AllFreeNovel
Share Us
32
Raven
Noneof us knew what to expect as we waited in the men’s locker room. We were the only group here right now and I knew Violet’s group was after us. Makayla’s group was in the women’s locker room, with a start time ten minutes before ours. I wondered how she was doing.
I wasn’t sure if the fact that we were only staggered ten minutes apart was good or bad. I was betting on bad.
“Remember to use the bond,” Matt reminded us.
“We know,” Ben said. He still sounded like he was pissed that he had to have the others in his head.
“Also remember that they’re probably going to try to use me as bait or something,” I said.
A rush of emotions surged through me. Mild panic mingled with anger and fear. My mates were worried about me already.
“I can take care of myself,” I reminded them.
“Yes, but you can’t go out there expecting to be the hero,” Luka said. “You could have died last time.”
“You would have,” I said.
“It’s time,” Ms. Halifax said from the doorway. I hadn’t even heard her open the door or walk in. That wasn’t good. We hadn’t even started yet and I was already letting my emotions distract me.
I had to stay focused.
Ben grabbed my hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “We can do this.”
I nodded and tried to force down the wave of fear rising in the pit of my stomach. I had to stay calm to help them stay calm.
They would all try to protect me, but they were also counting on me. And I wasn’t about to let them down. Lifting my chin, I gave Ben’s hand a squeeze before letting go. “We’re ready.”
Professor Halifax opened the door to the gym wide for us, leaning against it to hold it open.
Beyond her was nothing.
Just darkness.
My palms felt damp already, but I forced myself forward. One foot in front of the other.
As soon as I stepped into the gym, the darkness seemed to collapse around me with crushing force. I turned back toward the locker room, intent on grabbing hold of whichever mate was nearest but the light from the door was gone.
“Ben?” I called. “Luka? Matt?”
No answer.
“Zach?”
My words echoed through what seemed like an endless expanse of nothing. I extended my arms in front of me, feeling blindly for anything. Slowly, arms still out in front of me, I turned in a slow circle.
There was nothing there.
It was just me.
Where had the others gone?
My heart pounded against my ribs as fear made my chest constrict. I was alone and in a dark empty room, similar to the recurring nightmares I’d had since I was a kid. The only thing missing was the sound of dripping water and the bars of the cell.
Only, this wasn’t a dream. It was real. And it was terrifying.
