I rush to the boy and crouch before him. He doesn’t flinch when I hold his face in my hands. If anyone else tried to be this close to him, the little guy would’ve freaked out, but he trusts me. He knows exactly how far I’ll go to keep the monsters from touching him.
“Hey, Monkey,” I whisper as I carefully search him for injuries. His wide blue eyes track my movements, wincing when I accidentally graze a fresh bruise.
Thankfully, other than a couple of scratches and handprints, the only concerning wound is on his stomach. Warm blood gushing from the cut is only feeding his panic.
I quickly snap the chains from his wrists, and I wipe away the tears falling on his pale cheeks, pressing a kiss on his forehead. “Don’t worry, kiddo, I’ve got you.”
I notice his shallow breaths, and I know he’s close to passing out from the pain.
“Hey, remember when I told you I’ll find a way to get us out of this awful place? What do you say, you want to leave with me tonight?” Fresh tears line his eyelashes as he weakly nods.
Cleaning the thin trickle of blood rolling down the side of his temple, I take an oath to never letanyone hurt my little Monkey ever again.
Monkey lunges forward and grips my arm, burying his face in my chest when I try to pull back.
Okay. No problem. I’ll just have to do everything with one hand now.
Covering his gash with my palm, I close my eyes and release the fragile hold over my Divine so it can resurface. My essence flows steadily from my hand to Monkey’s stomach, and it doesn’t take long before I feel the cut close beneath my fingers.
When I open my eyes again, they’re heavy. I blink rapidly to get rid of the black spots dancing in my vision. I haven’t had the strength to stay alive and use my powers at the same time in years, so I know it’s time to skedaddle out of here before I start feeling the consequences of healing Monkey.
Pride swells in my chest when Monkey’s cheeks regain some of their baby blush. The bruises that once covered him are nowhere to be seen. But as the blood loss takes hold, the boy starts trembling like a leaf.
One glance at our clothes and I quickly realize they won’t do anything to keep us warm outside this dungeon.
The little guy nuzzles into my neck, exhausted. I run my fingers through his short, matted hair as I try to figure out how I’m supposed to carry himandfight at the same time.
Searching the cell, I grimace when I spot a dirty blanket in the corner with dried blood on it. Better than nothing, I guess.
I strap the kid to my chest using the blanket, tying knot after desperate knot, praying they’ll hold. At least now my little Monkey will be warm, and my hands will be free to do what I want…like tear someone’s trachea out.
With the boy safe in my arms, the unyielding knot of anxiety in my gut finally unravels.
Thank the Fates, I woke up when I did. I don’t want to imagine the damage these monsters could’ve inflicted on this innocent soul if I had stayed on the floor, lying in my own blood.
Standing behind the heavy wooden gates that lead to ourfreedom, I remind myself that only the inside of the dungeon is soundproof. I’ll have to be quick and quiet from now on.
It took me a minute to figure out how to take down the four Deviant guards at the entrance with a toddler strapped to my chest. I succeeded, but it cost me my knee.
Pain and adrenaline spin through my head as I limp toward the thick forest surrounding the coven. I’m going as fast as my broken knee allows, when all of a sudden, my Divine goes berserk. The relentless bastard starts clawing at my insides in a frenzy, trying to drive me back toward the dungeons.
Not happening, asshole.
The raw panic running through my veins feels…foreign, like it’s not my own. But I don’t have time to figure out why my Divine is urging me toward the coven instead of the border.
The boy I’m holding in my arms is my priority.
I’m on the verge of death. This might be my last night alive, and I’ll be damned if I die before I get this boy to safety.
2. I’m still alive fuckers!
Nevaeh
Istumble through the dark, magical forest with Monkey strapped to my chest. The logical part of my brain—which, let’s be honest, isn’t that big—is screaming at me to pick up the pace, but my body is about to give out.
I limp forward, using the spear as my crutch. The dry blades of grass under my bare feet sting like tiny spikes. The trail of bloody footprints I’m leaving behind pushes me to keep moving.
I need to be out of here before Queen Bitch of the Crescent Moon Coven finds out her two favorite prisoners have escaped.
