Destiny Gift (The Everlast Trilogy) - By Juliana Haygert Page 0,55
doctor ever would.”
“That’s if I succeeded.” I turned sideways to look at him. “I can’t waste time and money trying. Nobody becomes a star and rich overnight. Besides, not everyone can be a classic, chic singer. I’m so not gonna walk on a stage wearing only a bikini and wiggle my butt for the camera like most pop singers do these days to get more fans. That’s not my style. But I’m fine. It was my option. I like medicine and I like helping others.”
“You say that now,” Micah said. “When you’re older and tired of hearing grandpas complain about bladder control problems and teenagers crying because of acute acne, you’ll regret your decision.”
His vision of my future brought some humor to the situation. I chuckled. “Sorry, but I won’t change my mind.”
Micah shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He lay down in the backseat, eyes closed.
Taking advantage of the silence, I glanced at Victor. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, why?” he asked, suspicious.
Always on the defensive. “Just asking. Driving for too many hours might not be pleasant.” He smiled, but his eyes were still on the road. “If you need to stop to stretch your legs or grab a coffee to keep you awake, we won’t mind.”
“I mind,” Micah said from the backseat.
I turned to him. “Shut up. Nobody’s talking to you.” When I glanced back at Victor, he was truly smiling. “Okay?” I asked in a helpless, gentle tone. I felt stupid.
“Okay,” he said, losing the smile and focusing on the road.
I sank down into the seat, turning up the volume and singing along, pretending everything was right in the world.
***
I was in a dark, chilly, tiny room, with stone walls and no windows. My arms ached. I looked up and, illuminated by a thin strip of moonlight, I saw my wrists wrapped by metal chains. My clothes hung in tatters and when I moved, my back scratched painfully against a rough wall.
What was this? Where was I?
Imha walked into the room, her head high, holding her stave. A black cloud followed her. I flinched. Well, that answered my mental questions and put a clamp on my spinning mind.
“Hello, Nadine,” she said, an evil smile over her red lips. “How are you?”
My face went cold. I was interacting in this vision. Oh my God!
Approaching me, Imha tsked. “It is polite to answer questions addressed to you. Didn’t your mother teach you good manners? You don’t want me to call my friends, do you?” she asked, still smiling. “Be a nice girl and tell me everything I want to know.”
I grimaced, then finally finding my voice, I asked, “What do you want to know?”
Imha laughed, like an evil queen in a fairy tale, sending goose bumps over my skin. “You know what I want. I’ve already asked you many, many times. Tell me everything and I will end your suffering.”
“Will you release me if I tell you?” I asked, trying to gain time and find out as much as I could about this vision while I tried to figure out how to go back to the present.
She laughed again. “After all you did, dear? No, no. But, if you tell me, I promise your death will be quick and clean.” Imha came closer until her face was inches from mine, her eyes sparkling with pure vice. “On the other hand, if you keep up with this silence game, I promise you, you will regret ever being born.” She kissed my cheek. Her lips were icy, and under it, my skin crackled, drying out. The withering spread, sending searing pain through my face until it reached my throat, making me gasp and choke.
The realization that I could die hit me. I tried inhaling the air that would save me, but in vain. The parching spread down to my lungs and chest. The world spun and the room became even darker. Blood trickled from my wrists as I struggled against the cuffs, and my legs went numb.
Imha sent a purple bolt from her stave to my chest. The bolt hurt as if it had opened my flesh and crushed my organs. I tried to yell, but couldn’t. However, a few seconds later—although it seemed like decades—the power of the bolt spread and the drying feeling left me. I took a deep breath, not caring that my whole body weight dangled from my bloody wrists. I didn’t have any strength left, not even to look at Imha while she laughed.