"Look," he begins, "not that I expect I'd find this convincing in your position, but -" and then the ground shimmers under them and half a second after that it's not there at all.

They fall. 

The ground they hit instead is cold and muddy. The stars are exceptionally bright, and close overhead. 

" - what?" says Ryan. 

Alex doesn't answer him. Alex is looking out into the darkness, horrified.