Points for trying to make me feel better. We move quickly away from the festivities, past the admin building, where a macabre game of Pin the Tail on the Donkey is happening, freshmen blindfolded and searching in the dark. Nope, not it. I shudder as we continue down the path, the air getting heavier, chillier with each step, until my breath starts to come out in quick white puffs that look like smoke.
Once we’re at the lake, Aric holds out his hands, and the water bubbles at the lake’s surface before freezing, A straight line of ice continues, bluish white against the dark water, bridging us to the opposite shore. “It won’t last long. We need to hurry.”
He grabs my hand, and we move quickly across the ice bridge. Over halfway across, I make the mistake of glancing over my shoulder. Choppy waves splash over the ice, melting and reclaiming it. My stomach drops through my feet, but I hold my breath and keep walking.
Within moments of reaching the shore, the ice bridge dissolves completely, like it was never there at all.
From the far shore, we can see all of Endir. The stadium where the feast is celebrated, the buildings and dorms, the basalt arch. Torches light the path for the Hunt. The smoke from the bonfires swirls toward the sky as music and laughter carry across the water. Will we ever go back to those people? To the school? Or is this it?
Aric squeezes my hand. “Come on, there’s a cave just up here.”
We walk another thirty feet and reach the mouth of a massive cave that’s part of one of the rocky hills that surround the lake.
I let out a shaky breath as Aric pulls the runestone from his pocket. “Wait.”
He curses. “What? What’s wrong?”
The once-clear skies are now covered with rainclouds. I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m afraid.”
Aric covers my hand with his.
“What? No saying it’s all going to be okay or that you’ll save me?”
His grin already has me at ease. “First off, you’re perfectly capable of saving your own ass, though it is nice to be needed. And second…I won’t lie to you. Ever. If we burn—we burn together.”
“You mean it?” A tear slides down my cheek.
“With all of my soul.” He nods. “Until the last breath leaves my body—and even after that.”
I hug him close, my hands drawing small circles along his bare back. “I…never expected this,” I start. “Never trusted anyone’s feelings because of my Aethercall. But with you…” Our eyes meet. “It’s real.”
He kisses my head, then steps away. We reach for our knives, make the shallow cuts on our palms, then press the blood onto the Thurisaz rune.
The stone crumbles.
The world around us freezes.
There’s no scream, no pain coming from his mouth.
There’s…nothing.
Nothing but pieces of icy crystals frozen in time around us and a very calm Aric staring me down, holding my hand.
It’s quiet. Too quiet.
Suddenly, the runes illuminate one by one down his back, like a key’s just been turned, like something has opened. His eyes widen and completely white out. An earsplitting roar escapes his lips as he crashes to his hands and knees.
And then lightning zaps directly from the sky into his back.
My mouth opens in a silent scream.
The lightning doesn’t leave, though. It stays there, trapping Aric in place like he’s a bug caught under a scientist’s pin. But somehow, he’s not stuck. He slowly takes a deep breath and leans back on his haunches, then cautiously, methodicallyraises both hands, pressing them together like he’s reining in the power.
Thunder booms. I reach out a hand, wanting to help Aric, to protect him, but before I can get close enough, the sound of an explosion fills the air. I’m thrown back so violently, my vision blurs and my ears ring.
And then there’s nothing but silence.
The ringing is gone.
