There is no justice in this place, just like Haze told me.
There is only death.
And so, into death’s claws will I flee.
Sharp pain shoots up from my ankle and my back, but I’m able to move gingerly through it. And so, I walk forward.
That overwhelming power I’d felt before sits on my chest, making it hard to breathe. It smells like horse manure and decay. Like I haven’t fallen into the cave where the drakai live—I’ve fallen straight into their stomachs. A grave filled with bones and remnants of lives stolen.
Is that what I feel so deeply? The echo of souls lost here?
I breath in, despite the discomfort of the unpleasant smell.
I limp forward, waiting for my turn to die. Expecting the crunch of jaws, the slice of my skin splitting open.
Warm air rushes at me, blowing my hair back. My brain stutters.
Come closer, pretty one. I’d like a taste.
Something rattles. The growl of an ancient beast.
I whimper. If there was ever a time I was supposed to be brave, now would be it. “Who are you?”
The grumble continues but bounces, almost like a laugh.
I am the one who will end your existence. Are you ready to face death?
“Yes,” I whisper. “I’m ready.”
The air around me stills.
I wait.
The stillness is even more unnerving than the inhuman threats.
What is she?a distant voice whispers.
“Mine.”
I suck in a breath. I spin, trying to find the new source of the voice. “Who’s there?” I ask. It must be a drakai, right? I’m unsure, though. It sounded different. It didn’t have that same inhuman hum.
It’s so dark I can’t see anything. I step forward, but I don’t know if I’m going closer to a drakai or farther.
I don’t want to fear anymore. I don’t want to wonder.
I just want it all to end so I can rest.
But it seems this world has more torment intended for me because alongside a powerful roar comes a set of powerful arms that grab my body.
Suddenly, I am flying. Up, down, or around, I don’t know, but air is moving and so is my body, and he is here. Warm, gentle arms are around my waist, and soon the air flees from my lungs, and shattering pain shoots through my legs. I cry out and my body slams to the ground.
I groan through tears.
His arms carefully pull me up. “Are you okay?”
I cough and finally, mercifully, air returns to my aching lungs. “Haze?” I choke out.
“Stay behind me,” he says. His voice sounds so kind, so full of concern. How? How does he not hate me? I tried to kill him. I condemned him to death in this pit of despair.
