Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Seeing Hael among the group was a relief that loosened a knot I hadn’t realized was tightening in my chest. He broke from them immediately and came toward me. We met halfway, his eyes scanning me for injuries in the same way mine roamed over him. The silent exchange was our way of confirming that we were still in the game, still okay. It was a moment of wordless communication, full of things we didn’t need to voice. I wanted to tell him all about how I felt about being separated—even if it was for my safety—but I would never give anyone the pleasure of seeing us as a smidge less than a united front.
“Everything all right?” he finally asked, his voice low.
“As right as it can be here,” I replied with a tight smile. “Looks like we’re all in one piece for now.”
He nodded, his gaze flicking back to the group and then Aisha and Juno. “Just you three, then?”
“Yup. Four minus one.”
A ghost of a smile touched his pretty face. “We can unpack that later. We need to keep moving.”
“Lead the way,” I said, stepping back into line with him as we rejoined the others.
As we navigated the woods, the reality of our dwindling numbers wasn’t lost on me. Darrel was likely dead, along with a couple of others whose names I’d barely caught. It was a brutal reminder of the stakes here in Judicium, not enough to shatter my focus but enough to sharpen it.
Maya was a silent shadow among us, tears marking her cheeks for Jerome, no doubt. If pain had a sound, it would’ve been her subdued breathing. I left her to her grief, understanding the need for space in moments like these. If it had been Hael taken from me, rage would have fueled every step I took next.
To keep my own edge, I engaged the others in low, strategic exchanges, not quite conversation but not silence either. As we continued, the woods began to clear, hinting at an open stretch ahead.
“We’re nearing water,” Liam announced softly.
Sure enough, the sight that greeted us was something out of a staged play: a dock leading out to paddle boats gently bobbing in a large lake, a distant Ferris wheel spinning lazily in the far distance, adorned with flickering lights.
It was almost picturesque, if you ignored that some of us had just been picked off one by one.
“What do you think that is?” Maya asked, her voice a tinge nasal.
“Looks like the next stage of our Judgment,” I observed, slowly moving down to the dock. Hael, Aisha, Liam, Maya, and I squeezed into one of the boats together. It was cramped but not impossible to make work.
The moment we settled, the boat lurched forward, sloshing cold, murky water over the sides, guided by unseen tracks beneath us.
“I wanted to paddle,” I muttered, scanning the lake and the tree line beyond.
“I think it’s on rails,” Liam remarked dryly, trying to spot the mechanism but finding nothing but dark water.
As our boat quietly slipped through the water, I noticed the others settling into their own, each moving in a similarly slow, deliberate manner. I seized the chance to fill Hael in on my conversation with Eryx and Rafe. It wasn’t the best place for this kind of discussion, but I didn’t think I’d be granted a time out to whisper secrets, and I couldn’t very well leave him out in the cold. I kept my voice low, careful not to let the others overhear, especially considering the sensitivity of the topic.
“So, Eryx and Rafe have formed some sort of pact with us,” I murmured to Hael, watching his expression closely. “Apparently, they’re ready to play guardian angels if things go sideways.”
Hael’s eyes narrowed slightly, processing the information. “Guardian angels or watchdogs?” he asked, his tone laced with skepticism.
“Could be a bit of both,” I admitted with a shrug. “They’ve got their own agenda, but for now, our paths align. They cleared a path for us to get here and helped me with a little problem, and promised to be our backup, in so many words.”
Hael looked out over the water, his jaw set in thought. “And we trust them? Just like that?”
He sounded like Aisha. “Do I look that gullible?” I laughed softly. “Trust is a strong word. Let’s just say it’s a mutual understanding for now. They might need us as much as we might need them.” I paused, glancing around to make sure no one else could hear. “They’re playing the game just as hard, maybe even harder.”
He nodded, still not fully convinced but accepting the necessity of the situation. “All right, but I’ll be watching their every move. If they do anything that doesn’t sit right or puts you at risk, this is done.”
“Agreed.” I reached over and took his hand.