Page 72 of Poison Sun

I must be more exhausted from the events of yesterday—and from last night—than I realized.

I need to shake myself out of it.

So, I close my eyes, trying to find sleep again and will the wind away.

It’s no use. Because the whispers grow more insistent, begging for my attention. Its words are soft, but I’m not imagining it. They’re definitely there.

Hurt him, it seems to say. Kill him.

My breathing quickens, and I squeeze my eyes tighter together, as if doing so can erase the phantom voices in my mind.

This isn’t real. It can’t be real.

Everyone you love dies or betrays you, the wind continues its incessant attack, like an assault to my brain. Why would Blaze be any different?

My heart races, thudding against my ribcage like a trapped bird desperate for escape.

This can’t be happening.

Maybe it’s the valley playing tricks on me?

It has to be. After all, it’s called the Valley of the Vanished. It’s not overly crazy to think it has magic in it that can make people, well... vanish.

I steady my breathing, and when I do, the wind quiets, until the voices disappear completely.

It’s going to be okay.

But when I open my eyes, the darkness of the tent is closing in, and the air thickens, threatening to swallow me whole.

And then, an awful question filters through my mind.

What if the wind is right?

After all, I’ve only known Blaze for a day. What if he’s using me? What if the only reason he wants me alive is so I can help him complete this journey? To get the Crimson Quill? And then he’ll get rid of me when he doesn’t need me anymore?

What if last night was a giant ploy to get me to trust him?

Fear settles inside of me like a fist tightening around my lungs.

There’s not enough air in here. I’m going to suffocate. Worse—I might do something to Blaze. Something I’ll regret.

I need to get out of this stupid, tiny tent.

Careful not to wake Blaze—and avoiding touching him, in case it makes me actually want to physically harm him—I slip out of the tent and step outside.

The world’s bathed in the soft glow of the predawn light, and the fresh air hits me like a much-needed shock to my system.

In seconds, my head is clear, the paranoia and fear washed away. The wind still whispers, but it’s the natural sound of the early morning. Not the sinister taunts from before.

None of that was real. I was getting in my head about nothing.

After all, Blaze saved my life. Twice. He doesn’t want to hurt me. Nothing he’s done has hinted at that. Sure, he got a little out of control last night, but that was different. In fact, before we went to sleep, he was torn up just from the possibility of hurting me.

Then again, I didn’t think my sisters would turn against me, either.

I wish I knew what was going on in Blaze’s mind—what he might do next. If I did, it would get rid of these worries. Then I can move on and forget this strange delusion ever happened.

Now that he’s sleeping, there’s no time like the present to get some answers. All it will take is a little bit of blood magic.

---