I blink open my eyes and groan. My head starts to hurt and I sit up in pain. Luke shifts beside me and I clench my jaw taking a deep breath.

"Christina."

"My head." I groan gripping onto it. I roll over to my knees and bury my head into the comforter. I cry at the pain and breathe heavy.

"Christina." he says and I cry out. The door slams open and cold hands grab me.

"It's the amulet." I hear someone say and I scream at the fire literally burning through my skull. I let out silent screams breathing heavy. They finally rip the damn necklace off of me and I fall to the bed breathing heavy. Cold hands prod at me, grab at me.

"Chrissy?"

"Get her out of here." I hear Luke say then Grace is screaming and crying as she's dragged away from me. I look down at the sheets and see blood staining them.

I cough and hack, blood shooting from my mouth as I do. More blood stains the sheets below me and I clutch at my chest rolling onto my back.

"What's happening to her!?" I hear someone shout in the distance... But I'm too far gone. Into yet another, terrible nightmare.

"Christina."

I blink open my eyes at my name and look around. Darkness is all that surrounds me as I slowly sit up.

"Christina."

"Who's there?" I call into the shadows putting my feet down against the cold hard surface below. A crack of light appears and I look over slowly standing up. I walk over to the door and gently push it open. I step into the light and look around.

I know this place...

I walk forward looking around.

"Christina."

I follow the voice and come to a stop before a figure. I reach a shaky hand out and touch them on the shoulder. They slowly turn to face me and I back up quickly as the red eyes blaze into me.

"What have you done?" I whisper as he steps towards me.

"What? Do you not like me like this?"

"It's not you Shane." I whisper and he smirks.

"You're right. It's not me."

"Then stop this." I whisper and he looks back at me.

"It's not me." he says again, then looks up at me. I go to step forward but he holds his hand up, stopping me in my tracks.

"No. Its not me... It's a much better me. The man I truly am." he says meeting my eyes. I gasp as he's suddenly right in front of me. He thrusts his fists into my chest and squeezes my heart. I cough falling to my knees as he yanks it out. I stare up at it as it beats against his blood covered palm.

"The Heart of the Savior." he mocks squeezing it tighter. A choked scream leaves my throat and a gasp for air gurgles in the back of my throat.

"It's funny really. How the strongest thing in the world! The only thing that can stop me... Is so small." he says squeezing one last time then releasing. I fall to my hands and knees. Painful breaths heaving from my burning chest.

"Stop this. This isn't who you want to become." I whisper looking up at him, tears staining my tender cheeks.

"Since when did you care?" he scoffs squeezing my heart again. I fall to the ground blood dripping from my shaking lips.

"I've always cared." I breathe out forcing myself to look up.

"I've always cared about you." I say falling onto my back as he squeezes even more. He squats over me, the weak beat of my heart playing again and again in my ears. Choked screams leave me in pain, yet almost no sound is heard. He holds it up ready to crush and I force myself to grab his wrist.

"If you do this. You'll never make it back to the light." I bite out and he laughs humorously.

"Who said I ever wanted to go light again?" he asks and I breathe heavy staring at him.

"Please don't do this." I whisper and he scoffs.

"You're begs won't work this time." he hisses then starts to crush my heart in his fist. I choke on blood and my head falls backwards. My eyes open and meet his as he squeezes it more in his shaking grip. His eyes lock on mine and I stare up at him.

"This- isn't you." I whisper then everything goes black.

~~

"Why won't she wake up?" I ask the damn wolf.

"I don't know." he says and I breathe heavy putting my head to her chest. She stopped spazzing about ten minutes ago. I thought everything was ok. She started to wake up then it was like a switch flipped off.. She stopped moving, and responding to anything. She's barely breathing anymore.

I've kept Grace out of the room all morning, and she's starting to grow anxious. She wants to know if Christina is ok, but I can't give her answer cause I don't even know if she is.

"I don't understand why she's not waking up!" I shout and Drew yanks me back before I can lose control.

"Snap out of it Luke! We need you sane! She needs you sane!" he shouts and I groan forcing control to take over. I take a deep breath then nod.

"I'm ok." I whisper my vision going back to normal.

"Can I leave you in here with her alone?" he asks and I nod.

"Just go take care of Grace." I say and he nods. He pats me on the shoulder then leaves. I hear the shut of the door and I slowly walk back over to Christina.

She lays silently. She's so pale, everything about her seems dead... but the slight thump thump of her pulse tells me other wise.

"Please wake up." I whisper pushing hair out of her face. She stays silent though, doesn't move, or make a peep.

"Please wake up."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

War (Book 3 in Destined Series)Where stories live. Discover now