Page 117 of Reaper Unhinged
But I have to try.
I step forward, grab Fee’s hand, and make the most fucked-up, biggest jump of my life.
Right into nothingness.
It’s dark. Like, can’t breathe, suffocating dark.
For a moment, panic overtakes my common sense, and I’m hyperventilating, fear a fist around my heart.
Fee. I came for Fee. I have to focus because I know without a shadow of a doubt that I don’t belong here. This place knows it, but it’s hungry, and I can sense its claws. If I’m not careful, I could lose myself. I could become a meal for the claws waiting in the nothingness. If I’m not careful, I know I can lose myself in here.
Focus, Cor. Focus on Fee.
A light blooms in the darkness, turning the world gray. I run toward it.
* * *
Fee
“You could ride the bus,” the young man said. “Or…” There’s a vroom and a huge bike appeared in front of us, silver and black. It revved its engine. “You could ride with me…”
The bike was hot. Like super-hot, and I’d always wanted to ride one…at least I think I had. “Where will we go?”
“Wherever you want.”
He stood and held out a hand to me.
The bus chose that moment to show up.
Shit. I had a ticket, but…the bike was so much cooler.
I reached for the young man’s hand.
“Fee!” A woman came running out of the darkness. Slender, fierce-looking with golden hair that came down just past her shoulders. Her gaze flicked from me to the guy with the bike. She gave him a wide berth and held out her hand to me. “Fee, come on. We have to go.”
She seemed concerned. Worried. “Um…Do I know you?”
“Dammit, Fee, snap the fuck out of it. If you stay any longer, you’ll die.”
“Die?”
The young man leaned back against his bike and studied his nails. “You’re too late,” he said. “She’s already dead.”
The heat that had my chest in a grip began to melt.
The woman stared at me in horror. “No. No. Fee. Take my hand.”
“It won’t help,” the guy said. “But I’m not a monster. I’ll let you say goodbye.”
He flicked a wrist my way and a weight settled in my head—colors, names, and places. Memories flooded me. I was Seraphina Dawn. I was…I was me again, and I didn’t belong here.
Fuck! “Cora!” I made a grab for her hand, but my fingers passed through hers.
Oh, God. It was too late. I’d stayed too long.
“No…” Cora shook her head. “Please.” She turned to the man. “You can change this, can’t you? You can give her back. There’s still time.” She looked from the bike to the bus. “There’s still time because she hasn’t taken a ride yet, right?”
He puffed out his cheeks. “Maybe.” He twisted his neck to look at her and arched a brow. “You know what? I’m feeling magnanimous today. Your passion, your connection has touched me. I’m intrigued. You gate-crashed into my domain, after all. That in itself deserves a prize.”
