In a quick move, Katie stepped on the end of the rope, hoping to stop it from slipping further. For a moment, she thought she might have stopped it in time. But then she felt the rope go slack quickly, meaning Peter had already fallen down. 

A scream shattered the quiet—a sharp, terrifying sound that bounced off the well’s walls. It was Peter. His scream cut through the air, filled with pain and fear. Katie’s heart stopped. She could almost feel the cold, damp air rushing up from the well, carrying Peter’s scream to her.