“I got scared thinking you were still out in the storm, and I just kind of ran”

Eli: Nellie hasn’t had much luck finding me.

Nellie: I found lots of signs that Eli had been there, but no Eli.

Eli thinks he’s dreaming when he first hears Nellie’s voice. It can’t be. He’s been trapped in a hole in the ground for hours (okay, it’s at least been minutes), and he can’t see anything, can’t figure out any way out of this nightmare. He must have fallen asleep, and now he’s imagining Nellie’s voice.

But then he hears it again, louder, from the other side of the wall. “Eli! Are you there?”

“I’m here!” He leans against the wall, willing it to disappear. “Did you bring help?”

“I brought… Squizzle?” Nellie says, sounding sheepish. “I got scared thinking you were still out in the storm, and I just kind of ran.”

Typical Nellie, acting first and thinking about it only later. Eli sighs, but can’t help smiling. “Thanks for coming for me,” he says. “I’m glad you’re here.”