Dinastiya Tested // 3rd Book of the Takaryev Trilogy

Chapter 23

Artem watched, weary-eyed, as Hilarion re-entered the cell. 

Artem offered up a bitter smile. "Here to kill me yet?" 

Hilarion shook his head. "Mm, afraid not, moy malchek."

Artem resisted the urge to flinch as he heard a gun click. For a flickering moment, he thought about how hellish it must've been for Ravil, who had spent years in similar situations...

And then, Artem realized that he had no idea how long he'd been here, wherever here was. He shuddered at that, but not at the click of the gun. Still, however, a flash of terror racked his body.

Then Hilarion started counting. "Odin, dva, tri, chetirye, pyat, shyest, syem, vosyem..."

"Just shoot me already!" Artem barked.

Hilarion kept counting. "Devyat, desyat, odinnadtsat..."

Artem felt a twinge of panic creep into the forefront of his mind.  How many more seconds? How many more numbers?

"Dvanadtsat," Hilarion kept going. "Trinadtsat, chetirnadtsat, pyatnadtsat," 

There was a pause. Then gunfire tore the air. A bullet plunged into Artem's foot, and he screeched. Blood splattered onto the floor.

As Hilarion departed, Artem reeled and gasped for breath, writhing helplessly against the chains that held his hands. The pain fanned out to encompass his entire leg, and he screamed again. He clenched his fists, grabbing at the fading reality as his mind floated to the clouds. The pain transformed into a red haze that enveloped his brain and body. 

He closed his eyes and was gone.