Theo hit the ground so hard the sickening thud echoed across the entire academy field like a heavy sack of stones being dropped from a great height.
A brutal, final sound that made my stomach twist violently.
For one horrible, frozen second, nobody moved. It was as if the entire world needed an extra moment to process the sudden collapse. The rhythmic sound of running feet stopped abruptly. The constant background whispers from the watching crowd died away. Even the Purgers (students) observing us like entertainment seemed momentarily stunned into silence.
Then chaos erupted all at once.
"Theo!" Lyra gasped, her voice cracking with fear as she dropped to her knees beside him so quickly she nearly slipped on the damp grass.
