Page 40 of Polar Fates

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Something slams into my body, knocking the wind out ofme.

“Alis!” I shout, but something hits me again, and again, until there’s too much pain tofeel.

I’m almost grateful when I blackout.

Fifteen

There’s nothing but pain and darkness. Even thinkinghurts.

I stretch out my hands, but nothing happens. I move… no, I don’t. I can’t move. Are my eyes closed or is it dark? I can’t touch my eyelids to find out. I can’t blink. I can’t doanything.

I want to scream but no sound comesout.

Trapped.

Fear grips me tightly, squeezing my chest, adding to the pain already coursing through mybody.

What’shappening?

Trapped.

Help! I shout in mymind.

Silence.

My panic increases. I can’t move, I can’t see, I can’t speak. I’malone.

HELP!I shout inside my head again, hoping that someone will hear. Where isAlis?

Shut up, a deep voice suddenly says. It sounds familiar, but with all the pain clouding my thoughts, it takes me a moment toremember.

Arcas.

Alis’s son who turned out to be very different from what weexpected.

What’s going on?I shout because somehow it feels like I’m far away from him. Not like when I talk to Alis in my head. With her it’s as if we’re sitting side byside.

Shut up and know yourplace.

Whatplace?

You’re my host, nothing more. A means to an end. Now be quiet and don’t disturbme.

I am furious.I am not your host! Get out of mybody!

He laughs.No, I quite like it here. I’ll need to get used to all the female parts, but it’s good to be back in a young body. Van Deen was getting tooweak.

You’re crazy! My guys are never going to let you get away withthis!

Oh, they will. I’m about to killthem.

Dread fills me and I struggle against my bonds. Except that there are none. There is nothing to struggle against. There’s nothing but darkness. I’ve never felt sohelpless.

Could he kill them? I wish I knew. I don’t know how strong he is… And where is Alis? Was she pushed into Van Deen’s lifeless body when Arcas took over mine? Is shealright?

So many questions, so much pain. I just want someone to come and save me… but then I remember that I’ve survived for so long by helping myself. There needs to be something I can do. Something.Anything.

I stop struggling to think. The pain in my head ebbs away a little, but not enough toconcentrate.