Reapers -- The First Familiar (Reapers Chronicles Book II)

16 - Lost World

“Get off! Get off me!” he kept screaming. “Aramis! We have to get out of here!”

I stood there like a statue, staring at my own feet, my hands shaking. “Everything’s g-going to be fine,” I promised him but even I had a hard time believing what I just said. “Look after him,” I told Byron Flynn.

All I got was a nod.

My feet felt heavy as we walked away from them. Vincent’s voice soon faded. In the back of my head I could see him. I could still hear him. But I kept my head down. If this plan went wrong, it was all on me.

The guard opened the door for me and let me into a small room. It had a single bed near the window and a mother of pearl lamp on the side table. Save for a small craft table, a cabinet and a shelf, there was nothing else to see. All in all, the room was overly minimalistic. Neat too.

As I stepped in, the door slid behind me. A few seconds later, the guy outside cleared his throat loudly so as to remind me that he was still there. So I guessed I would probably be stuck here for a while.

“Stop thinking. Calm down,” I told myself, flopping on the edge of the bed.

Two seconds later, I was hyperventilating. Then I found myself pacing back and forth the narrow walking space. Not knowing put a million possibilities in my head. I barely got through the third and I thought I was turning nuts. I wanted to pull my hair, to hit something. If only I had the energy.

Why did I ever let them take Vincent away? They were strangers! People from Hell! For all I knew, they were feasting on his guts right now. I couldn’t take it anymore. I tried to open the door. It didn’t move. I tried knocking. There was no answer.

“Uh… Mister?!” I shouted, pressing my face against the door as if that would help. “Please let me out. I have to see my master!”

Still, no one answered. Forcefully, I took in a few deep breaths. I had to relax. He just… being treated. In the infirmary. Nothing to get all paranoid about. Everything was going to be alright.

Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale…

Before I knew it, I was banging on the door like crazy while screaming my head off. “Let me out!!! Let me out of here! Don’t eat them! Vincent! Byron Flynn!!!”

I went on and on until my throat hurt and my hands were numb from slamming on the door. In the end, I sagged onto the floor, breathless resorting to pulling my knees close and burying my face on them.

It was totally my fault. Why couldn’t everything just be normal? Like any other girl whose problems ranged from zits to getting prom dates? Who knew being dead was way too complicated? I was tired. So tired but I couldn’t rest. It was like I had been thrown into this unending race I knew I wasn’t going to win.

“Wake up,” a voice said, followed by the sound of windows being opened.

The glaring rays of the sun passed through the embroidered lace curtains and I had to blink rapidly to let my eyes adjust to the lighting. With a start, I tried to stand up, only to find out that I couldn’t feel my legs. I must’ve fallen asleep sitting on the floor. For how long?

Luci gathered the curtains and pulled it to the side, her long wavy hair gleaming against the sunlight. “Good morning,” she greeted, smiling for all the world like she was about to sell me encyclopedia.

“Morning… Oh, shoot!” I clapped a hand on my forehead. Guardedly, I strained to move my legs. “What are you doing here?”

“Well…” she paused to think. “This happens to be my bedroom.”