Then—
A shadow emerged through the smoke.
A figure moving toward me.
Slow. Relentless.
Was it Malik?
Please let it be Malik.
My head spun.
The world was unraveling, spiraling into a nightmare.
I tried to call out, but my throat clenched, and the words stuck.
Then, my body collapsed, hitting the floor in a paralyzed heap.
I couldn’t move. I couldn’t speak.
The only thing I could do was blink.
The figure reached me.
Strong hands seized my arms, dragging me toward the exit.
But something was wrong.
My rescuer staggered—his grip weak, his movements sluggish.
I forced my vision to focus, my eyes darting over his face.
Yes.
It was Malik.
But just as relief flooded through me, his body buckled, crumpling hard beside me.
The poison was in his system, too.
A numbing chill stole over my limbs, freezing me in place.
The bitter taste of the toxin still coated my tongue.
I lay motionless, helpless. Malik’s body twitched beside me, his chest rising and falling in jagged, labored breaths.
We stared at each other, eyes darting in silent desperation.
We had to get out.
We had to move.
But how?
Then—
A low, primal roar tore from Malik’s throat, rattling the very air around us.
