Page 69 of Truth Revealed

Demons escaped from the structure left and right, a few getting trapped under debris as the building sank lower and lower into the ground.

Daria jumped to her feet, but after a few steps forward, she stopped, her gaze searching the shadows for her demons. Those were the only ones that mattered. There was nothing she could do. She was tethered to the chaos, but it was running its course—there was no stopping it. Every rumble reverberated in her bones, every crack of the foundation matching the beat of her pulse.

Death ran in her direction, gaining distance from the pavilion, while Hope searched through the crumbling structure for— “Misery!” she screamed.

His head jerked in her direction, over the top of one of the tables, and he cursed before his head dropped back down. When he came back into her line of sight, Youth was draped over his shoulder. He exited the left side of the building and dropped the demon onto the grass a distance away. Fear came running out after them, and Misery pointed to Youth and said something to her before he turned his back.

Pain and Persy stumbled out next, Persy with an arm draped over Pain’s shoulders. Her shirt was covered in blood and Daria swallowed hard.

Misery crossed to Hope just as Death reached Daria’s side and knelt down to catch his breath.

“I’m sorry,” she blurted, voice high and tight as she lowered herself beside him. “I had to do it, I—”

Death cut off her short rambles as he knelt in front of her. “It’s okay, everyone’s safe. You’re fine.”

“What about Sofia? Where’s Wrath and Betrayal?” Daria was still watching for them to emerge.

“Hope’s got it.”

But the hesitation in his voice was plain, and Daria shoved him off.

“Don’t patronize me,” she yelled. “We have to find them!”

Just as she made to march past him, Hope and Misery emerged from the wreckage with Betrayal slumped between them.

Daria’s legs gave out and she sank to the cold ground as relief filled her.

All of her demons were okay. They were safe.

They would heal.

Beneath her palms, the ground shook and rumbled, a final thunderous roar resonating through the surrounding field. She lifted her head just as the ground finally opened, the groans and cracks of the structure finally giving in as it disappeared. Her chaos snapped back into place like a rubber band, and she hissed at the sting it left. Then, it settled down in her chest, a comforting heaviness instead of a commanding pain.

As the ground stilled, a hush fell over the area. Only the distant sound of a quiet groan or creak of the wood as it settled into its new home—a mammoth sinkhole.

Hope and Misery reached them first, Betrayal draped between them as he stumbled along. He was worse for wear, bruises and cuts all over his body, and his brows furrowed lower every time he tried to step with his right foot.

They were all covered in a palette of bruises and blood.

Fear and Youth came next, hesitant, but with nowhere else to go, they offered their silent support.

Pain and Persy collapsed into a slump on the ground, both letting out matching groans.

But they would heal.

“Where’s…” Daria swallowed, fear of the answer swarming her. “Where are Sofia and Wrath?”

“We lost track of them during the fight,” Death explained, kneeling down beside her. “Maybe Wrath got her out and took her home to protect her.”

Her heart sank low, hope dwindling, and she swallowed back a lump in her throat.

“Guess there’s one way to find out.”

* * *

TRUTH

Consciousness snuck in softly. Like a sunrise peeking in through the blinds on an early morning.