Page 4 of Axis of Fire

Something hard slammed into her side.

The air was knocked from her lungs.

Pain followed instantly.

Dull.

Spreading.

She forced herself to ignore it.

One second of hesitation could cost her everything.

Her teeth clenched as she forced her body to move—

clawing through wet soil and tangled branches, trying to free herself from the cage of bushes.

A breath—

deep.

Shaky.

Pull yourself together.

Don’t fall apart.

Not here.

Not now.

Lifting her head, she prepared to take a step toward absolute freedom.

And froze.

On the lawn stood a group of figures dressed in black—something resembling military uniforms.

And her heart skipped another beat.

“What the hell is this?” she whispered.

She counted them at a glance.

Ten.

“One step closer,” she said, “and you’re dead.”

She raised her hands in warning.

Her mind raced, searching for a way out.

Illariana didn’t want to hurt anyone with the anomaly living inside her.

But getting captured wasn’t an option either.

Her will to live could break through anything.

And if she had to use her power to survive—