• This is the second book of The Collected series •
"Those who bring pain are here to save, and those who bring hope will bring death. A great evil rests on the horizon, eating away at each setting sun. Nothing is as it seems while you beg for salva...
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"I'll go get the others." I called, already running off, leaving Max standing dumbfounded before the screen. We could only hope it wasn't the Collectors who stood outside our doors. We weren't ready to face them yet. Not after last time.
I burst into the medical wing, surprised to only see two people. Nicholas and Jasper.
"Where's the others?" I demanded as they looked up at me. I glanced wearily at Nicholas, wondering why he would be talking to Jasper, considering he was the one who stabbed him.
"Andrea took Zillah for a walk around the ship to test her strength. She heals fast, I wouldn't be surprised if she was almost completely healed." Jasper spoke as he sat up, wincing slightly in pain, "Why?"
"We're surrounded, don't know who's outside."
"Well that's the best place to be!" Nicholas spoke up, grinning, "now we can attack from any side." I wasn't amused, however Jasper let out a small chuckle and I was happy to see him smile.
"Nicholas, help Jasper to the cockpit. I'm going to find the girls as well as Torryn and Estelle." I hurried out again, hoping Nicholas would actually help Jasper and not just push him to his feet.
The ship wasn't large, but it was a maze. Although It couldn't have taken longer than ten minutes to gather everyone into the cockpit, it felt like eternity. With every second my panic grew larger. Who was outside? Were we going to die?
"So what are we going to do?" Torryn squinted at the screen while one of his wings snaked it's way around Estelle's back, bringing her closer to him. "It looks like a stray is approaching the ship, should we go out to meet them?" He pointed at the lone blue dot that had inched its way closer to us.
"Go out and meet them? Are you crazy?" Nicholas spat, his eyes wide and frightened. "It could be Number Eight."
"Don't worry big guy," Jasper slung his arm around Nicholas's shoulders, looking awkward because he was so much shorter, "I'll protect you."
"I stabbed you." Nicholas sneered, looking down at Jasper.
"And you keep bringing up that painful memory because?" Jasper over dramatically pushed him away, only to stumble when he wasn't able to support himself. Nicholas caught him before Jasper hit the ground, shaking his head in annoyance.
"Boys, focus." Zillah snapped, glaring at Jasper. Max moved to her side, touching her arm slightly, causing her hard features to soften. "I say we go out there, it's obvious they want to talk. Why else would they be approaching by themselves."
"I have a marvellous idea." Nicholas spoke up sarcastically, "why don't we just turn off the screen and look outside the wonderful window it's blocking. Then we'll know who's out there."
Zillah leaned forward, pressing a button that collapsed the projection. A figure stood outside, staring up at the ship. An unsettling feeling settled in my bones as I looked at where their face should be. But it was covered by a mask made of what seemed to be bones. It almost looked like the face of a bird with its beak-like shape. It was dressed in a grey cloth, more bone-like armour covering its body.
