to pieces. The mammoth beast fell in a crumpled heap across the tracks, unmoving.

Dewey and Paige raised their hands in the air, cheering.

"We did it," Paige exclaimed.

"Free and clear. Now to get to the snowmobile and get out of here!"

"We'll have to wrap you up tight in that carrier so you don't get too cold again."

"With any luck, it stopped snowing."

Paige nodded as they continued to sail along through the tunnel, approaching the entrance. "Where's the Holigramium?"

Dewey uncurled his paw, flashing her the glowing yellow crystal. Paige grabbed it, studying it for a moment before shoving it into her coat's pocket and zipping it closed.

"Hey, what the heck is a yeti doing searching for this?"

"My guess is he's working with the Shrieking Pixies. A frightening thought considering their size. If the yetis have made an alliance with the pixies, and they have the Wand of Division with all the add-ons, humans are done for."

"Humans?" Paige questioned. "Sounds like all species are done for."

Dewey nodded. "At least we got one piece of the puzzle. Let's get it back to the plane and head to Egypt for the Crystal of Increased Energy."

Paige opened her mouth to respond when a shriek echoed through the tunnel. "What the hell? Is it the yeti?"

Dewey shook his head. "It sounded like one, but it came from that way, not behind us."

He poked a finger toward the cavern they approached.

"Even if he survived that crash, how would he get ahead of us?"

"Unless…"

Their eyes met.

"There's two of them," they said at the same time, their gazes flicking to the quickly approaching opening.

The mine car shot out of the tunnel into the vast cavern.

Dewey squeezed the hand brake as a large furry paw swiped at them.

"Bail out!" Dewey fluttered into the air as the car slowed to a stop.

He headed for the elevator as Paige peeked over the side of the car. The hefty monster twisted, his dark eyes following the wooden vehicle across the space. He narrowed his eyes, his bushy eyebrows wriggling before he pounded toward them and swung a balled hand at the mine car.

Paige's jaw dropped as she ducked inside, clinging desperately to the wood surrounding her.

The yeti's thick paw collided with the cart, sending it tumbling through the air. It smacked into the stone, smashing into pieces. Paige's purple form slid down the wall while the air blew out of her lungs from the impact.

Her eyelids struggled to stay open as she fought to suck in gasps of air.

"Paige," Dewey shouted.

The gigantic monster lumbered toward her, his blue-black nose wrinkling as he tugged his lips into a sneer.

Paige dug her feet into the ground, trying to push herself up and scramble to stand. Tears welled in her eyes when she realized she'd never make it in time. She squeezed her eyes closed, feeling the warm liquid gush onto her cheeks as she prepared for the fatal blow from the yeti.

"Paige! Get up," Dewey shouted.

Paige opened one eye, her features still pinched in anticipation of the hit. The yeti hovered over her, his attention focused behind him.

Dewey buzzed around the yeti in a dizzying array, pummeling him with rocks. The white Sasquatch held his arms up, shielding his face from the attack as he roared with displeasure.

"Run for it," Dewey shouted, tossing another rock that struck the creature in the head.

It growled and swiped in the air for Dewey. Dewey flitted away, circling behind it and hurling more rocks.

Paige used the wall to climb to her feet, steadying herself before she ran toward the elevator. She skidded to a stop when a cry sounded behind her. A glance over her shoulder made her eyes go wide.

The snow creature had caught Dewey, squeezing the little dragon in his massive paw. Dewey kicked his feet, pushing against the beast's index finger as he tried to free himself.

His snout dove toward the finger and bit it.

"Get off him," Paige shouted, racing back to the creature over three times her size and kicking it.

The furry snowman glanced down at her before he returned to squashing Dewey.

"I said, let him go!" Paige said, kicking his shin again.

"Run, Paige. Take the Holigramium and get out!"

"I don't think so," Paige said with clenched teeth. "Nobody hurts my partner and gets away with it."

She leapt up, latching on to the creature's long, coarse fur, and used it to climb up his lanky leg. She continued her ascent over his potbelly and up his chest before she reached his shoulder, scrambling onto the one opposite of the hand holding Dewey.

The yeti tried to swat her off, but she clung to the hair on his face, avoiding his hand.

With her teeth pressing into her lower lip, she cocked a fist and smacked the creature in the nose. "Let go! Let go!"

She bonked the black-blue button several more times as the creature cried out, waving his arms around while he tried to rid himself of his tiny attacker. His fingers unfurled, and Dewey flew free.

"I'm free! Jump, Paige!"

Paige gave the monster one last smack before she slid down his fur and landed in a tangle of limbs on the ground.

Dewey pulled her to stand, and she ran for the elevator with Dewey flying beside her. They entered the large cube and pushed the metal gate closed. Dewey pressed the button for the lift. It rose slowly into the air as the yeti stormed toward them.

"Come on, come on," Paige mumbled under her breath as she jiggled her knees back and forth.

She shot a worried glance at the beastly creature thundering toward them. She flicked her gaze upward, wondering how far away they were from the next level.

"Oh no," Dewey said, wrapping his arm around the dangling cord with the controls. "Hang on."

Paige's eyes went wide again as the yeti swiped at the car, crumpling the gate. The metal pushed into the elevator as it continued to trundle upward.

The angry abominable snowman growled and swiped again, jolting the car.

Paige swayed on her feet as the opening for the exit came into view. "We're almost there!"

"Not gonna make it," Dewey cried through clenched teeth. "He's going to rip us from the cable!"

"Come on!" Paige said, tugging open the gate across from the mangled one.

Dewey let go of the cable and flew across the lift car, grabbing Paige's scarf and tearing it from around her neck. He squeezed through the opening into the passageway above. "Come on, Paige. Squeeze through! I'll get in my carrier."

Paige slid her arms onto the ground above and poked her head through the opening. She kicked her feet, climbing the elevator wall and sliding through. She made it halfway, flailing her legs in the air to propel her forward.

Dewey wrapped Paige's scarf around his belly, glancing at her as she struggled to haul herself through the opening.

His eyes grew wide, and he pointed a finger behind her. "Paige! Look out!"

The yeti grabbed the elevator car and tugged on it. It swung on the cable. The cable screeched, fraying from the tension.

"Oh no," Paige said, freezing as the car smacked against the wall.

"Paige, get out of there," Dewey shouted as the cable unfurled further.

He shook his head and threw the scarf down, buzzing over to Paige and grabbing her hands. His face scrunched as he batted his wings hard and tugged.

Behind them, the yeti shook the elevator car.

"Help me out, Paige. That cable's not going to last much longer!"

Paige pulled her knee up as far as she could, digging her foot into the edge of the rock and pushing. She slid from within the elevator as the cable finally gave out. The car dropped down to the bottom with a massive boom.

She twisted to view the open shaft, her eyes wide and her heart still pounding.

The yeti peered from below, growling. He reached a massive paw toward the top and scrambled toward them.

"Let's go," Dewey shouted, already flying to the carrier and wrapping the scarf around him as quickly as he could.

He nestled into the blanket and flipped the top over him. Paige snatched the strap, tugging the zipper closed as she raced to the door and flung it open. Snow whipped in, sending an icy chill up Paige's spine.

The yeti screeched behind them, climbing into the passage. Paige glanced over her shoulder, her eyes widening as the beast climbed to his feet, slouching not to hit his head.

She darted into the storm, letting the door swing shut behind her.

"I hope you're bundled up," she said as she pulled a glove onto her left hand and bit the other one between her teeth.

She mounted the snowmobile, shoving Dewey's carrier behind her as she plopped onto the seat. She turned the key to the on position before she pulled the starter cord. The machine revved but did not start.

She tried again without success.

"Come on," she mumbled with the glove still clenched between her teeth.

The door to the mines burst open, and the yeti scanned the landscape with narrowed eyes.

Paige's heart thudded against her ribs, and she tugged frantically at the start cord to no avail. The yeti spotted her, a grumble emanating from it as it stalked forward.

"Come on, come on, come on," she murmured under her breath.

"Pull the cord, Paige!"

"I'm trying," she shouted.

She gave it another yank, and the engine roared to life. A smile spread across her face, and she tugged on her glove before she gripped the handlebars and set the sled into motion.

The snowmobile skidded forward. Paige held tight to the handlebars as she flew backward, nearly toppling off the back.

"Have you ever driven one of these before?" Dewey shouted.

"No," Paige called as she veered around, trying to turn the sled back toward their car.

"Wow, can't tell."

Paige shook her head as her cheeks burned already from the frosty air. "Shut up, Dewey."

The yeti eyed them as they wound around on the sled.

"Look out! You're going to hit him," Dewey shouted.

Paige twisted the sled's handlebars sharply, veering away from the monster as he swiped at them.

"Trees! Trees," Dewey called.

"I see them," she shouted as she wobbled the handlebars, trying to avoid them.

A tree branch smacked her in the face, dumping snow all over her. She shook it off, trying to wipe it from her eyes, which went wide as she spotted the object in front of her. They careened straight toward an enormous fir tree.

"Ah!" Paige shouted as she yanked the steering to avoid a collision.

"Whoa," Dewey shouted as he wobbled on her back.

"Sorry, nearly wrecked. Close call."

"Watch where you're going. I've got our six. I'll let you know if the… Oh crap!"

Paige weaved around another tree, pine needles scratching at her arm. "What? What crap?"

"He's back! The yeti. He's running toward us. Go faster. Faster!"

"I'm trying, but there are too many trees."

"Go around them."

"Yes, obviously," she said, her lips difficult to move from the cold.

She sank her chin down into her coat and zigzagged around a few more trees, increasing her speed. The engine whined underneath her as she slid the skis from side to side.

"You're losing him. Way to go, Paige!"

A grin crossed her almost-frozen lips, and she throttled higher, turning the handlebars sharply as the trees flew past them. "I think I'm getting the hang of th–"

She twisted the handlebars to miss another fir tree. The skis slid as they hit a bank of snow, and the snowmobile toppled, throwing them off.

They landed in a drift. Paige tried to push herself up, sinking deeper into the snow.

"Get up," Dewey urged. "He's coming."

"I'm trying. The snow is super deep."

"Maybe hide down inside the snowbank. Just do something because he's almost here!"

The ground shook when the enormous snow monster pounded his way toward them. Snow pelted them from the branches above, smacking Paige on the back while she struggled to find her footing.

She finally found enough solid ground to push herself up to stand, twisting to find the large creature nearly on top of her. Moonlight glowed against his white fur, making him look even more menacing.

Paige winced, throwing her arm in front of her to shield herself, though she was certain it would do little to fend off the attack.

The wind stung her skin where her jacket and glove pulled away from each other, exposing it to the icy air that whipped past her. The charms on her bracelet danced in the breeze, tinkling as she squeezed her eyes shut, preparing to take her final breaths.

The yeti charged toward her with a raised fist.