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I push against the crowds rushing back to the front doors, physically flinging people out of the way in my haste. Fucking cowards. They left their classmates on the ground, struggling and defenseless against the stampede of monsters clamoring to pass through the rift.
A gap in the crowd opens up as some of the monsters grab for the students lying injured and drag their bodies behind them as they march through the rift.
I use what little energy I have left, cursing myself for not training harder. It isn’t my power, but my energy that’s dwindling. I’ve become too reliant on the sheer brute force of my powers that I have never bothered to push myself. That ends today.
“No,” Harper screams, blasting the monster back who tries to take my brother as she clutches him to her chest, desperately guarding his broken form as she too appears injured. I search for Greyson.
A group of students rush forward, attempting to break through the crowd of monsters and chase after the ones that took the injured, but they’re already gone. I catch the faintest glimpse of Greyson’s dark-brown fur through a gap in the crowd.
I fling the last of my power out and push past the last group of students just as the final monster walks through the rift. The hunters swarm in but they’re too late.
My pulse pounds in my ears as my panic spikes and the gap in the realm begins to seal closed.
I lunge forward, my muscles bunching as I pick up speed in a last desperate attempt to follow Greyson through when a firm palm smacks against my arm, reaching from behind me. They confine me in a vise-like grip, his breaths as ragged as my own as he slams me back against his chest.
“You’ve used all your power haven’t you?” Denver shouts, his grip tightening on my one arm as another light yet firm hand grips my other one—Landon. Both of them hold me back as I struggle desperately. “You’re going in there over my dead body.”
“I have to save him,” I shriek and thrash against their hold, but even I know there’s no use.
The opening is already sealed. The searing white light flashes once again and I rush to close my eyes and sink to the ground as the burst of energy rocks into me. Denver and Landon fall with me onto the grass, refusing to loosen their grip even as they too struggle to pull in a full breath.
“Let me go,” I scream, fear, anger, and agony exploding through my chest and tearing my heart to shreds.
“Not a chance,” Denver growls, clutching me closer. “We’ll get him back. I promise.”
The words sound hollow to me though. Placating. Like something you say to someone who just had their world ripped out from under them. Numbness sweeps in and I fight against it. Despite how much it hurts I need to hold on to the pain, to let it strengthen me and drive me to keep fighting.
“I need a minute,” I rasp, barely holding onto the emotions crashing inside me like tidal waves, begging to be let loose.
“Aria,” Landon breathes, concern creasing his face as I glance over to him.
“Please, check on Carter and Harper,” I say, taking a deep breath. “They need help.”
Landon pauses a moment, indecision warring on his face before he relents. “Okay, but if you need anything, I’ll be here.”
His hand slips from my arm as he stands to help my brother.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Denver says, his hand tightening more than I thought could be possible.
“I need a minute,” I rasp again, panic starting to claw its way up my throat.
He slowly loosens his grip on me, hesitant, as though I might take off without him. “I’ll help with Landon, but I’ll still be keeping an eye on you. If you need me I’ll be here in a second.”
“Thank you,” I murmur, the best I can do right now. He doesn’t deserve me being cold to him, but I just need to catch my breath, to think on my own for just a minute.
Denver stands slowly, watching me warily as he backs away, leaving me alone. I stare at the place where the rift had been just moments before, wishing it would open again and Greyson would walk out, that this would all just be over.
The sunlight that was once so warm and comforting fades away as clouds drift in front of it. Storm clouds. Thunder cracks in the distance followed by a flash of lightning as the skies open, pouring a deluge of rain down on us all at once. The violent smatter of rain smacks against my face and I revel in the pain as I tip my head up, finally letting the tears fall. Sobs rack my body, my tears mixing with the rain as though the goddess is crying with me.
The water seeps into my clothes, drenching me completely but I don’t care. I take it for the sign that it is, that the goddess is still with me, still guiding me, still mourning with me. So I sit there letting the water soak me even after the sobs have calmed to shaky breaths.
“You’ve done well,“ my familiar’s mysterious voice sounds in my mind as she brushes up against my thigh.
I glare down at her, blinking away the haze of tears clouding my vision. I don’t bother answering her as thunder cracks in the distance, underlining the anger echoing through me.
“I said you may lose one, and you haven’t. Just because he isn’t here doesn’t mean he’s lost forever,“ she drawls, her words causing me to pause as hope flickers back to life. “Let’s go, we have much to do.”
With that, she climbs up into my lap and I scoop her up as I stand, accepting her and her help. She nuzzles against my chest and I tighten my hold on her, taking the comfort she offers as I pull the last shred of my strength to me and attempt to mend what I can for now, formulating a plan for how I’m going to get Greyson back. If there’s a way to save him, I’ll find it or I’ll die trying.
