Defying Destiny (Afterword Academy #3) - Katie May Page 0,37
I’m scared.”
There’s no response.
“Brax?” Tentatively, my heart juddering in my chest, I extend a hand to where I last felt him. It touches nothing but air. “Braxton?” I spin in a wide circle, tears pricking my eyes. “Brax, where are you?”
Again, only silence greets me.
I’m alone. Truly alone for the first time since this whole thing started.
“No, no, no, no.” Each step forward is agonizing. My body protests my treatment of it as I attempt to find my way out of this hellhole. Quite literally.
“Braxton? Auston? Karston?” Step after step. One foot forward. And then another. And then another.
I want to run, to scream at the top of my lungs, but all I can muster is a breathy whisper and a slow meander. My legs wobble, threatening to give out, but I push forward with sheer determination. Somewhere in this pit of darkness, my guys are looking for me. They’re probably freaking out and terrified.
I will walk until I physically can’t anymore, dammit. And even then, I’ll crawl until my arms fail me.
I think of my men to calm the turbulent waters of my mind. Preston’s shy smile as he gazes up at me like I hold the moon and sun in my hands. The impish glint in Karston’s eyes and the tender way he holds me. Auston’s surly yet protective demeanor, and the way he always makes me feel safe and cared for. Braxton’s unyielding loyalty and the love constantly emanating from his eyes. The way Caius looked at me in the dream world, when he had a physical body. Even after all of these years, he never stopped loving me, never stopped fighting for me. Sure, his methods were atrocious, but he showed me that he’s willing to repent. He truly wishes to become a better man.
And he belongs with me. With us.
They all do.
Thoughts of them are the only thing that drives me forward. I want to see them again. Kiss them. Love them. Hold them. I want to feel their arms around me and their whispered reassurances that everything will be all right, that we’ll survive. They quite literally went to Hell for me, and I know I’ll do the same thing for them. A love like ours? It’s infinite. Not even death can keep us apart. I’ll dare anyone to try.
But I’m so weak…
I can feel my body toppling forward at the same time sharp teeth bite down on my leg. I kick weakly at the shadow monster, but I’m still falling, falling, falling.
The moment I hit the ground, the floor opens up underneath me, and I tumble headfirst into the next level of Hell.
Chapter 16
Karston
Well shit.
Hell’s jungles and tundras have nothing on that last level. The absolute darkness that surrounded me was terrifying. But this tumbling through the pitch-black nothingness might just beat it.
I can’t tell which way is up or down, with no light or sound to reference. Instead, my body falls, limbs flailing, fingers extended to grab at anything, something.
And Hadley.
Where’s my Hadley?
I couldn’t find her in the dark. Is she lost to me forever? Was Caius at least able to stay with her? Or did she have to face those monsters alone?
I felt them, skittering along my feet, brushing up against my legs.
But I couldn’t hear them, which might have been a good thing in hindsight.
So when a light from below comes into view and a heat arrives with it, I celebrate. I’ve made it to the next level. Let’s just hope the others can make it too.
Nothingness gives way to bright light and a vastness of tan sand as far as the eye can see. Still, I plummet down, trying not to freak out. My muscles clenching, I call upon my ability to hover and stop myself from sinking into the sands below.
I set myself down on the soft, heated sand and flick my gaze around, looking for someone, anyone else. But I don’t see anything.
Glancing up, I shield my eyes with a hand, hoping to see any of the others. I don’t know how long I stand here, but I can’t wait any longer. I need to get moving, get out of this oppressive sun.
The orange globe is massive, looking like it might crash into this vast desert at any moment, giving me a really uneasy feeling. Everywhere I look are hundreds of sandy hills that seem to stretch on forever in every direction. And the heat? Fuck, it feels like my eyeballs might melt out of their sockets.