the face of so many powerful Reapers, they were just helpless boys who tossed their scythes away with pitiful clangs and begged for mercy.
“We’re just children,” Moore said, his voice shaking. “Don’t kill us, please!”
Kelara scowled at them, her eyes reduced to ink-black slits. “You’re more than children but worry not. We’re not going to kill you. There is still hope for you.”
“Is there, though?” Soul asked, pursing his lips. He clearly wasn’t impressed with the boys’ pleading, not that I could blame him. I wasn’t a fan, either. Not after the hours I’d spent in their miserable company.
“We don’t kill younglings whose minds can still be reformed,” Kelara reiterated. “Now focus on the big prize!”
Suddenly reminded of our presence, Soul and Widow turned slowly to look at Atlas and me. Seeley was already watching us, his brow furrowed and his scythe still dripping with Visentis blood. Despite my circumstances, hope dared to blossom inside me as our eyes met, and he gave me a soft and brief yet reassuring smile.
“You need to let her go, Atlas,” Soul said. “You’re outnumbered.”
Atlas hissed, tightening his grip on my throat. Panic set in, rushing through me like ice water. Seeley moved closer. Kelara stayed with the remaining Visentis boys, keeping an eye on them. Soul and Phantom, however, were determined to get me out of here alive—well, sort of.
“Don’t be foolish. Whatever the Visentis Aeternae did to you, Atlas, you didn’t deserve it. They’re no longer around to keep you submissive. We’re giving you a chance at freedom,” Phantom added, but it didn’t seem to sway the ghoul.
Another Reaper stepped through the broken doorway, and Atlas shuddered. I could almost feel him melting at the sight of her. They’d met before, I realized. They must have been close, because there were glimmers of true love persisting in his big black eyes.
“Nethissis, meet the Morning Star. The Night Bringer and Phantom should be with us shortly as well,” Soul said, giving me a wink. He made it sound like a casual meet and greet, not an absolute carnage.
“Hey…” Morning mumbled, smiling at Atlas and ignoring the rest of us. “I know it’s been a while.”
Atlas whispered in his ghoulish tongue, and a solitary tear found its way down Morning’s cheek. Outside, the carnage continued as the last of the Darklings fell under the blades of First Tenners and the fangs and claws of ghouls. I could see them through the window, advancing, cutting the enemy down and cleansing the town of its pest.
“You’ve willingly stayed with the Visentis dynasty because there was nowhere else for you to go after what they did to you,” Morning said to Atlas. “But I’m giving you a better option now. I’m back.”
My throat burned as Atlas’s claw pierced it. “Guys… I’m… not… sure it’s work-working…” I managed, my voice raspy and broken as I struggled to survive. Atlas was getting ready to kill me forever, and I wasn’t sure the Reapers had any time left to intervene. The hope I’d experienced earlier was withering fast.
“Morning, you have to do something,” Seeley said, eyeing me worriedly.
“I’m trying,” Morning replied, clearly exasperated. “It’s been too long. Maybe I don’t have as much influence on him as I’d thought.”
“Stating the obvious there.” Soul scoffed.
“You’re not helping,” I croaked, my hands gripping Atlas’s long and leathery fingers as I tried to pry him off me.
“Atlas, please! It’s over. You still have a chance at an existence, but you have to let Nethissis go,” Morning said, moving closer. She slowly raised her hands, and I marveled at how beautiful and serene she was, though her emotional pain was visible. “She is innocent in all this, and haven’t enough innocent people died already?”
Atlas shook his head, determined to kill me. I was seconds away from praying for salvation of any kind, when Morning sighed deeply, shaking her head.
“You’re not leaving me with any other choice,” she said. “I loved you. You loved me. Don’t let that be in vain.”
Atlas’s whispers changed in tone, and I could tell he was articulating words in his ghoulish language. Whatever he was saying, it horrified the First Tenners.
“What… What is he—” I tried to ask, but Widow finished my question for me.
“Saying? He’s saying the Spirit Bender left quite the mess on Visio, and that none of us are able to fix it,” he replied. “He’s also saying Petra will have her way, as will the Master.”
“He’s beyond salvation,” Soul muttered. “Atlas has crossed over to the