Page 107 of Soulless Deeds

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. Apology was not a common expression in my family, entirely rare and hard won, expressing the severity of our situation.

The feeling of suffocation pulled me down deeper, blood cresting up my throat to escape my lips in a torrent of curses.

“I didn’t get to say goodbye… Didn’t get to tell him how I feel,” I managed to sputter.

Oblivion lurked closer, ready to submerge me in an ominous sea of black.

No. No. No.

Fuck Camilla, and fuck fate. Echo and I were destined for more than just dying from a measly bullet wound shot by some wannabe gangster.I wanted it all, and I’d get it all—even if I had to steal it back from the devil himself.

My bruised and beaten body screamed in protest as I attempted to push up from the ground until a blonde boulder the exact weight of my sister knocked me back down.

Emerson caged my flailing arms over my chest, refusing to let me go. “I won’t let you kill yourself. You’re not leaving me, you’re not!”

My muscles tensed in one final protest, then my strength dribbled away, as fluid as rainfall.

Tears marred my filthy face as I begged. “Meek, please. I have to tell him… I have to tell hi?—”

“Heknows, Spence. I swear, he knows,” Emerson said, her face crumbling on a single sob. The only allowance she let pass before pouring her Variant into my system once more—to save my life.

For the first time ever, I wished she wouldn’t.

ECHO

I could feel my own life force draining from my battered body. I could hear the sound of my failing heartbeat, resigning to my inevitabledeath.

The physical pain surpassed with numb emptiness as self-made hallucinations plagued my last moments. Memories that were long forgotten. Memories that brought immense pain. And memories that would tide me over into eternity.

My breath stilted in my aching lungs as a female figure approached.Is this a hallucination conjured by the very wish of seeing her?

I allowed myself to revile in her visage, absorbing her outline and radiant smile. However, like a bolt of lightning, my brain fired back to reality as the smile that shone down at me was not Spencer, but Camilla.

Despite the obvious limp, she managed to pull off a taunting prowl, sporting the same fucked up sneer she always wore.

She came to stand over me, and acrid vomit threatened to heave from my gut just at the sight of her.

What have I done? What the fuck was I thinking, giving this filth access to my precious girl?Man, I was fucking pathetic.

Defeated and defenceless, my mouth dropped open, willing my body to respond by unleashing my fury, but all that came out was the croak of a dying man.

Camilla laughed as she lifted a syringe between her fingers. “Amp. A valuable resource that will give my Variant the boost I need to takeeverythingfrom you.” She shifted, pulling the plastic tip of the needle off with her teeth. “I already took your girl’s Variant,” she mocked. “Now, I’ll take yours?—”

Her villain tirade was interrupted by a growling chihuahua that came rocketing out of nowhere. Fran launched himself at Camilla and proceeded to sink his sharp incisors deep into her calf.

Good boy, Fran.

Oh, how Camilla screamed. In the scuffle, her syringe dropped from her clasp, landing next to me. Without hesitation, my trembling fingers latched on to that tiny piece of plastic,stabbed the needle into my thigh and pressed down on the plunger, emptying its contents.

Within seconds, I felt an instant hit of adrenaline, I could feel Amp revive each cell, pulsing through my veins at speed, restoring my energy and rejuvenating my Variant well beyond its normal capacity.

Utilising my one advantage, I opened my lips and let my ability soar forth.

I fuckingroared, and the whole underground shook from the sonic boom.

My lungs tore apart from the force, and my throat splintered under the strain. Nevertheless, I did not stop.

With the potent stimulant, I was able to manipulate soundwaves beyond recognition. My resounding echo reached far throughout the Caverns and enhanced my gift enough to differentiate friend from foe. The rams’ skulls the enemy wore with pride gave off a particular signature sound, making their positions flare up like a beacon on a map—of which I took advantage.

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