Page 53 of Rebirth Of Order
Instantly, a strong gust flings me aside with tremendous force, and more pain awakens against my shoulder, yet my conviction doesn’t waver. Paige, who is not as muscular but still fit, has her hands raised, encouraging Gina to move. I try standing, but she brings down a rush of air and pins me.Fuck.The pressure drives intomy chest, flattening my lungs. It doesn’t take long for Gina to recover, expelling a maddening screech while removing blood from her lips. And I smile at the sight.
“Hold her down, I’m going to kill this bitch.”
She pushes off the wall and advances, her skin stretching and tearing from her bones similar to pulling clay apart. Each step reveals more flesh dropping from her body, producing a sonance I can’t unhear,and you call me disgusting? WHAT THE FUCK.Now there are two of her.
“She started this, Gina, kill her!”
“Release your magic, I’m ready.” Both twist their lips into a murderous grin. It takes a few seconds for the air to cease pushing me down. My body feels heavy and sluggish, but seeing two of Gina is enough to get the hell up. “You’ll regret touching me with your disgusting mortal hands, bitch,” she hisses through her blood-stained gap.
Bile coats my tongue, and I shudder at viewing her twin-like double. Its skin slides into place over newly formed bones, emitting a smacking sound like someone chewing.
“What the fuck is that?” I question, standing briskly.
“Get her,” Gina shouts, and on command, the clone rushes me, snarling in an animalistic rage. Its body maneuvers in such an unorthodox manner that in my haste, my leg thrusts into its stomach, cracking a rib. “You bitch,” the real Gina shouts, watching her creation kneel. With a flick of her wrist, a whip made of vines slithers from her hands, prompting laughter from Paige.
Something familiar resonates.
I pivot with caution, placing all three within my line of sight, and she takes the advantage to charge, swinging with precision. My head rotates just enough to avoid her direct attack, and heat spreads around the skin of my shoulder from her vines landing there. Ramming my other shoulder into her chest, she stumbles back, giving me a moment of reflection.This is parallel to the gloom with tentacles. I can survive this.A smile finds its way to my lips.
“Fuckher up,” Paige voices her excitement, witnessing the clone back on its feet and diving for mine. Preparing to relinquish another kick, air shoves me forward, robbing my balance, and I miss.Fuck.I buckle, realizing Paige is a problem that needs solving first.
The clone lunges once more, and I’m barely able to avoid its strike. But my body jerks on instinct, propelling me under its arms and towards Paige who now has my undivided attention. Fear forces her retreat, and two vines swaddle my neck, ceasing my movements and jerking me back.
Riled…Enraged…Discomposed. All I see is RED followed by prickling vengeance. Waves of it flush through my veins, burning a path into my legs, propelling them forward. Her vines snap with a frontal push that undoubtedly leaves lacerations. The momentum thrusts me into Paige, taking her down in a single charge.
She tries pushing me off, but I swat her slicken hands and barrel my fist into her cheek. One strike, then another, and finally, her movements become sluggish as my hands constrict around her throat.
“Enough,” a voice reverberates from behind, pinging off the hallway walls. That velvet sonance is replaced by a more intimidating presence. “Step away from her, now. I won’t ask again,” something dark growls. Paige flinches at his tone, and since I’m not entirely sure who the command is meant for, I loosen my grip from around her neck. Not that I feel inclined, but rather my muscles act alone.
She scurries away from me, fright compelling her, and barely gives Gina a second glance, who snarls but refuses to disobey. She and that grotesque twin stand idly by, breathing intensely as their leers bore into me. Sharing her sentiments, I peer over my shoulder expecting a reaction…until a towering figure steps into view, and the realization of how fucked we all are becomes abundantly clear.Fuuuuuck.Dark gray hues beg for defiance.
Gina takes a breath, and our executioner redirects his attention, causing her to stutter. “A–A–Alex, what are–”
“Did I give you permission to speak?” A dark tremble vibrates histhroat along with other things within me. Small bumps align my arms. My heart rate increases, legs quivering…am I about to have a stroke?His thick braid flings past his shoulders, darting those entrapping eyes upon me as though he senses the change. And if Death wants me now, I won’t stop her.
“Explain, Kyra,” Alex instructs, or commands, no, demands…Shit what is going on with me?His lids hover over those smokey gray orbs, hunting for any signs of dishonesty. But little does he know, I never lie. Or rather try not to.
I stand, attempting to answer, but Gina’s clone steps forward and vanishes–all of it happening in an instant. Before a single step is made–poof–gone, leaving blood splattered across the marble floor beneath a dark, sparking line sliced into the air. Alex doesn’t move. Nor does his observation leave me. Even so, every cell of my being knows he killed it.
Gina topples to her knees, releasing an unjust cry, which gains my attention but not for long.
“Kyra,” Alex imposes a warning–or threat…Perhaps both. My awareness is pulled back to him without my consent.How are you doing that?I can’t pinpoint any of his emotions, only that something is there, and my breath hesitates. The enunciation of my name rolls off his tongue in such a way that it has more than my chest pounding. Like he’s taken possession of it–possession of me, and that’s not allowed.
Gina sobs, “You didn’t have to do that. She wasn’t going to hurt her.”
Do I feel bad? Absolutely not. She wants me dead and Angie tortured. Killing her clone is minuscule compared to her plans. Although, what if he didn’t know the real Gina from her clone? Better yet, what if I take a step, will my blood be splattered across the floor? Shivers run down my spine at the idea.
“You heard my orders. When I speak, you listen…Consider yourself lucky it wasn’t you sucked into the void,” he growls again, and sweltering bumps line my skin. I attempt to answer “okay,” but amoment of clarity freezes my response. That order was issued for Gina. Which is good becauseI’ll never let a guy speak to me that way.
I roll my eyes.
She whimpers but furthermore remains quiet. I must’ve rolled them a little too loud because Alex’s demeanor alters as he steps in my direction, flattening my lungs and crumbling that previous thought.Shit-shit-shit.
“The two of you can go,” he orders.
Unsure what might happen if we are alone, I attempt to flee, but obviously he disapproves. Placing a hand against the wall, my breath flutters to release like he is forcing me into an airless box filled with only his scent. He leans forward, ensuring my attention is on him, blocking everything else from view. Bourbon and mint suffocate me, but a hint of danger keeps the blood thrumming through my veins, and I crane my neck to meet his vicious gaze.
“Not…you.” Unruffled. Unshaken. Unfazed. Should have been my body’s response, but even it knows not to defy him. Paige stands mute beside us. Though Alex has her and Gina blocked from view, her shadow remains within eye shot, only fueling his irritation. “Have my words fallen on deaf ears?” Still hovering before me, his glower cuts to Gina, and something carnivorous bleeds through.
