BOOK 2 of the Running With Devils Series
It's been three weeks since Coralynn Bennet was dragged down to Hell and it was nothing like how she imagined it. It was a kingdom of skyscrapers but no sky. Demons ran amok, but limited their bloodthirsty te...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The Witch
I felt the doorway to the other side open just wide enough for me to slip inside. I honed in on the cottage, focusing wholly on the people inside.
Lydia.
Gen.
Addie.
Willow.
I conjured their presence, willing them to meet me halfway.
Gen was the first to answer. Then Lydia. Then Addie.
Addie was the first to speak.
"Coralynn?"
"Hey, I don't have much time," I answered quickly.
"What is it, baby? What's wrong," Gen asked, worry saturating her features.
"Something's about to go down," I answered. "The mortal plane is about to be conquered and we are trying to stop it. But we need your help."
Lydia stepped forward. "What do you need, Cor? Whatever it is, we'll get it—"
"Alliances. You need to warn everyone you can about this. This is an apocalyptic threat to everyone."
"Got it. What else," she asked.
"We are planning our escape from hell," I said, my voice lowering instinctively. "But we need people to intercept us. Make a door for us to enter by."
"Just like how you left," Gen nodded. "I took note of the markings and ingredients. I could replicate it."
"We leave tomorrow," I said. "Midnight. Open your end at exactly midnight and hopefully we can get ourselves through."
"Tell me you're safe," Gen said firmly. "Tell me you're alright."
It took me a moment to gather the strength to lie to her. Because I was never safe. I never had been safe. I will never be safe.
Not really.
I loved Malachi, but he couldn't protect me from everything and everyone. He would certainly try, but I knew what I was. I knew what my power meant to others.
"Yes," I said, swallowing the lie. "I'm safe."
Gen approached me slowly, reaching out to touch my face, but only reaching mere consciousness.
"You look stronger," she breathed. "You look like you've been fighting like hell."
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I'm trying. I won't give up."
