Page 71 of Devour
We defend our role because we fear what will happen if we resist.
The cult is filled with cowards, and I have no right to complain because I too have immense fear. Except, my fear is not for myself.
The scream that rips from my lips is from a desperate, terrified man, craving hope where there is none.
Free me,it hisses.
I release the pain and rage through my lungs.
You will fail, and you will lose it all.
Not today, I tell it.
32
Lina
Ilong for the sun on my skin.
I am desperate for an open horizon where I can see the world wide open.
My body is clean. My hair has never been this smooth. My belly is full.
But I’ve never felt more trapped.
I pace in the quiet room, feeling like the walls are pressing in tighter and tighter. Why is this room so small? Why isn’t there enough air?
When I returned after the prophecy, there was a single yellow flower on the bed. In the hours since my Dread left me here alone, I’ve spun it between my fingers.
It gave me joy for a short time, but now all I can think is how quickly it will die here. There is no sun. No soil. How could this lovely thing live here in the darkness?
I will watch it shrivel in the coming days, and know that I will eventually follow suit.
I still don’t understand my place here. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.
Sleep, probably. But my body is restless. My mind spinning.
I sit on the fur bed, knee bouncing anxiously.
My body is just beginning to relax when there is a bang against the door. I gasp and hop to my feet. There’s rustling at the door, clinking of metal. When it finally swings wide, my Dread falls into the room.
He’s on his hands and knees, dark hair falling into his eyes.
I stumble back until I notice his skin is flaming red. “Oh my word!” I say and rush to him. “Were you burned?” I crouch by his head but don’t dare touch him.
“They can’t know,” he mutters, eyes fluttering. “They can’t find out.”
My brow furrows. “What?”
He falls limp at my feet.
What in the world happened to him? Did this happen in training? Did he have to battle another Dread a second time?
He groans and rolls to his back before his eyes flutter shut. He’s delirious.
I grab a piece of cloth from the pile in the corner and dunk it in the bucket of fresh water Helena brought.
“What can’t they know?” I ask, even though I’m certain whatever is happening in his mind right now has nothing to do with me. He probably doesn’t even know I’m here right now. He’s miles away.
