Veil Of The Undying

Chapter 27

Aria

Everything is happening so fast. I know Liam stabbed me, but I don't feel anything. Maybe it's the shock. I see Ronan kneeling over me, his lips moving, but the words are muffled, lost in the haze. I don't even remember falling down.

I want to tell him I'm okay, but I can't. My vision is blurring, sounds are fading. Why is this happening? Nothing happened to my eyes, my ears-why can't I hear him? I focus on Ronan's panicked face, but it feels like he's slipping away, like I'm slipping away. And then, just like that, everything goes black.

The next time I open my eyes, I'm in a car. Feeders are clawing at the windows, their rotting faces pressed against the glass, desperate to get to me. This has to be a dream-no, a nightmare. Maybe I'm dead and this is hell. I can't handle it. I squeeze my eyes shut, praying it all disappears.

When I manage to open them again, I'm on the ground. Ronan is surrounded, fighting off feeders with everything he's got. My heart screams at me to help him, but my body won't move. I try to call out to him, but my voice is trapped, useless. Please, no-this can't be real. I can't lose him too.

The world fades again, and when I come to, Ronan is hovering over me. His hands are covered in blood-my blood? He's muttering something, and I can finally hear him, "You're going to be fine. I promise." He's stitching me up. I want to see what he's doing, but the darkness pulls me under once more.

The last time I wake up, it's night. I'm in the back seat of a car, the engine humming beneath me. Ronan glances back from the driver's seat, his voice soft but firm, "I told you, you'll be fine. Now sleep, we're going home."

His words wrap around me like a blanket. I believe him-I have to. With Ronan here, I'm safe. Finally, I let myself drift back into sleep, trusting that when I wake, things will be better.