Chapter 55 ~Marked for death: The Escape~
(Fiona's POV)
The pain from the silver blade penetrating my skin engulfed me.
I screamed in terror.
So this was what death felt like. A sizzling, maddening pain… not only physical, but also emotional.
The healer's incantations were echoing repeatedly in this void.
My skin was ripping apart slowly as the knife inched deeper.
There was a string of golden embers emitting from the spot the silver blade pierced through in my heart. It went from me and coiled in sparkly lights to Beckett's chest.
I was growing too weak, and as I looked at Beckett, he seemed to grow stronger by the passing minute.
My pain was getting unbearable, and I felt virtue leaving me.
I closed my eyes, waiting to die as the repeated incantations filled my ears.
‘Rhia,’ I muttered weakly as I was dying. I needed my wolf, now more than ever, even just to cross me over to the other side.
‘Fiona,’ the voice was faint but audible. ‘Can you hear me?’
‘Yes, Rhia, I'm dy-’ I muttered.
Before I could finish my sentence, a system prompt popped up.
The words read: ‘Tribrid Incompatibility. Rejection extraction? Yes. No.’
I looked at the words.
Rhia's voice was a little clearer this time. ‘Press yes.’
Weakly, but with determination, I did.
There was nothing at first.
But suddenly the light around the hedge started flickering weakly.
The incantations uttered by the healer started coming out with reversed words. His eyes widened in shock.
Suddenly, he screamed in pain. I looked to see that the silver blade, instead of burning through me, was now burning through his hands.
Suddenly, the silver blade escaped with a force from his hand and landed on the floor with the tip pointed to the sky.
The golden light flickered off and Beckett’s face suddenly etched with pain.
I was slowly getting stronger.
Another prompt popped out. ‘Tribrid powers awaken when the host is pushed beyond survival.’
And another. ‘Initiate Tribrid self-defense. Yes? No?’
I clicked, ‘Yes.’
Instantly, I felt heat rising in my chest and an intense pressure underneath my ribs.
What was happening?
Light like an orb slowly gathered around me.
I looked on with shock, then I realised it wasn't gathering around me…
…It was gathering in me.
Then, like some manifestation of core power, the orb exploded into a large fiery-like explosion.
The light was burning brightly… too brightly.
The healer was screaming in pain. Beckett was groaning. The other pack members, now visible after the destruction of the hedge, went down on their knees, protecting themselves from what seemed like a dangerous fire wave..
The screams were too loud.
Too scary.
Like raw pain in my ears.
The light continued growing until I thought it would consume us all.
I was terrified. I shrieked, ‘Stop!’
There was instant silence.
Suddenly, the light exploded like a shock wave, clearing everyone to the ground.
My chains snapped off and melted as I was blown away.
Then the orb died down instantly into nothingness.
I looked around and there were over 2000 of us on the ground.
I was dizzy.
I blacked out.
–----
I woke up to the smell of burning smoke.
‘What just happened?” I clutched my head, bleeding from where I fell to the ground.
I tried and, with much effort, I was able to stand up.
All of the Ashridge pack members lay on the ground unmoving.
No…
No.
No!
I checked the pulse of the person closest to me and was relieved when I felt a faint pulse. I checked a couple others and thankfully they were still alive.
But I needed to get out of here as soon as possible before they woke up or else…
I walked closer to Dr. Mel to find a way to carry her out and suddenly, my attention was diverted.
My mouth fell open at what I saw.
Beside the unconscious figure of the healer, whose hands were completely burned off… there was Beckett.
His right leg had the silver blade poking out right through it. He must have landed on it when he fell. There was no way he was walking again from the looks of it.
Suddenly, I felt him stirring awake.
I needed to get out. Now!
I sprinkled some water on Dr. Mel and her eyes opened dimly. “Fi… Fiona?”
I grabbed Dr. Mel and supported her nearly unconscious body up. I whispered. “We have to get out of here.”
Suddenly, my senses kicked in.
That scent…
I knew it all too well.
Actually, I knew them all too well.
I paused. There was no way.
I then saw molten gold eyes in the distance.
“Xander?”
I saw Xander in his wolf form galloping down to the pack square… followed closely behind him was Calvin.
And then, Yara.
I gasped as they approached with fiery looks on their faces.
“What are you guys doing here?” I whisper-yelled, wide-eyed. I didn't want Ashridge pack members to stir awake.
“Fiona?” Xander shifted back to his human form the instant he saw me.
He picked up a flimsy covering from the ground and tied it around his waist.
Yara and Calvin shifted as well, and found something to cover up with.
“What did you come here to do?” I asked again. This could have been a disaster.
“Save you?” Xander muttered uncertainly, and I rolled my eyes.
Yara and Calvin hugged me. “You're safe.”
Now was not the time to exchange pleasantries. We needed to get out.
I handed Dr. Mel over to them. “Please help me with her. We need to get out of here.”
Yara must have only looked around now, because she gasped and shouted. “What the hell happened here?”
No…
“Yara.” We all yelled at her.
“Sorry.” She muttered.
But the deed was done. Beckett was fully awake, with a wicked scowl on his face.
“You! I'll kill you!” he pointed at me.
He tried to stand up, but the blade had pinned him down. He winced with pain.
“Is he crippled?” Yara whispered this time. Great timing.
“Yeah… I think so.”
But that can't stop him from alerting the others.
And as I predicted, he did just that.
“Horace! Martin! Wake up and kill that bitch!” he yelled furiously.
The pack members stirred awake.
“I say we run.” Calvin blurted.
Horace woke up instantly and got up, trying to steady his gait.
Shit! Shit! Shit!...
His eyes locked with ours.
“Run!”