Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,214

look at me. I couldn't move. Couldn’t scream. My heart was racing as our eyes connected. His unconditional love was evident in that moment, it flickered in and out between life and death.

I wanted there to be blood. I hoped that the gore would make it feel more real, but Webb’s hot blade cauterized his blood vessels, making the kill clean and quick. Linda’s screams were louder than the scurrying crowd. Louder than Webb’s laughter. The commotion grew until there was so much noise that I couldn’t hear anything at all. Nothing except a whisper on the wind. A light kiss blown my way, reminding me of my first love.“You look like a princess, Ash.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

I closed my eyes again, hoping the scene before me would disappear, but this time when I opened them, Webb was only a couple inches from my face. “I’m going to enjoy this,” he said before picking up the electric blade again.

I kicked my legs out, trying to inflict pain on him however I could, but my movements were weak. From the corner of my eye, I saw Linda kneeling beside Josiah and sobbing over his body. If Webb killed me, it would be the last thing I ever saw.

“Ready to die?” Webb asked while drawing back his arm and aiming the blade at my heart.

When you meet the end, you stop worrying about the pain and the unknown.

“Bring it!” I screamed before spitting at his feet. If I was dying, I’d die on my own terms.

I didn’t close my eyes either. I wanted to accept my fate, like a true Dormas woman. But before I could feel the cutting pain of his blade in my chest, a light flashed in front of me before he burst into dust. It got in my eyes, my mouth. It covered my skin and legs. I felt the gritty death in my hair, and I shuffled backwards to escape getting Webb’s remains in my lungs.

Huxley, my savior, wrapped his arms around me as I shook. “Don’t fall apart on me now, little Walker. We have to go,” he said in a stern voice while yanking me up. Blood rushed to my head, and I swayed on my feet. My racing pulse ticked with sharp pain and Huxley threw his hands out to steady me.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“I feel dizzy.”

Huxley waited for a moment as I reoriented myself, but when I shook away the confusion, and he tried to pull me again, I dug my heels in.

“Wait,” I argued.

“We don’t have time. The signal is only off for a little longer!” Huxley exclaimed. I felt his hands wrap around my waist, and I shoved myself back before he could pull me to him.

“We have to save her,” I explained before nodding towards Mistress Stonewell. We both turned and watched as she cradled Josiah in her arms, rocking back and forth. Her sobs broke me, but it was strange to see her maternal compassion.

Dead. Josiah was dead.

I knew the grief would one day feel like a punch to the gut, but I shook away the thoughts. I had to survive for just a little bit longer.

“Mistress, come on. Josiah would want you to survive,” I called out. Huxley looked like he wanted to leave her there, but he waited patiently.

Linda continued to rock, and I moved closer to her, trying to approach things mindlessly. If I accepted that my oldest friend was the person she was grieving over, I could do this.

“Mistress,” I began while straightening my shoulders. “Pick your ass up off this floor and follow me right now. I need you to shut off your emotions for fifteen minutes, then I promise you can lose control. ”

Linda Stonewell looked up at me as more tears fell. She seemed to experience a variety of emotions as she processed my words. Shock at my outburst. Sadness. Fear. Distress.

Then determination. She placed a tender kiss on his forehead before rising and walking towards Huxley. They both stared at me as I allowed a millisecond of agony before letting go.

“Goodbye, my friend. I’m glad you gave me the good parts of yourself,” I whispered.

I clutched my head and ran towards Huxley.

Saying those words made it all more real. The levee in my mind broke, and I was left with debilitating sadness.

“He’s really gone,” I whispered as we started running. All the while, my head pounded.

The dark night just seemed to match my despair. I knew something wasn't right with my head,