Alpha Academy: Misfit's Rise

Chapter 29: The Shift

But no sooner had the thought crossed my mind, when everything went cold.

I didn't dare open my eyes. Maybe the afterlife was just cold. Hell had always been described as burning hot, and if I died trying to save someone else, didn't that earn me a direct flight to paradise? Maybe paradise was cold.

"Hey," someone next to me croaked, but I didn't open my eyes. Opening my eyes would make this all real, and I didn't want it to be real.

"Rusty." Someone poked my side. "Snap out of it."

That was Sedna's voice. Maybe I was in hell after all. As if to prove my point, a hand slapped across my face. My eyes shot open out of shock, and there she was, her soot-covered face just a few inches from mine.

"Nice to have you back," she seethed, managing to cram more venom in her voice than anyone who inhaled that much smoke should be able too. She had propped herself up on one elbow, but a moment later it collapsed, and she fell back to the floor. She must have used the last of her strength smacking me.

"What happened?" I gasped, glancing around. The fire was gone, but the amount of soot and charred furniture told me it had been here. I hadn't imagined that.

"I should be asking you that." Sedna chuckled breathlessly. "What are you doing here?"

I bit my lip, but before I had time to think up a lame lie that Sedna would have seen through anyway, a loud creaking noise had us both looking up, and then diving out of the way. Or rather, me diving, while trying to drag Sedna's limp form out of the way at the same time. Her back slid out of the way just as large beam came crashing down right behind her.

We laid there, panting, before I said, "We should get out of here."

"Brilliant plan, Arwan," Sedna spat back. I raised an eyebrow. I had no idea who Arwan was, but now wasn't the time to ask. Sedna tried to prop herself up and collapsed again. There was no way around it. I slipped my hands under her shoulders and pulled. Our progress was slow, since she was about a foot taller than me. By the time we reached the hall, my hands were shaking and I'd broken out into a sweat.

"Rusty," Sedna said. "Stop. I need to rest."

"You need to rest?" I said, but Sedna chose that moment to go completely limp, making moving her impossible. I collapsed on the wall next to her. A break might be good for me as well.

"Sit me up against the wall," Sedna said. I glared at her, but she looked so pitiful lying like that. I felt guilty and did as she said.

"Thanks," she said, but before I could even think of the words, "You're welcome," her hand snaked around my neck.

"How did you know I was down there?"

For someone who'd been too weak to carry herself, she had a surprisingly strong grip.

"I can't tell you," I gasped, glaring again. I was tired of people asking me questions while restricting my ability to breathe, it made talking painful.

"Why not?" she hissed.

"Because every time I try," I gasped again. "I find it difficult to breathe." Like right now, I wanted to say, but I was out of air.

"What?" Sedna asked, then her eyes narrowed, like something clicked into place. "You're enchanted, aren't you?" She cocked her head, then let out a slow laugh. "Helena."

She released me, and I chose to take a big gulp of air before responding, "Helena wasn't—" I felt the air start to disappear from my lungs and immediately shut up, but Sedna started laughing shakily again.