• 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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"Take us back right now." I screamed, unaware that my voice could get to that pitch. Axell was at the ships controls, seemingly unaffected by his betrothed's death. All he was concerned about was getting back to his army. The one that was supposed to help us win this war, the one that was unable to do anything in our time of need. I didn't trust him, not one bit. Still, it was clear none of us could do anything, as only he could fly the ship now that Zillah was gone.
Gone.
I tried not to be repulsed by the fact that it wasn't her death that was tearing me apart. It was the loss of Nicholas. Again. I'd finally gotten him back, only for her to rip him from my grasp. Number Eight. Pandora- as Axell had called her. I tried not to think about the crimson blood that trailed from his eyes while he lay there, giving up. Helpless to stop her while she wiped me from his memories for the second time. I feared that I truly would never get him back.
"We have no reason to go back." Axell spoke in an irritatingly calm voice, "Zillah is dead and Pandora took Nicholas."
"Cate is still down there!" Torryn vibrated in anger, the only thing keeping him from attacking Axell was Estelle in his arms. Sobbing into his chest.
"Most likely dead." He said with a sneer. I wanted to wipe that look off his face.
"We don't leave friends behind." Jasper spoke from the doorway. I could see the guilt in his eyes for not being able to fight. I could also see the fear. He didn't dare step into the control room, instead, wearily watched Axell from afar.
"Don't speak to me, you freak." Axell finally showed some emotion; disgust. If only he knew how we felt about him, there was no word to explain it.
"If you don't turn this ship around I will kill you." Max's eyes were dark, almost black. I had a feeling it wasn't completely him speaking. His muscles were pulsing like they usually did when that thing took over his body. His face was slowly twisting into a snarl as he bared his teeth. No one tried to calm him down or warn Axell of the danger he was in. He didn't deserve our warnings.
"I'd like to see you try. Unfortunately, we don't have time right now. We must collect the army and attack the Collectors with our full force. Only then can we win." He said without looking back. A mistake really.
We scattered like leaves in the wind when Max pounced. I didn't dare try to stop this- no one did- it would only get us killed instead. I ducked behind one of the desks while Torryn ushered Estelle into the hallway with Jasper.
Axell somehow blocked Max's first hit- it was sloppy- he wasn't prepared for the hit, as his back had been turned. The next attack wasn't so easy for him to avoid. Max didn't have a fighting pattern that Axell had been trained to adapt to. Max was vicious, an animal, hungry for the kill. There was no technique. Only rage.
