I run through the brambles. I let the thorns tear my clothes and grab Elio by his orange shirt.
?Stop, idiot!?
He yanks the fabric out of my hands, eyes blazing.
?Oh! Sander was the first to save my life. Sorry if I don’t want him to die!?
Elio tries to turn away.
My stomach churns.
I step forward again, grab his shirt with both hands, and spin him around.
?You said he can create shields. He can hold off the Torments for a few seconds.?
His eyes fly wide.
?How can you be so heartless?!?
My muscles tense.
?And if they manage to take him down?!?
How can he be this stupid?!
?Elio!?
Serena steps closer.
?Mina is right. Let us organize this. You’d be more of a burden than a help. Those creatures corrupt.?
Elio looks at her, shoulders dropping.
Gaia grabs his arm.
?You don’t have to prove anything to anyone. Stay safe. We’ll handle Sander.?
He shrugs, lowers his gaze, nods.
?I’m not an idiot.?
Gaia draws two daggers and hands one to Elio, who steps aside. Serena readies her bow and gives Elio’s shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
I draw my blade.
?If you’re in trouble, call me.?
He nods.
I sprint in long strides toward the light.
The glow is still there. Beyond the crest of the slope, I see an orange dome rising. I reach the grassy clearing and slow down.
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A chorus of hoarse breaths rises.
I push out of the thorny bushes, tear my cloak free from the brambles.
I stand there, mouth open.
The orange dome crackles with small bolts of lightning. Inside it, a tiny house rises. Gaia and Serena halt at my sides, their gazes fixed on black cloaks lifting themselves from the ground.
A sharp stench fills my nose, twisting my stomach.
I can’t stand them anymore.
About ten of them hurl themselves at the barrier. They strike it—swords, arrows—everything bounces back. Only a few faces turn toward us. Black veins pulse beneath sunken skin. Dark eyes drip ink.
If Sander is inside the barrier, he’s safe.
?Fast and clean, girls.?
Serena puts two arrows through two skulls.
Three Torments draw axes and swords.
I step back as two blade tips graze my shirt. My sword cuts the air—two gray heads fly. I lift a Torment by his tattered cloak and hurl him forward. A whole squad collapses beneath the decapitated body.
I dash ahead.
A whistle.
I stop short, staring at a shaft with black-feathered fletching embedded inches from my foot.
Up high, behind a fir tree, three nocked bows emerge.
At the edge of my vision, a black maw opens.
I snap my blade toward him. The Torment dodges—but a small blade bursts from his chest. He falls. Gaia retrieves her lone dagger.
?Gaia, take care of the archers. I’ve got this.?
She nods and vanishes behind me.
Another shadow enters my field of view. My blade clashes with his. It shatters. The Torment’s neck follows. A curved axe blade rises toward me.
I sidestep and drive my entire weapon into his chest, plant my foot on him, and wrench my sword free, now stained black.
Two white arrows sprout from the hoods of two Torments to my left. The air turns acrid, filled with the crackle of the shield. Black arrows hiss past me. I track them, throat dry.
Serena retreats behind a trunk as arrows slam into it. On the other side, an archer is dragged down by Gaia’s dagger and disappears.
Good.
I cross blades with an axe handle. The Torment’s foul breath floods my nostrils. I shove him back—one sweeping strike—and his head flies.
Five left. Three clustered near the shield.
Something fills my chest.
Light bursts outward.
I can’t believe it.
The connection is back.
I freeze along with my enemies.
She’s here. Somewhere.
I turn. A faint glow spreads from the path.
How is it possible that Elena is here?
Two black arrows skim my shirt. The three Torments sprint toward the path, ignoring me.
Elio is there.
I run.
Serena looses two arrows. Two Torments tumble into the brambles. I grab a cloak, slam the body down, and drive my blade through the neck.
Two more arrows whistle over my head.
A scream rises and cuts off.
My blood turns to ice.
They got him.
