frustration and worry were other feelings, ones that stretched deeper than I expected. Ones I wanted to explore with him. Later. If my courage didn’t take a
hike. Stunned by his unintentional reveal, my hands trembled, and the light shook.
I gave what I could and admitted, “Yeah, me too.” I straightened my
shoulders and sucked it up. “Let’s do this.”
CHAPTER 22
A s the alley stretched endlessly before me, I wondered at the wisdom of
my choice. My teeth were tapping out their own version of Morse Code
at the unnatural drop in temperature. Granted, desert temperatures could go from
sweltering to freezing, but this was ridiculous. Faint noises echoed around me, not yet making sense but some sixth sense told me when they did, I was going to
be in serious shit. Even as I tried to ignore them, they chased me down the narrow confines. Even worse, the undecipherable words circled my brain like hungry vultures just waiting for an opening.
You’re not going to make it. You’re not strong enough.
You’ve failed how many times already? What’s once more? So stupid. You’re
doing exactly what he wants.
Keep running, Cyn, I’ll be here waiting.
The last one really unnerved me. My connection to Kayden seemed to thin
which made it difficult not to pay attention. I tried singing at the top of my lungs.
Not an easy feat when you’re stumbling through a midnight-drenched alley. It didn’t help. The deeper I went, the louder the whispers grew, and the closer those
intimidating noises became. Kayden tried to stay with me, but eventually even his voice was swallowed by the dry, rattling accusations. Some of those voices
found their mark, drawing blood from past choices and current insecurities, until
I was running blind, praying for an end.
I stumbled and fell to my knees, the flashlight flying out of my hand and winking off into darkness. I knelt on the ground, my breath nothing more than
ragged sobs. I finally reached a breaking point. “Shut up!”
My strangled scream cut through the rising tide of whispers and haunting
din, leaving behind a heavy silence. Then an explosion of light seared my retinas, leaving indelible afterimages. Gunshots, shouted questions, the thud of flesh on flesh, and grunts of pain filled the darkness. Then came the scream that
chased the others back.
“Flash!” Blind, I reached out.
A mocking voice filled the tunnel. “Go ahead and fight, Captain, I don’t mind.”
Horror stripped everything away. Ellery. That was Ellery’s voice.
No, it couldn’t be, he wasn’t telepathic. He couldn’t be here.
Blue-white flames snapped to life, illuminating Flash’s body suspended
before me, writing in agony. Every cruel detail was crystal clear. The horror on
his face. His eyes pleading for help I couldn’t give. His mouth stretched wide in
a soundless scream. The flames eating him, inch by inch.
Next to him, Ellery laughed as he brushed his flame-covered hands in a
mockery of affection over Flash’s head. His eyes were pitch black, his lips twisted into a sadistic grin.
Reality receded and was replaced by this all-too-real nightmare. Driven by a
fury honed by time, I launched myself at him, determined this time to make it stop. To save my friend. Yet feet from my goal, my body jerked, and my knees
slammed to the ground, held in place by something I couldn’t see. No matter how hard I struggled, I couldn’t escape. Tears pooled and my desperate, furious
scream tore through the nightmare. “No!”
The puppet master laughed. “Poor Cyn, falling apart so soon?” His voice
