We didn’t have a mother.
Not really.
A stomach-curdling shriek sounded in the kitchen.
Titans were drawn to blood and violence, but the misery in this trailer was an almost daily occurrence.Why would one suddenly attack now?It doesn’t make sense, unless...
I gasped—the window was wide open after Nyx had broken through it, so the trailer wasn’t locked up like usual.
A beast had gotten in.
The lid in my hand shook unmercifully. Icy scales slid against my neck like Nyx was repositioning herself to attack.
“Something invisible is tearing her apart—it’s—it’s—it’s one of them... it has to be... please call...please help!” Father pleaded through the door.
The door creaked as he slammed against it and tried to get in.
I doubled over with chest pain.
Mother screamed louder, and Father sobbed as he clawed at the bathroom door. “Please, call the Spartans now. Please, children. Her mouth is foaming, it’s... horrible.”
She was being attacked, and he was at the door. It was really happening—the Titans were here.
I squeezed my eyes tighter.
Charlie sobbed louder.
The orchestra played their final act.
Fists banged against the door, a desperate man pleaded brokenly, and my hands trembled harder.
Blood rolled down my face and dripped onto the floor.
The door rattled.
The dying screamed.
Haunting classical music played.
“You are strong,” Nyx whispered. “You are brave.” Scales slid across the side of my face like she was nuzzling me. “You can handle anything—the universe is yours to command.”
Tears joined blood and dripped down my face.
I didn’t move and didn’t open my eyes.
The phone on the wall remained untouched.
There was an awful gurgling noise, then... silence. The only sound was Father sobbing brokenly.
The musicians put down their instruments and bowed.
I held my breath as I waited. Waited for him to start making the same sound Mother had made. Waited for the door to break down. Waited to fight a Titan. Waited for death.
Time stretched.
I kept waiting.
“I think it’s gone,” Father said despondently, then there was a crash like he’d tripped. The front door slammed, and his voice was muffled as he screamed and begged the neighbors for help.
