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Niles
“GO, DAISZEK! GO!” I scream at the top of my lungs, tears running wild down my face as I throw the giant lock to the sand.
I did it! I fucking did it.
But I’m unable to celebrate. Sweat drenches my tunic. My lungs seize up at the sudden shock of pain rippling through flesh, through organs, through my goddammed soul.
I look down as I start flailing about.
Bright orange flames eat at my skin like a fast-acting virus.
I howl in agony as it spreads up my arm and over my neck. It’s a thousand blades slicing through my skin. It’s acid melting through my veins.
All I can do is launch my body toward the sand and pray that I can extinguish this fire myself. I get lucky when I see DaiSzek bulldoze through the flaming pikes. The sheer force of his gallop is unstoppable. Yes, I’ve made the right choice. But all I can think about is my body exploding in yellow light. The smell of burning flesh and smoke surrounded me at every turn.
“Help meeeeee!” I wail, crawling through the opening and rolling toward the ocean waves.
Water. I need water.
I’m going to die here.
But at least I’ll have saved them all by freeing the black beast.
Sand rains in my vision like a storm of fine mist. I don’t even know which direction I’m throwing my body as the motion of flames, waves, and the searing pain blur together.
I didn’t get to say goodbye to Chekiss.
I didn’t get to find a one true love. A soul mate. A person I’ll love until my last breath. Maybe they knew I’d die young. Maybe they’re waiting for me in heaven.
“I’m here, Niles.” A soft, soothing voice wraps around my sweltering body, shaking in terror. “I’m here.”
I jolt awake with a shaky gasp. Cold, cold, cold, yet burning on the inside. It was a nightmare. A reoccurring hellhole I fall into when I close my eyes. A prison far worse than this Vexamen trap. I blink away the warm tears pooling in my eyes, search my surroundings for an anchor. Bars. Black brimstone walls. Flickering red and yellow lights. And the disturbing tune that sounds like a broken record.
But the pain of the fire hasn’t gone away. My arm vibrates with a sting so severe, I have to grit my teeth, clench every muscle, and hiss to release some of the tension.
Where’s my cream?
We’re in prison. We didn’t bring the medicine that takes this agony away.
What the fuck am I supposed to do? I’ll die if I must endure this pain without the salve I need. Do I wake the others? Do I start screaming? I’m two seconds from this becoming unbearable. A force that won’t let me suffer in silence.
“I’m here.” That voice from my nightmare scares the shit out of me. I jerk away from the sound, gawking in the dark at the cage to my left.
It’s Marilynn. She’s pressing herself against the bars, reaching for me with a cold panic tightening her cheeks.
“Hi.” I try to wave, but the heat flares across my shoulder at the gesture. “Sorry. Did I wake you?” I grit through clenched teeth.
“I can help,” Marilynn says, still reaching her arm out for me.
Like an idiot, I take her hand and shake it.
“No, give me your foot.” Her voice is like steam from a hot bath, but her face still wears that grumpy, unapproachable mask.
Oh. Foot. “Why?” I hiss but stretch my leg out to her anyway. “It’s kind of dirty. Normally I’m very hygienic. But as you can see, we’re in prison and barefoot.” Every word comes out strained like I’m moments from screaming.
She throws her long red hair over her shoulder and begins massaging my foot. I raise my eyebrows. “What’re you doing?” I ask.
“It’s for chronic pain. I’m trying to find the spot…ah, there it is.”
