The Pain Thief

Chapter 27

TIME IS UP: DARKNESS MOVING IN

Zoe tightened her grip on Reyna's fur, feeling her heart break with every step they took in the opposite direction. She forced herself to be cold and closed off, but that didn't mean it was easy for her to just run away. All she wanted to do was fight by Jack's side, though she knew it was impossible at this point. As she fought with Torr, she realized that there were no other options left besides to do this alone. It was the only way to keep everyone alive. 

Jack, Jana, Sarah, Mr. and Mrs. Brown, Mr. Z... I'm so sorry, but I won't be coming back. 

Zoe lowered her head, her hair covering her eyes. Jack would be fighting to protect his family now and she had to fight to protect all of them. She wished they had gotten a chance to talk more, but she hoped he understood how much of a difference he made in her life. 

Malachi rejoined them as they ran and Zoe looked to him. He was carrying knives in his mouth that she had ordered him to pick up for her plan to work. She knew using Malachi and Reyna to restrain Torr wouldn't work, but if she could create a type of seal to lock him in, she could steal the darkness he was harboring. 

Zoe could feel the sadness of her wolves mixing in with her as they ran, trying to find a place to execute her plan. She sighed as they turned a corner. 

"We should be good here," she said to Reyna. They were in another alley like the last one, but this one was wider. Zoe looked up. It was dark now. It would be morning soon. 

It felt like her heart was being weighed down. Morning... she wondering if she would ever see the sunlight again. 

Zoe dismissed the thought, opting instead to focus on the task at hand. She dismounted Reyna and grabbed the knives from Malachi's mouth. They were Jack's throwing knives. 

Malachi and Reyna rubbed against her briefly, providing her some comfort. She patted them before stepping back, giving her some space as Torr arrived. 

He appeared at the opposite side of the alley. His clothing was torn, yet he didn't look fazed. Zoe took a fighting stance, holding one of the knives in a defensive position. She would have to do this quickly since her knife skills were sorely lacking, especially against someone as skilled as him. 

"Why did you refuse your friends help?" asked Torr slyly. "He seemed quite attached to you."

Zoe lowered her eyes and jumped forward. Torr seemed surprised, but he defended. Their blades crashed together with a clang. Zoe jumped back and threw one of her knives. He sidestepped and her knife missed. 

He raised his blade and swung it, sending a heat wave in her direction. She threw up a shield, feeling the heat penetrate the barrier. With a shock of energy, she dispelled the heat and threw another knife. It landed with a thud in the ground. 

Good, she thought. Two are set up. 

Torr lunged, brandishing his sword again. Zoe defended with her next knife, but the heat of the sword forced her to drop it and step back. He didn't give her any room to use another knife though, pushing her back and shattering her shields one by one. 

Zoe felt her heart drop in dread as her stash of knives was depleted. She needed at least two of them to complete the seal, but was running out. This was an old move that Mr. Z had taught her a long time ago. He had taught her all his tricks, which included seals and traps. She never thought she'd have to use one, but was glad he had taken the time to teach her. It was like he knew she'd come upon an enemy she just couldn't face. 

She was shoved back, losing the last two knives as they were wrenched out of her hands. It was times like this that she wished she had knife skills like Jack.