• 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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Five minutes, that's all it took. Torryn left to discreetly fly above Zillah and Axell, so that he could come get us when it was time. I'd been expecting to wait for awhile, to get my cool before we had to fight. I got no such chance.
We'd been instructed by Torryn to walk straight out from the ship and follow the sounds of fighting. We were to expect roughly ten Collectors and a masked woman. Number Eight.
Let me in.
Let me fight.
I'll kill her.
Before she kills you.
"That's enough." I snapped at Kaleo's constant complaining. I could take care of myself. I could survive without him. Even now that I was used to him- and couldn't imagine life without him- I wished he'd go away. I missed the silence and despised the dull ache that constantly consumed my head.
Don't fool yourself.
You are nothing without me.
"Remember the plan." Andrea stopped and we all followed, "capture one of them for questioning and-"
"Kill the rest." Nicholas cut her off, an icy smirk lighting up his dark eyes. No one agreed with him, but no one corrected him either. We would do what we had to, just like at the Collecting Point.
I ran my fingers down my arm and over the bumpy scars from that day. Maybe more would join them soon.
Yes,
We will kill.
Kill them all.
With a flick of Nicholas's wrist, he signalled for us to spread out. The fighting wasn't too far ahead. Just through the last shrubs and branches. I moved to the right, hating my lack of coordination through the undergrowth. It used to be one of my most valued skills. I was able to slip through the trees like a shadow. However, with this bigger body, the constant yelling in my head and my time away from the forest... that skill had faded.
A sort of battle cry reached my ears and I recognized Cate's voice. It was time. I burst through the bush, no longer trying to be silent. When I was out in the open once again, I was able to see what was really happening.
Zillah and Axell were fighting off three Collectors each. A seventh lay unmoving on the dusty ground. I assumed it to be dead.
Andrea leaped onto the back of one of the Collectors attacking Zillah. The metal bracelets she wore unraveled and dug into the spine of the Collector. It spun, trying and failing to knock Andrea off.
Cate's hands were already alive with an uncontrollable flame. I almost felt bad for the Collector that fell victim to it. She gained the attention of two Collectors, however didn't look like she needed any help in defending herself.
