This is Emmorta

16 Madness Within

Rune

We're running—Phantom and me—from the Horsemen hot on our tail. Side by side, he keeps up his pace with me while the blood trickles down my leg. The hounds on the leashes by their sides snap and growl as we sprint through the familiar hallways of my father's house.

I'm not sure why Phantom is afraid, but his breathing picks up and eyes blow too wide for me not to notice.

When I falter, War catches up, and Phantom swings a fist that lands in his jaw. War disappears in a cloud before Phantom can swing once more.

Snarls fill our short-lived reprieve as Famine gains on us.

"Come on," he urges. Phantom wraps an arm around my shoulders, pushing me forward. "It's not real, Rune. You remember."

I know that. I'm just not as strong while I'm unconscious.

Famine howls with a maniacal laughter, those eyes—were they always so wired?

My father's voice—Lucifer's voice—bellowing from behind us would argue this is as real as anything else. His booming screams shake the ground beneath our feet.

Alex must have finished, and Lucifer knows. I've disappointed him for the last time, and he's making it known he won't tolerate this.

Famine leaps onto Phantom's back, biting into him. Phantom thrashes, but doesn't stop. "Rune, they're only as strong as you allow them."

"How do we get out of here?" I ask. I've never been trapped in a dream, but Lucifer seems adamant to keep me here. It would be helpful if someone on the outside shook us awake.

Phantom slams his backside into the wall and Famine disappears much like War.

To our left, Victor's heavy steps echo around us like a warning. We push harder to get away, but the hounds creep closer and Victor won't make the same mistake as the others.

He'll grab me, and I know he'll drag me down here.

The feeling of hands over me presses deep into my skin, kneading into my thighs. Phantom pulls me down the South corridor of the mansion, past the Horsemen's quarters, and the hands move up my legs, one settling over my belly.

Father screams for me once more.

Victor inches closer to us, snarling with his hunter gaze fixed on me.

Phantom doesn't answer me. Neither of us knows how to get out of this place. So we're running until we figure it out.

"I suppose we just need to wake up."

The hounds catch Phantom, separating us and he pushes me before dropping to the ground while they tear into him.

"Rune, go!" My feet don't stop. While my head is turned, I miss the hole and fall through the floor into another room. The freewill lasts long enough to catch the curses of my father and the Horsemen. I once thought of them like brothers, but that was my mistake.

Their shouts and Phantom's screams fade as I slip into another place. My landing is soft, like I'm sinking through sand, slowly drifting downward until my toes touch the floor.

I don't recognize the room, but it has this air of familiarity to it, as if I've been here before.

If there's one thing I've learned, there is nothing to fear in an unknown place. Keep an even head and concentrate. I'll make my way out, even if I have to claw through whatever barrier holds me here.

I've lost only one fight in my life, and it was a draw, when Fate walked away.

On every wall, liquid brown and gold melt down to the floor like chocolate. Despite the presence of these walls, the space feels limitless.