War (Book 3 in Destined Series)

27

I walk down the stairs and turn the corner.

"Christina! Luke said you left!" Nick exclaims standing up.

"Well, I'm back." I say and Nick smirks. Mike crosses his arms with a sly smirk too and I awkwardly stand there unsure of what to say.

"Y'all are idiots." Drew hisses then runs over to me. I laugh as he pulls me in for a tight hug.

"Lord, atleast I missed you." he says and I smile

"I missed you too Drew." I say and he gently backs up.

"So, who's ready to figure out what the hell this baby can do?" I ask grabbing the amulet. They all smirk and I hear Luke come down the stairs behind me.

"I sure as hell am." Luke says and I look over at him.

"I know you are." I say and he walks over to me. I put the necklace down on the table and everyone crowds around.

"Alright, let's get this over with." I say then wave my hand over the amulet. The amulet shakes for a little bit on the table then breaks open. I step back, dropping my hands to my side watching as a blue light shoots from it. Luke gently pulls me back as a light shoots up to the ceiling. Drew reaches out to it but I quickly shake my head. He moves his hand back and I bend down grabbing a piece of paper. I crumple it up then throw it at it. The paper vanishes and I look over at Drew and Mike.

"Did that thing just eat the paper?" Mike asks and I nod slowly. I feel Echo wiggle then pull from the tattoo. With a squawk he hops down and wobbles over to the amulet.

"Echo, no!" I shout as he jumps right in.

"Echo!" I call and hear a squawk. He pokes his head out of the blue magic. He squawks then goes back in.

"I think he wants me to follow." I mumble then reach my hand in. When nothing bad happens, I lift my leg up and step in. Half in and half out, I poke my head in and look around. It's a forest...

I feel Luke, or atleast I think it's Luke grab my waist.

"That's far enough Christina." he mumbles but I shake him off.

"Christina!" he shouts as I move all the way in.

"Christina!"

"Chill, I'm fine." I say

"Whoah. That's creepy." I hear Nick mumble.

"I'm just gonna look around really quick."

"Christina I'm coming in there then- shit!"

I quickly spin and stick my head out. Luke lays on the ground looking lost as crap.

"Luke?" I ask pushing back through and walking over to him. I squat down and he curses.

"Damn thing electrocuted me!" he shouts and I grab his hand.

"Did it not harm you?" he asks and I shake my head.

"No, I slid in easily. Maybe it's a Destined thing?"

"Nope." Nick hisses shaking his hand too.

"Wait it shocked you too?" I ask and he nods.

"What the hell is that thing?" I ask pulling Luke up and looking over at it.

"No clue, but it's obviously not safe." Luke says shaking his head.

Echo squawks again and I look over.

"How come I could get in?"

"I don't know. But we aren't going to- Christina! Damn it!" he shouts as I'm already stepping through.