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The rocky path leading to the tree line several miles away begins to blur until a black hole opens in the center of it, revealing the truth—the distant path is an illusion meant to block out what’s on the other side.
The girl looks back at me. “If the Giftless were to stumble upon the island, this little trick would keep them walking in place for miles and miles.” She smirks, sweeping a hand out as if proud. “After you.”
“Has that ever happened?” I wonder.
She nods. “Couple times. They were drained dry by the vamps within minutes of landing.” She shrugs. “The illusion is the result of the last one, and hey, that helicopter they flew in on gave us shit we never thought we’d come across. Anyway. Go.”
Pulling in a full breath, I step through the opening, my eyes widening as I take in the site. The concrete buildings and old huts are built deep in the trees I spotted when the dragon flew us closer, and for the first time, I spot more Gifted. A few dangle by their legs from tree branches, while others fight and wrestle in a giant bed of mud.
There's shouting from the left and deep growls from the right and my feet slow.
“This is a calm afternoon.” She notices my hesitation and turns to fully face me for the first time. “I guess I should just tell you now, if it wasn’t obvious already. You're going to hate it here. It's not a question, just a fact. You’re officially alone as far as your past life goes, and it will never get better. The pain will never dull. This isn’t one of those everything heals with time situations. On Exile Island, it’s the opposite.” She looks behind her and back to me again.
“You’re completely blocked from everyone outside of this place. To them, you no longer exist, other than in their memories, but they’re not blocked from you.”
“Meaning?”
“Meaning if you’re connected to someone, or like running in a pack or something that links you to others, you will feel them every single day, always, but they won’t know that. They’ll feel nothing from you, so in time … they will heal and forget you, but you will never be offered the same reprieve.It’s a twisted game the Ministry likes to play with us. Torture without touch, we like to call it. Judging by the way you came out of the cave, it revealed some fucked-up shit to you. And based on my experience, I’d say you have a mate. Sorry, but you’ll feel him for the rest of your life and unfortunately, there’s no way for you to take your own here. It’s literally the only magic that’s blocked here. Temporary death is a common tool all of us use, but permanent?” She shakes her head, her long dark hair falling over her shoulders in massive waves. “The Ministry would never allow us such luxury.”
I look around the island.
It looks like something out of that show Ben used to watch, Naked and Afraid. Everything is makeshift, but with added touches of magic. And helicopter parts.
The trees are tall, blocking out most of the sun and the water sits still along the shore.For the Gifted, the darkness and energy the galaxy provides is not just a preference but a necessity. It’s an energy source for their power, one of the reasons those at Rathe must feed on others so much to keep their bodies fueled, meaning the people here feed off one another to keepthemselves going.
As I think it, I pause, wrapping my arms around myself as pressure falls on my chest.
That's not my knowledge. That was straight out of Knight's mind and memory.
He's literally woven within me now.
It’s as soothing as it is revolting.
“So, the Ministry runs this place?” I hear myself ask, trying to focus on anything but the incessant tug-of-war inside me.
“We run it, but they created it. It’s a never-ending prison. Eternal hell and not the fun one.” She turns, walking backward with a smirk. “Probably not the welcome speech you were hoping for but be happy it was me on cave watch today and not Frenchie. He’s a prick.” She sticks her hand out, her fingernails painted a shiny black. “I’m Haide.”
I hesitate, wondering if I should spill all my shit up since lying fucked me and got me here.
Knight fucked me and got me here...
Literally.
I swallow. “I was raised as London, but my Gifted born name is Villaina... Lacroix.”
Her brows jump. “Well … some of them will definitely kill you, but again...you can’t really die here so.” She shrugs, throwing her arm over me. “Let’s go meet the others, little Slasher, but you might want to hang on to this.”
Haide passes me a small knife I didn’t see her pull out and faces forward. “New blood!”
Fuck.
Twenty-Four
Knight
Muffledsounds ring out around me, but my eyes won’t open.
Darkness, a new, heavier kind than I’m used to, seeps into my veins, weighing me down until I'm nothing but a black void. Hollow and starved for something that no longer exists.
