I feel Ezekial watching me because he understands how that will affect me—torment me. She’s starving herself, and she’s doing it because of us. Me.
All the times I’ve practically forced her to eat erupt into my mind, and my stomach twists like I can feel her hunger—but I can’t.
I can’t feel her at all.
“She’s harming herself.”Julien’s pained voice seeps into our minds.
I seek him out. Julien’s no longer watching Sai, he’s staring at the shadows of the room, ones that have become much larger.
“No, Julien.” His gaze sweeps to mine. “You can’t.”
Shuffling sounds emit from the phone, then Kacey’s voice becomes a whisper. “She would kill me if she—well, maybe not kill—but she’d definitely give me this angry, terrifying‘the things I’ll do to you’faceif she knew I was calling—”
“Kane, Julien…”Ezekial murmurs.
Then there’s a pressure, a distinct sign that Ezekial’s creating a barrier, which means…
I’d been too busy watching Julien, meaning I’d missed the shadows responding to Sai.
They’re spearing out, latching onto his limbs like oily tethers and dragging him into the dark through the table.
Julien moves for Sai instantly, reaching for him through the shadows that cling like tar, but he doesn’t stop—he’s moreused to the dark than any of us, and although it fights, Julien is superior. He drags a snarling Sai back and forces him into a solid chair formed from all our darknesses, then holds him steady by the shoulders.
My darkness spreads out, curling around his legs and arms, coiling over his chest to bind his body in place. To lock him here, in this realm. With Ezekial’s barrier sealing the room, we’ve cut off every possible escape.
Slowly, the black light in his markings dulls and his head slumps back with a groan.
“Hello? Are you guys still there?”
“Sorry about that, Kacey.” Ezekial runs a hand through his hair, never taking his eyes off Sai. “Please, carry on.”
“I’m only telling you all this because, well, you’re my friends.” We glance at one another, except Sai who shuts his eyes. “You’ve all done so much for me, and honestly, I just thought you deserved to know what you’re heading into.”
“Ask her about the food.” I can’t help myself. I’m desperate to know.
“You said she hasn’t been eating, but we sent food?” Ezekial asks.
“She gave it all to the staff. She’s refused to accept anything.” The room darkens, but before I can seek out the next perpetrator, I realise it’s all of us. “I’ve tried to feed her, but I’m not exactly the best cook. I even tried guilt tripping her a few times but she’s... stubborn.”
I feel them all look to me, but I stare at the table.
“Thank you, Kacey, for telling us.” Ezekial says he’s thankful but he feels and looks anything but.
His entire aura has darkened, lips pulled tight in a grim line, hands tensed into fists.
Kacey sighs. “There’s… something else.”
Sai groans. Ezekial winces. Julien steps away from the table. I’m not sure we can take much more.
“She’s in pain.”
I’m not sureIcan.
I stare ahead into a faraway stretch of shadow. Jasmine chose me. She chose me to be with her tomorrow—today—in a few hours. What difference would it make if I—
“Kane, ground yourself.”My brother’s words stun me into reality.
I stare at the shadows, the ones beginning to engulf my body. Sai and Julien are watching me too, but they’re not stopping me.
