Shadows of the Night | BOOK 2 DRAFT

33

33.

The forest is dead silent. A noise wails at the back of my mind, quietly at first, until it transitions into a crescendo of crashing waves. There's a knife at my throat, a body restricting me against the tree, but I couldn't even move if I tried. I'm in shock, my body paralysed as Malik's eyes meet mine.

"I'm sorry."

It's the fifth time he's said it since he restrained me and pressed the knife against my throat. I haven't been able to say anything back, my mouth won't work.

Over his shoulder, someone calls for me, their voice a little more than a whisper, but I catch it. Eric—he's come to look for me. Malik doesn't seem alarmed, his eyes still on mine as the call gets closer until it's right behind Malik.

"What're you two doing?" Eric sounds furious. There's a small gasp—Cassia—and another pair of footprints behind them. They're all here, staring at us. I can't see them, they're obscured by Malik's broad frame, but I know what it must look like to them—Malik pressing me against the tree, my entire body blocked from his view.

Eric's foot thump against the ground as he storms over, but before he can reach us, Malik spins us both around, pinning me to his front with one arm, the other still holding the dagger at my neck. Eric pauses, only two feet away. Behind him, both Elias and Cassia freeze, eyes darting to the knife. It presses into my skin as my breath quickens.

Before I can even blink Elias is a flash of movement, a light moving towards us at speeds I can't comprehend.

"Don't." Malik's voice is firm, confident. "Come any closer and I'll slit her throat."

Elias pauses merely inches away, breath heavy. "You don't want to hurt her."

"Don't I?" Malik's voice is cold, just like the blade at my throat. "Are you really going to take that chance?"

Elias looks at me, merely feet away, his eyes desperate. I'm afraid to speak, like any movement in my throat will risk a cut. After a few moments, Elias raises a hand in surrender, taking a small step back. Eric's kneeled low, eyebrows furrowed. Behind him, Cassia has lowered into a defensive stance, a knife in her hand aimed at Malik.

"You don't want to do that," Malik says.

"One flick of my wrist and I can slice your finger off," she says.

"Milena will be dead before the knife reaches me." He looks at Elias. "You know I'm fast enough."

"Put the knife down, Cassia," Elias says without turning around.

She purses her lips, narrowing her eyes, but lowers the dagger. Elias steps forward, slow and calculated, his eyes wide. "What are you doing, Malik?"

"I can't let you go through with this." His breath ruffles the hair on the top of my head. "I tried to stop you but... but you wouldn't listen to me."

"Just let Milena go," he says. "We can talk about this, reconsider our plan if that's what you want."

Malik laughs, but it's humourless. "Do you really think I'm that stupid?"

Elias exchanges a glance with Cassia, a silent message passed between them. "Then what do you want?" Eric asks.

"You'll see." He starts to walk backwards, pulling me with him. I stumble over roots, not being able to watch my feet, and the blade presses closer to my skin. "Follow me or she dies."

Malik keeps walking backwards through the forest and all three of them follow us. Dark thoughts threaten to invade my head, Malik's betrayal unleashing emotions I'd repressed. I keep my eyes on Elias'; they're an amber reminder that we've survived so much. I can survive this too.