Page 8 of Axis of Fire

twisted—

unnaturally.

A quiet scream caught in my throat.

I had never been this close to death.

And never had a dead person’s eyes looked straight at me.

Those snake-like pupils—

it felt as though they would burn themselves into my memory forever.

“What the hell is that—?!”

In the same instant, heat flooded through my cold body—

sharp, violent—

stabbing into my wrists.

The knife slipped from my fingers.

Another wave of fear crashed over me.

I knew what was happening.

But I didn’t want it.

Not now.

My fingertips began to spark.

And I screamed—

the pain unbearable.

A sharp breath.

Then fire burst from my hands.

So violently that it surrounded me at once.

A cage formed around me.

Dangerous.

Burning.

Unpredictable.

I couldn’t see anything beyond it.

Only hear the screams—

on the other side of the flames.

“Damn it! We were supposed to get her out before they arrived!”