War (Book 3 in Destined Series)

4

"Luke!" I jerk awake screaming and he's instantly beside me. His strong hands hold me tightly as I cry.

"Hey hey it's me. You're here what's wrong?" he asks and I sob rocking back and forth.

"Christina." he whispers and I shake my head. I can't look, I won't.

"Christina look at me." he coos and I shake my head.

"It's too real." I sob and he hushes me.

"Christina look at me." he whispers and I fearfully force my eyes open. His face comes into view and I feel tears steam down my cheeks as he holds me.

"See, I told you it was me." he whispers and I nod putting my head against his chest. He strokes my hair as I breathe gently against him.

My mind wanders to Shane, and I hate myself for it. But I can't stop thinking about him. Usually he'd be the one to comfort me, to calm me when I was scared... But he's gone, it's now Luke's turn. I felt safe in Shane's arms yes, but there always seemed to be a distance. He didn't know how close to pull me to him.. He didn't even seem to trust himself to keep me safe from the monster's that haunted my dreams...

But Luke, he does...

"Whatcha thinking about?" he asks pulling back some. I go to open my mouth but I shut it back and shake my head.

"Nothing." I say and he sighs but doesn't push it. He breathes into my hair as I continue to hold myself against him.

"It's just- I don't know." I say cutting my own self off. I don't know how to explain anything...

"It's ok, you don't have to force yourself." he says and I nod.

"I'm scared." I whisper, breaking the growing silence.

"Of what?"

"Of-

Crash!

"Christina!" 

Luke and I instantly jump off the bed and sprint down the stairs. I come to a stop at the bottom finding Nick breathing heavy.

"Nick what's wrong?" I ask and he looks up.

"It's my dad." he says and I take a deep breath as he motions me into the bedroom. I tell Luke to wait out here and he does so. I follow Nick inside and I walk over to his bed.

"Ben?" I question and he blinks open his eyes. Sweat costs his forehead and blood stains his fingertips.

"They deserved it." he says and I look over at Nick.

"They always deserve it."

"Who?" I ask and he looks over at me.

"The creatures roaming this world. The creatures stalking us right now."

"Ben, nobody is in here but Nick and I." I whisper and he laughs humorously. I see claw marks on his face and scratches digging deep into his arms, blood gently streaming free.

"That's always what they want you to think, before they attack!" he shouts and Nick yanks me as his father throws a bottle hard and it slams into the wall and inch from where I was standing.

The door slams open and Luke sprints in. I quickly move in front of him and he lowers his gun, relaxing when he sees me.

"He's delusional." I say as Nick wrestles to keep his father down.

Luke heads over and shoves Ben down. Luke is at least three times the size of Nick's father in not only muscle but height. He easily holds Ben down and Nick moves over to me.

"How long has this been going on?" I ask and he shakes his head.

"He woke up and started flipping out." he says and I nod. Luke shoots a calming serum into Ben then gets off as he goes unconscious.

"Was he bit or scratched?" I ask and Nick shakes his head.

"Not that I know of." he says and I walk over.

"Have you checked?" I ask and he shakes his head again.

"Luke." I say and he walks back over to me.

"Search him." I say squatting to check his clothes.

"I found something." Luke says and Nick and I instantly move over.

"It's a scratch." I say pulling his sleeve up even more and biting my lip when I see the black tendrils snaking up his arm.

"It's the plague."

"What? That's impossible? The plague is on the other side of the wall." Nick says and I rub my face.

"He must've been scratched when Alec's minions attacked." I mumble trying to think back.

"Damn it." he mutters pacing the floor.

"What do we do?" he asks stopping in front of me, and I look at him sadly.

"We have to leave him here. It's not safe."

"I won't leave my father!" he hisses and I shake my head.

"He's too far gone Nick. Pretty soon he'll be a danger to all of us." I whisper and he looks over at his father. I catch sight of blood on Nick's arm and bite my lip as Luke's attention is drawn to it also.

"Did he cut you?" Luke asks and Nick looks at us then down at his arm.

He curses then looks up..

"Even if he did, it wouldn't matter." he says knowing the truth might as well come out now

"And why's that?" Luke asks and I nod Nick on.

"Because I'm immune." he says and Luke raises an eyebrow at me then looks at Nick.

"Excuse me?"

"We both are." I say and Luke looks back at me.

"And I'm just hearing about this because?"

"We were trying to keep you safe." I say and he looks me up and down.

"What are you two? You better have a good as hell reason for not telling me sooner." he says and I take a deep breath.

"We're Destined." I say and his eyes widen drastically.

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