Page 81 of The Scars Within
Panic gripped my chest. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Tatum lined up with other cadets, ready to exit the bleachers. She refused to acknowledge our shouts.
Laney stood, but a cadet beside her pulled her back down by her arm, whispering urgently, “You aren’t allowed to intervene. It’s the cadets’ choice to make.” Laney reluctantly sat back down, tears streaming down her face.
I was frozen, unable to move or speak. For the first time in my life, I felt like I had actual friends. Losing Tatum for being a mundane would hurt, but it would hurt less than losing her completely. Because if she was excused from Mageia, at least she would still be alive.
My hands trembled uncontrollably, and I tucked them between my legs in a desperate attempt to calm myself.
The final cadets were placed in the pit, and Tatum finally looked up at us from below. Tears streamed down her face as she mouthed the words, “I’m sorry.”
The horns blared again, signaling the dragons.
My heart pounded once. Every sound around me was muffled as I tried to steady my breathing.
Three dragons made their descent.
My heart pounded twice.
Two brown dragons and a blue landed within the pit.
My heart pounded thrice.
I closed my eyes, trying to block out the dread. The muffled sound of flames reached my ears, making me open my eyes again. Fear seized me as I realized it wasn’t Tatum who was chosen. One of the brown dragons found its rider.
I closed my eyes again, only opening them when I heard flames erupting. The remains of another cadet lay smoldering on the grass. Laney began to cry beside me.
The blue dragon continued its search, eventually stopping in front of Tatum. Despite the impending danger, Tatum stood tall, refusing to cower. Her shoulders were back, her head held high, and she looked the dragon straight in the eyes.
The blue dragon’s jaws opened, a ball of flames growing within its throat.
That was when I lost control. I blacked out from fear and adrenaline, sprinting from the bleachers, leaping over cadets in my way. I stumbled as my feet hit the ground, my world narrowing to a single purpose: reaching Tatum. I ignored the shouts of professors and the screams from the bleachers. Nothing mattered except saving her.
Tatum’s terrified face met mine. I think she was screaming my name, but I couldn’t hear her over the roar of my own panic. All that mattered was getting to her before the flames did.
But I wasn’t fast enough.
The blue dragon unleashed its silvery flames upon Tatum. My heart stopped as I saw the fire engulf her, and I threw my hands up in a desperate attempt to shield myself from the heat. The searing intensity of the flames made me stagger back, and I collapsed onto the ground, teetering on the edge of hyperventilation.
The world around me seemed to blur as I lay there, struggling to catch my breath. But then, the crackling of the flames ceased, and the crowd’s roar pierced through the chaos.
I forced myself to look up, scanning the scene through the haze of smoke and destruction. To my astonishment, Tatum was rising from theground, her arms shielding her chest as she stood tall. From this distance, I could see the deep red dragon mark that looked like flames dancing along both of her shoulders. Despite the ordeal, she didn’t cower or hide. Instead, she stood with a fierce pride radiating from her smile. With a defiant, victorious gesture, she raised her hand.
She had made it. Against all odds, she had survived and passed the Burn Trials. The realization washed over me, mingled with relief and disbelief. Tatum was not only alive but had emerged from the flames with an awe-inspiring strength and resilience.
The crowd’s cheers echoed around me, a thunderous celebration of her triumph. I sat there for a moment, trying to process the whirlwind of emotions, grateful beyond words that Tatum had prevailed.
I stumbled to my feet, my heart racing and my breath coming in ragged gasps. The frantic beats of drumming wings filled the air as my hearing slowly returned. My panic began to fade, replaced by pure joy. I watched as Professor Scrivens guided Tatum toward the triage tent, her victorious smile still visible despite the chaos.
Then, the crowd’s shouts grew louder, pulling my attention to the stands. Rhodes was leaping down the bleachers, his movements urgent and desperate. Shayde stood among the crowd, cupping his hands around his mouth, his words lost in the cheering crowd.
I spun around, my gaze drawn to a deep, resonant thrum of wings beating fiercely behind me. The most enormous red dragon I had ever seen soared towards me, its gaze locked onto mine with an intensity that sent icy dread down my spine. That was when Shayde’s shouted warnings became clear.
He was yelling for me to run.
Panic surged through me, but I forced myself into action, sprinting away from the bleachers. My only thought was to find shelter, my eyes scanning the mountain walls for any sign of safety. Several caves were carved into the stone, and I aimed for the nearest one, hoping to enter before the red dragon could reach me.
This is my punishment for attempting to intervene in the Burn Trials.
And this red dragon was coming to claim the price.
