Everything went dark.
For several seconds, Salvador could hear nothing.
He could not feel the stone beneath his body.
He could not feel Ella's hand.
He could not hear Marcus.
There was only darkness.
Then he heard a heartbeat.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Salvador opened his eyes.
A faint golden light surrounded him.
"Ella?"
"I'm here."
Her voice came from beside him.
Salvador turned.
She was lying on the stone floor, one hand pressed against her chest.
He immediately reached for her.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
She sat up slowly.
"Are you?"
"I'm fine."
Marcus was several feet away.
He was conscious, but barely.
Salvador helped him sit against the wall.
"What happened?"
Marcus looked toward the center of the chamber.
The black sphere was gone.
In its place floated a strange mixture of golden and dark energy.
"It reacted to the source."
Salvador looked at Ella's bracelet.
The golden light was still there, but the red mark had disappeared.
"Where is the Hollow?"
