Page 43 of Insatiable Hunger

You need to wake up.

Wake up, Alaska.

It was the voices of the victims. They were calling me, beckoning me to wake from this eternal slumber.

Wake up, Alaska.

The film-like memories continued to play, the weightless feeling of peace drowning me. My lingering soul clung to that feeling, refusing to let go. “I can’t,” I whispered into the void. My strength had fled, leaving me weak and powerless.

Yes you can.

Unleash your chaos.

Wake up, Alaska.

I remained still, drifting through the movie of my life, observing the visual chapters one by one. Lazarus’ laughter returned as I watched an old memory of us. We were laying in the graveyard, watching the stars, Alastair curled up at our feet. Lazarus was pointing to the sky, naming the stars, reciting myths of the heavens. Instead of listening to his words, I simply watched him, enjoying the way he lit up and boasted about his dreams of one day traveling the world, studying the night sky. He was beautiful, shining like a star himself. Lazarus turned to face me, catching my eyes. He didn’t tease me, but instead laughed. He may have always called me his little dreamer but, truthfully he was mine. We shared the same dreams, the same longing to escape this world. It was that moment that reeled me back. I needed to return, to wake up. Not for myself, but for him. Lazarus.Mydreamer.

“How do I wake up?” I asked the void, the film of my memories moving faster. “What do I do?” They began to speed up, moving quicker, voices playing in fast motion as the edges began to burn from the intensity, ripping the film apart. “Tell me!”

Unleash your chaos.

My head began to ache, the painful memories now swarming my mind. The sound of Cain, grunting as he slammed his fist into my skull, echoed, followed by my screams. His taunts and insults began to pierce through my consciousness, layering one another as I watched his abuse play before me. “No,” I cried, sickened by the excruciating recollection. “Make it stop. Make it stop!” I covered my ears, falling to my knees as his hateful words beat me down.

Unleash your chaos.

I struggled, grasping at the memory of Lazarus, desperately clinging to our love.

Unleash your chaos, Alaska.

A single flame flickered deep within my withering soul as it ignited, screaming to be let free. Cain’s words continued as I tried to push back, the flame slowly growing. I tried to focus on that fire, breathing life into it, straining against the painful memories. Lazarus’ laughter returned, followed by the last words he said to me.

“I love you, Alaska.” A tear ran down my cheek.

I whispered back to his voice. “Until we’re ghosts.” As the words fell from my mouth, my fire surged, engulfing my mind in burning blue magic, melting away the painful past. Agony began to fill my head as the feeling in my limbs steadily returned. I could feel my life returning, slowly. I just needed to wake up.

Open your eyes.

Open your eyes, Alaska.

Chapter

Forty-One

ALASKA

My lids sprung open, my lungs gasping for air as I frantically breathed in the night. The world was out of focus, blurry and obscured. I blinked, struggling to clear my vision, my body still tingling. I tried to move my arm to rub my eyes but couldn’t. My head turned, my vision slowly settling as I realized my hand was tied, bound to something.What the hell?

“Alaska!” Ruby’s scream pulled my attention, my head spinning to my left. “Thank god you’re alive,” she cried. I had to blink, completely shocked by what I was seeing. Ruby’s body was hung on a wooden cross, her arms pulled and tied, much like my own. Her face was painted in foreign symbols, her feet were bound together, the bandages around her broken ankle soaked in blood. Her eyes moved past me to my right. “Baby,” she cried, “it’s okay.” I turned to my side to see Jinx, her face also painted and bloodied, tied the same as us. Her emerald eyes were red, tears streaming down her face as she stared at her girlfriend. “It’s okay, baby. We’re going to get out of here. I promise.” The torment in her strained voice made my heart ache with sadness.

My arms tugged at the thick, scratchy ropes, unable to break free. I curled my fingers, attempting to use my magic, when something electrocuted me in return. The pain caused me to yell through my teeth.

“It’s no use,” Ruby breathed heavily. “Our magic is useless.”

“How?!” I tried again, the agonizing pain returning.

“The ropes are sacred, blessed by mother nature herself.” Ahote approached us, followed by a handful of his people. Alastair was with them, his mouth muzzled with layers of thick ropes tied around his neck. He whined, desperately trying to break free at the sight of me. “It protects against unnatural things—evil things.”

“Our magic is not evil!” Ruby yelled, exhausted and in pain.

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