Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 107720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107720 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 539(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
A wave of nausea rolled through me as I tripped. My heart stopped for a few horrifying beats, sending me crashing against the wall.
Hurry!
Gritting my teeth, I struck off again, staggering, swaying.
I tried to shout Frank’s name. To beg him to help, but a mouthful of blood came up, splattering my chest and leaving black droplets trailing after me like crumbs.
I ran faster, the long blue nightgown Frank had sourced for me flapping like broken wings.
Grey specks danced on the edges of my vision. I tasted blood again, rotten and wrong. Dizziness turned me weak. I blinked back stars—
Stay awake!
The lab taunted me just ahead. The door slightly ajar like a saviour, light spilling into the corridor.
Panting hard, I stumbled to a stop and went to push the door wider—
“...can only save one,” Frank’s voice hit me square in the face, tears wet and thick in his tone.
I shrank back as Dillon snapped, “You do this and she’ll hate you for life, Frank. There has to be a way to save them both.”
“Don’t you think I’ve tried?!” Frank roared. “I killed her parents. I lied and killed my best friends, all so I never had to witness anyone else harmed by this awful fucking program. I did that to save lives, and it’s fucking killing me that I can’t save hers. She’s dying.” Something crashed as if he threw it. “This is the only way I can think of. We’ve run out of time. They have hours, Dil. Hours. And...I can’t let her go. Even if she never talks to me again. Even if she banishes me and hates me for the rest of her life, I have to try.”
“You’re seriously suggesting we murder him in his sleep? While she’s lying right next to him?”
My heart seized. Horror flooded me so violently I had to slap a hand over my mouth to stop a sound from escaping.
“They’re not sleeping. They’re in some source realm where there’s no denying they were able to help each other, but now...now it’s just killing them faster.”
“I don’t understand,” Dillon argued. “You literally just admitted they’re keeping each other alive.”
“They were. But the power is too strong now. Each time they enter the source, it gives their bodies a bit more time, but it also increases the strength of the very power that’s killing them, don’t you see?”
“But—”
“A butterfly only stays in the chrysalis until it’s ready to emerge!” Frank yelled. “Whatever balance they found with each other doesn’t matter anymore because they’ve served their purpose. The parasitic power has nothing left to feed on. It’s over. There’s nothing manmade at this point that can stop it.”
“If it’s over, then how do you think killing him will save her?”
“I don’t want to kill anyone.” Frank sniffed with genuine grief. “But if I have to choose between her and him...I’m sorry but it will always be Rook.”
“That doesn’t answer my question,” Dillon snapped. “Besides, you don’t get to make that choice. You know she’d rather die with him than live without him. You know that. If you take that choice away from her—”
“You’re her damn bodyguard!” Frank yelled. “It’s in your literal job description to keep her alive under any circumstances.”
“These aren’t just regular circumstances! This affects the rest of her life. Her happiness. I wouldn’t be protecting her if I didn’t think of the agony she’ll be in when she wakes up and finds him dead!”
“So you’re saying I should just let them both die? In excruciating agony? Like all those other poor test subjects?”
“No, I’m saying we knock them out. Put them into a coma—like you intend to do with Rook—and buy us more time. We’ll keep searching for a cure. We’ll—”
“But he’ll still be draining her even in his sleep! As long as he’s alive, his power will feed on hers and—”
“Let me see if I can wake her,” Dillon lowered his voice. “Let me tell her. Let her make the choice—”
“God help me, if you risk her life by telling her what has to happen, I’ll order the panther to eat you.” Frank’s voice cracked completely. “I was given guardianship when her parents passed away. She’s mine to protect and I’m not losing her. Now for the hundredth time, get out of my fucking way!”
“I’m not letting you shackle that frequency collar on Lucien’s neck while he’s in whatever world he’s in with Rook. You do and you’re putting her at risk too!”
Dillon’s boots squeaked as if he’d grabbed Frank to stop him. “You don’t know what will happen to either of them. You say it’s a quantum realm, but I say it’s spiritual. They’re walking in each other’s souls, Frank! What if she’s in his when that frequency stops his heart, huh? What if she gets trapped? What if—”
“ENOUGH!” Frank roared, shoving past Dillon and bashing against the door. “I have to do something. I can’t let them keep sharing energy because he’s feeding off what little life she has left. Each time they touch, his power takes too much because yang is always the more dominant force.” Tears clogged his voice. “The moment he’s dead, he’ll stop draining her. The yin of her power will hopefully get stronger, and death won’t be so eager to take her because she’s connected to it. See? It will work. It has to work.”