Power (Book 1 in SRMTHFG Series)

22

I cringe with the fear trying to take me over again. Apparently, I grunt or something because Gibson asks if I'm alright.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I say, shaking it off.

"Okay, if you say so," Gibson says.

"Sparx, Gibson, you two go on either side of the ship and match on. Do not let go. Nova, you take the top and Otto will take the bottom. Antauri, keep a lookout and watch the front. I'll get the back. Then, Jinmay, Chelsea and I'll go on board. Make sure the ship stays in place and do whatever you can to hold it still." Chiro orders.

"On it!" Nova says.

"Wait... where is Jinmay?" I ask.

"I'm right here!" Jinmay says. I look out the side of the window to see she's in her giant robot form. "I'm gonna shrink back down when we get on. First, I'll try to bring the ship over here."

She rockets up and grabs the arrowhead ship, pulling it down. Everyone gets into place. I land on top and put my bike into compact mode, putting my helmet back on. I almost drift off into space and have to hold on.

Finally, Chiro and Jinmay come on.

"You ready?" Chiro asks.

"Yeah," I say. "The sooner, the better." I cringe again. "I feel him. Skeleton King."

"Can you lead us to him?" Jinmay asks. I nod. "Let's go through an entrance first. I remember one from a long time ago."

We follow Jinmay inside, then I'm taking the lead. Whenever I face certain directions, the pain changes. We finally reach a throne room. Inside, Skeleton King is watching Keli fight with a Formless. Her legs are healed. She's able to kill it in an instant, making it fall into a pile of goop. She stands stiff and straight.

"Good work, Kelinet," Skeleton King says. "You may sit."

Keli sits down, her moves robotic.

"Brainwashed," Chiro whispers.

"Come in," Skeleton King says. "I know you've intruded."

I walk in, Chiro and Jinmay behind me. Keli sees me and blinks, the glazed look in her eyes leaving. She squeezes her eyes shut and shakes her head, then immediately stiffens again, the look returning. I must be having some kind of effect on her.

"Skeleton King, why are you here?" I ask sternly.

"Oh, I won't stay much longer at all. I now have what I want." He slams the bottom of his scepter on the ground.

In an instant, three Formless come in. One gets by each of us and begins to swallow us up in their stomachs with the black goo. We try to slash and climb out, but we're sinking.

"No!" Chiro yells. "Jinmay! Chelsea!" He sticks an arm out and tries to pull himself out of the goo, but he's sucked back in. So does Jinmay, but she fails. Black goo dolls my vision and I go still.