Page 2 of Surviving Hallow Hill
Literally.
Only the hard-hitting thump of metal meeting bone cracks through the air. The weapon of an arm is sunk into the man’s temple. His eyes are still wide open but unblinking. Blood slides down his eyes and lips.
He’s dead before his gaping skull hits the dirt.
More of the creatures of the dead drag themselves up. More and more and more, until there are hundreds of them and very few of us.
And then it’s my turn to run.
With my blade held tightly in my fist, my brain tells me logically to just focus on space. Put as much space between me and those things as possible until I can get the upper ground and attack on my own terms.
All of that fucking logic goes out the window, and I zig-zag my way through the crowd of students and monsters alike. My hand grabs a fleshy piece of rotting arm, and with all my strength, I rip the limb from the creature’s body. In a blur of swinging attacks and slamming flesh meeting hollow skulls, I finally make it to where my heart leads me.
While my brain curses my heart the entire fucking time.
But none of that matters as I look up into stormy eyes and find comfort in the only other supernatural who is just like me.
Our Holy Lady of Death brought us together for a reason.
He’s my twin flame.
“You’re a reckless idiot,” Sialen spits, gripping my hand and dragging me away as fast as our feet can carry us. “Why didn’t you run? Why? Why would you stupidly put yourself in danger just to get to me? Why are you always such a pain in my ass?”
His words lash out at me, and we never stop. We never stop running.
Even as I scream right back at him, “Because I fucking love you, you barbaric piece of fuck!”
He stumbles. The leaves drag against his boots, and before he rights himself, he falls, forehead nearly hitting the dirt before his palms have time to save face. And I let him. I release his hand and release all the anger I’m holding right along with it when he rolls over to his back and stares up at me like I’m the sun itself.
His lips part, but they’re empty without reply. He looks broken. I always thought love would be this warm and saving feeling.
It’s not.
It’s fucking terrifying.
And that terror and confusion is deep in his gaze right now.
“Keep moving, Em,” he says instead. He says it like the words hurt him. Like simply breathing hurts him in this moment.
It hurts me, too.
The air hits my tense lungs, and I shake the last thirty seconds from my head. I shove aside all those pretty and dangerous feelings. I refuse to feel heartbroken when I should be fighting for my life.
I refuse to let Sialen break my heart.
Even if I think it’s too late.
