The world around me shudders, then slows. With a final shuddering scream, everything just... stops. The silence that follows is so absolute, so all-encompassing, that for a moment, I wonder if I've gone deaf. Or maybe just died.
I crack open an eye, half-expecting to see those psycho blades still doing their best Cuisinart impression on my sorry ass. But no…instead, those circular death dealers are just hanging there, frozen mid-slice. It's like the universe decided to buffer right in the middle of my execution.
I'm half-tempted to wave my hand in front of my face to make sure I haven't accidentally stumbled into a glitchy video game cutscene. But knowing my luck, that'd probably trigger some boss battle I'm in no shape to handle right now.
"What the hell?" Rhyland's voice is a hoarse whisper in my ear, his breath hot against my skin. "How…? Did you do that?"
I spin around to face him, my eyes wide with shock. Holy shit, I did. But usually, my power only lets me slow time down, not stop it completely. And it's always been a solo gig, but now Rhyland is stuck in this weird-ass time bubble with me.
"I-I think so," I stammer, my voice shaking with adrenaline and disbelief.
Rhyland, being the practical bastard he is, doesn't waste time analyzing this bizarre turn of events. He grabs my hand, and we slip through the fissure like thieves in the night, the frozen blades looming over us.
I cling to that sensation like a lifeline—the one keeping us suspended in this bizarre time bubble. Every fiber of my being is focused on maintaining this fragile state as we shimmy through the deadly obstacle course. We duck under the frozen blade, its edge gleaming wickedly mere inches from our heads.
Rhyland moves with me, his grip on my hand never faltering. The fact that he's here, frozen in this moment with me, is a mind-fuck all its own. I mean, unless my vampire boyfriend suddenly developed time manipulation powers when I wasn't looking, the only explanation is that my mojo decided to go plus-one tonight due to our physical contact when I tapped into this power, pulling him into my little time-out corner of reality.
As we weave our way through this deadly sculpture garden, I can't help but wonder if this is what it feels like to be a cat with nine lives. Or maybe we're just starring in our own action movie, complete with slow-mo escape scenes. Either way, I'm not complaining. I'll take "miraculously not dead" over "sliced and diced" any day of the week.
We make it to the other side, and then I let it go—the world snaps back into motion, the blades whirring to life with a vengeance, like they're pissed off that we dared to cheat death.
I think back to the riddle, turning the words over like a Rubik's cube, "Water's grasp, flickering bright... shadow and light..." And then it hits me.
It's so simple, so damn obvious, that I almost want to laugh. The way light dances on the water's surface, casting shadows and illuminating the depths, is a simple concept that holds so much meaning and power.
"The answer to the riddle is Reflection!" I shout, my voice bouncing off the tunnel's walls like a pinball.
And just like that, the blades grind to a halt, the mist dissipating like a fart in the wind. We're left standing there, panting and shaking, our hearts pounding in our chests like jackhammers.
"Holy shit," Rhyland breathes, his eyes wide with awe and disbelief. "That was too fucking close."
I nod, my legs trembling beneath me as the adrenaline wears off. "You're telling me. I thought we were goners for sure."
"How the fuck did you pull that off?" Rhyland pants, his hands braced on his knees like he just sprinted a mile. "That whole freezing time shit? That's a new one, even for you."
I shrug, my breath coming in ragged gasps. "Beats me, but I'm sure as hell not complaining." I pause, my brow furrowing as I consider the implications. "Maybe my powers are leveling up or something? Like, I just unlocked a new skill in the world's most screwed-up video game."
Rhyland snorts, shaking his head. "Only you would compare a near-death experience to a damn video game."
I grin, the adrenaline still buzzing through my veins like a live wire. "Hey, if the shoe fits..."
Rhyland rolls his eyes, but I can see the relief in his gaze, the way his shoulders sag as the tension bleeds out of him. "Well, whatever it was, I'm just glad it worked."
I nod, my relief so sharp it's almost painful. "You and me both, babe. I guess the universe decided it wasn't done with us yet."
Rhyland's lips twitch, a hint of his usual smirk returning. "Or maybe it just didn't want to deal with your sassy ass in the afterlife."
I gasp, "Excuse you, my ass is a fucking delight. The afterlife would be lucky to have me."
Rhyland chuckles, the sound warm and rich in the damp chill of the tunnel. "Whatever you say, baby. But let's try to avoid testing that theory anytime soon, yeah?"
I nod, my smile fading as the reality of our situation settles back in. "Agreed. We've got shit to do, and I'd rather not end up dead before we finish it."
Even as I say it, I know it's a lie. Because as much as I hate to admit it, as much as it scares the ever-loving hell out of me... I live for this shit. The danger, the adrenaline, the rush of knowing that we're alive and beaten the odds once again.
Rhyland grabs my hand and pulls me through the tunnels, "Come on, Angel. We ain't done yet."
Lucian
