Don't Let Go (Third Book to the Other Side)

Chapter Four (The Lost Warrior)

The remnants of tears had long dried on my face, but I couldn't bring myself to stand up and leave the safety of being alone. The last thing I need to do is break down in front of all of them, show them just how much I'm hurting. Thomas isn't coming back, what's the point of waiting around? I need to move on. I need to find happiness elsewhere.

But I can't think or do anything without imagining him right besides me.

And now my actions have gotten Angelica captured. Part of me wanted to blame Eliza for forcing me to stop, the others for not stepping in and trying to take the King's life while we had the chance, anyone but myself.

The sky above was growing dark fast, and as much as I wanted to sit by the tree and let myself follow after Thomas, I eventually forced myself to my feet, albeit shakily, and stepped forward. It would have been easier to teleport, but I needed more time to compose myself. The instant I stepped in the castle, they'd no doubt question me about where I was and demand that we start planning to save Angelica. But no matter what, we have to get her back. Because this feeling of being lost is absolutely terrible, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemies, much less Eliza and Peggy.

We couldn't save Thomas, but maybe we could save Angelica.

Each step I took was more painful than the last, jogging the memories of all those times Thomas and I journeyed through the forest together. Each second was the worst form of torture imaginable, as I couldn't go anywhere without seeing his face, hearing his laugh.

It's all going to die away eventually, I told myself, keeping my eyes straight ahead. You're going to forget about Thomas, and you'll be happy.

The only way I could comfort myself was by telling lies, and I hated it. I hated it because I know I'll never be able to not see his ghost. It doesn't matter how many times I try to move on, Thomas will always be apart of me.

For a moment, the burning hot flames of anger consumed my chest. Anger at myself for not being able to have stopped him. Anger at him for putting me in such a horrible position without taking even a second to think about how I would feel. Anger at the world for doing this to me.

But it subsided soon after, and I was just as empty as before.

I was so focused on trying not to cry again that I almost missed the sudden crack of branches behind me. I froze, dagger in my hand within a single heartbeat, and listened. A rustling through the bushes, another crack of leaves, the heavy fall of what sounded like hooves hitting the ground. I swallowed hard, whirling in the direction the steps were coming from. "I know you're there." My voice echoed through the forest, and the footsteps stopped. I raised my dagger, letting the light glint off of its razor sharp tip. "Come out."

A pause. I gripped the dagger tighter, knowing it was the only thing separating me from whoever or whatever was stalking me. "Show yourself!" I hissed again, voice as threatening as I could make it. It sounded pitiful even to me.

The creature emerged from the bush.

It wasn't the King, or anyone else who would want to cause me harm for the sole sake of causing harm, but that hardly offered me any relief. The creature stepped forward into the dying rays of sunlight streaming down through the leaves. The light caught its fur, and as it stepped forward, I fell back.

Its fur was sleek and the dark browns of mud. Two horns wrapped around its head like those of an ibex, gleaming black. Hooves replaced what should have been large paws, and a long tail swept behind its cat-like body. The creature's gaze was intense, and as deep as the scars that marred its face ran, there was no mistaking the gleam of intelligence behind its eyes.