Shadows of the Night | BOOK 2 DRAFT

19

19.

I've been stabbed. I've been burnt before. But nothing compares to the pain that engulfs my body. It takes over a portion of my brain, rendering me incapable of any other thought. All I see is red, flames swirling around me as I writhe on the floor. A scream echoes through the room, my scream, and suddenly I'm launched into the air, flying across the room and hitting the opposite wall. Seconds feel like days of excruciating pain before a cool dampness washes over me. When I open my eyes, it is no longer red. There are no more flames, no more heat, but the strong smell of smoke and the painful tingling on my skin.

I pant on the ground, body incapable of movement. I can only tilt my head to see my arm stretched out, the sleeve of my shirt completely charred. Eric hovers above me, his hands cold as they grip my shoulders. But I can't focus on him. Across the floor is Elias. Still lying on the ground, Cassia by his side, his eyes on me. The horror in his eyes is something I'll never forget. And that's the last thing I see before everything goes black.

~

Voices echo around me in the dark void as I float in and out of consciousness. Soft voices, urgent voices, distressed voices. I'm lying on something rock hard; something digs into my back, but there's a light blanket scratching against my skin.

"You can't do that, Elias," a voice says. I can't hear the muffled response, but I hear the murmur of my name. They're talking about me.

I shift slightly, trying to pry the darkness away. When I open my eyes, the voices become clearer, more distinct. I'm in the infirmary Elias was treated in, lying flat against the table he lay on. They're not in the same room as me, slightly distant, down the hall. Shadows linger behind the sheet in the door, and the voices are hushed, muffled by distance.

I sit up, the covers falling to my waist. Somebody has changed my clothes—white sleeves cover my arms and a pair of too large, brown shorts have been secured with a ribbon around my waist. Flames flash behind my eyelids, and my heart picks up at a reminder of what happened, but physically I feel fine, just sluggish. My feet find the floor and I creep towards the tent, the voices getting louder and more intelligible. I'm about to push through and announce myself when I hear my name.

"Milena's still asleep, you can't leave now." It's Cassia, her voice low.

"We don't have any other choice. We can't wait any longer," Elias responds. My heart picks up in alarm.

"You'd really leave her here?" Malik says.

"It's safe here," he says. "Away from the hollowers, away from Cynthia... it's the best option."

"We can't leave her here, Elias, I know you think it's best but I won't do that—"

"I don't care, Malik. Don't forget who's in charge here."

"Elias." It's Eric who speaks, his voice grave. "The last few months have been hard on us all. If we leave her here... you don't know what that would do to her."

"I do." His voice is final, and it stings. "And I know it's the right thing to do to keep her safe."

Nobody responds. I wait for Eric to stick up for me, for Cassia to protest. But nobody does. I can't stay hidden any longer. I shove the curtain back. They're all standing in the hall, staring at the ground, eyes darting up at my arrival. Cassia looks at me guiltily, Eric doesn't meet my eye, and Malik steps toward me. "Milena, you're awake? How do you—"

"You were going to leave without me?" I say, staring at Elias. He meets my eye, and I can't help but think about how he looked at me when we both laying on the floor, when I felt like I was dying. "You were going to leave me here?"