Page 138 of Forsaken Secrets

I really needed to get out of here.

Thump.

I frantically reached out along my bonds, tugging on each until I found the strongest. I could feel Aunt Grace through it — not her emotions, but the essence of her … her korra.

"Hello?"I said, reaching out, hoping I could communicate like I had with Lord Ellingsworth.

She didn't respond, so I pushed harder, trying to move along the bond like I had before.

But something tugged at me from the opposite direction …

Thump.

No, no, no. This was not the time!

I looked down to see a bond almost identical to those I'd just cut, extending out from me in the same direction as the Drake's had.

Mine had none of those black thorns, though, and it was almost completely translucent.

Was this because of what I'd done? Or had that bond always been there, hidden like that shard in my back?

It felt familiar … like a part of me, somehow.

But what was it?!

Gods. I looked around, desperate for some other way to escape before whatever was making that thumping noise arrived.

Could I cut this bond like I had the Drake's? Then I could follow my bond to Aunt Grace, and everything would be fine.

Reaching out, I reformed my korra blade and put all my strength into it before slicing down.

The bond just reverberated beneath the onslaught, and my korra blade unraveled.

Thump.

The sound was much closer now. My breath came fast as I peered deeper into the korra realm. Was the source something I could see?

Oh gods! I needed to get out of here!

Heart racing, I reached down, ripping at the bond with my fingers this time. With each rip, icy cold spread through my fingertips, burning me. I yelped.

A sudden loud screech made me duck. Then something brushed my elbow.

Knees weak, I reached out for whatever I could, desperate to be free of this mess.

And then I was falling, tumbling through the darkness once more …

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