AllFreeNovel
Share Us
A minute passed.
“Should we help them?” Alec asked, creeping into the light of one of the torches. He cocked his head toward the screams. They hadn’t ceased. In fact, each shriek sounded louder and more tormented than the one before.
“The commander told us we need to stay put,” Jake supplied.
“I agree. Whatever the hells is causing that, I want no part of it,” Nic agreed, a shiver racking his muscular frame. Even Patrick nodded.
Only Alec looked conflicted, his shrewd eyes narrowed in on the tunnel Jude and Isiah had stormed through. “We shouldn’t just sit here. It isn’t right,” he muttered beneath his breath. Indecision had his body trembling, and a look that resembled shame turned down the corners of his mouth.
I shifted in place, my heart rate a thunderous drum. What if they needed backup, or what if Jude had been cornered by some beast, or—
A weight settled on my shoulders, Patrick’s hand anchoring me and my rampant thoughts. Always at my side when I needed him. “Ki,” he warned. “Please don’t do what I think you’re about to do. You need to stay safe.Please.”
Patrick’s pleading broke my heart, but my mind had already been made up thirty seconds ago.
I was never crafted to sit andwait. To huddle in fear and wrap my arms about myself as others fought the monsters that thrived in the dark.
I wouldn’t have been able to stop myself if I tried.
Without warning, I shook off Patrick’s hold, disregarding Jake’s begging and Nic’s shouting of “Don’t you dare, Ki!”
Without a shred of hesitation, I raced gracefully across the uneven rocks, trailing after the distant light of Jude’s torch, the glow shrinking the farther they advanced.
I didn’t think as I bolted, didn’t consider what I ran toward. There was only instinct and a desperate need to act.
To slay the darkness itself.
Amid the screeches, I could make out my friends still yelling my name, pleading with me to come back, but as usual, I wasn’t great at following the rules. Or listening.
Not when Ju—peoplemight be in trouble.
My grip stiffened on my dagger’s handle as fear, apprehension, and adrenaline pushed me forward and into the narrow tunnel.
I was reminded of when Micah had praised me, right after I’d attempted to save the travelers who’d been set upon by those thieves. He’d been proud that I’d rushed into the fight, even if he later chastised my failure. His scolding hadn’t mattered. It was one of the rare times I’d earned his genuine approval, and I had done so by following my instincts.
Now, my instincts were luring me into the heart of danger once more.
As the light from Jude’s torch grew brighter, my steps became quicker. I barreled down the tapered path, and my breath caught when Jude and Isiah finally popped into view—
Right next to Carter…whose wails filled the tunnel.
Shit. I hadn’t even realized the older Knight was missing.
My legs pumped until I was but ten feet away, and my mouth fell open when I saw what was making Carter cry out in torment.
Spiders.
Hundreds and hundreds of spiders flew across his clothes and exposed ashen skin, swirling like an onyx noose about his thick neck. Their black bodies glowed from within, chilling red and white threads radiating from their spindly legs.
And they were biting Carter.Eatinghim.
Devouring him alive.
Jude and Isiah waved their torches back and forth, endeavoring to frighten the ravenous creatures away, but the flames only seemed to excite them more.
Carter feebly reached out, one foot stumbling over the other as he tumbled to the dusty earth. All he could manage to do was hoarsely scream for help. For someone to save him as his body failed him.
“They’re poisonous!” Jude bellowed, his injured eye shining an almost milky white.
