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Chapter 13
mortal_dreamerA/N: If you're looking for a song while you read this chapter, I seriously reccomend "Dream" from Imagine Dragons. You'll not be disappointed. See you in a week! Stay safe. ~mortal_dreamer
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Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 14
An envelope finds its way to my kitchen in the middle of the afternoon, a couple of days after my strange meeting with Ryan. I stared at the elegant, cursive calligraphy at the front, where my name was carefully written. Inside it was a letter written on the computer with a list of instructions that I had to follow dutifully. I had to travel to a safe house three hours away from my own pack to meet the Elite's leader in a week from then. In the directions I received, it was clearly stated that an excuse would be made for me. I crumbled the sheet as soon as Mrs. Hill- sworn to secrecy- helped me make sense of the words written on the page. Still, the fact that I was able to recognize and understand a few terms excited me in ways I couldn't describe. I'm finally doing something constructive for me, and the slow but steady progress only motivated me to try harder, to learn more. My parents thrill with my newfound passion, aiding me to the best of their abilities. I was receptive at f
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 15
Inside Devin's car reigns silence. The cold rage just seeping out of his pores is enough to turn anyone to stone. His fists clench and unclench on the steering wheel, and he seems to be actively ignoring me. As we drive away, I can't handle his indifference any longer and break the stillness that came down on the small grey car. "Where are we going?" I ask impatiently. "To meet your next driver," Devin replies in a deadpanned tone. I narrow my eyes at him, attempting to decipher his thoughts and failing miserably. Irritated by the absence of the usual ease between us, I make a bold move. "Do you have anything to tell me?" I question. Devin whirls his gaze on me briefly, before concentrating on driving. "The Council didn't ask for a new assessment, I would have known, and you don't even look surprised to be leaving," he explains. I least I know now what I'm dealing with. "I figured this would happen sooner rather than later," I answer evasively. He grits his teeth and shak
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 16
I assault Ryan with questions, but he deflects them with ease. He doesn't unveil the mystery, preferring to leave all the explanations to the Elite's leader, whose name Ryan refuses to divulge. After a few minutes, I give up on my restless quest, and instead, appreciate the view as it hurriedly passes by my window. A tinge of doubt finds its way to my bloodstream, becoming impossible to ignore as time wears on. It's been only three weeks since I escaped the hybrid's clutches, and I'm already running towards them, to the nest of my enemies. Everything is rushed, and every task is counted to the second to ensure maximum productivity. It seems I can barely breathe before I'm hastened to another problem, another concern, while I'm still trying to solve my own. My investigation to find the traitor has come to a stop as we can't eliminate any other suspect and don't have enough information to go further. I hope the Elite can at least give me that advantage. If I could just review their
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 17
I stare at Ryan's neck, noticing the bare skin where a mark should be placed. My mouth dries as I conjure the right words."Do you feel it too?" I question, gesturing between us. "The pull," I clarify, though from the look he gives me, I didn't have to. Ryan freezes, analyzing me for a second. This close, I can smell his cologne and see the blond stubble that covers his chiseled jaw. He grits his teeth as his stare threatens to make me combust. Ryan doesn't speak for a long time, and I wonder if he too is scared of this moment, this minute that can change our perspective in a blink of an eye, so effortlessly. "Took you long enough to notice. I was starting to think I was imagining it," Ryan says light-heartedly, but I can't appreciate the humor. My lungs stop the intake of air abruptly. A piece of me held on the small tinge of hope that maybe, I was overreacting, that this was just a figment of my imagination. And yet, as my eyes hold the intensity in his grey ones, I realize the s
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 18
My eyes follow Nathan, even as Ryan tries to avert my attention elsewhere. Something is awfully wrong with the Elite's leader; though the air is heavy with our mixed breaths, the cold that wafts from Nathan chills me right down to the core. Ryan had me sit on the floor with him, expertly blocking my eyesight of the leader. I curse beneath my breath as I attempt to distract myself by examining the people who crowd the room. I realize with a twist of anger that only a woman joined the ranks of the Elite. It seems that no matter how advanced this group must be, it isn't strong enough to overcome the misogyny that plagues our world. My focus drifts to her. She leans against the wall, a foot propped against the metal behind. She's slender, but her form fills the combat clothes she poured over herself. Her hair is pitch black, billowing around her in a mess of curls, creating an aura around her dark-colored features. She eyes the room warily, almost daring her fellow members to approach h
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 19
We don't talk as we navigate between the streets, keeping close to the walls and the poorly lit sidewalks. We walk in profound quiet as the tension of battle rises deep within. We encounter no obstacles or problems on our way to the compound, but we stay alert. I don't notice the compound until Nathan points it out. His finger indicates a two-story abandoned building: the windows on the second floor are broken, and the whole structure appears to be decaying underneath the pressure of the years.I stare at the deserted construction, trying to locate a sign of life but come back empty-handed. The paint that covered its walls disappeared, exposing the concrete below. I look at Ryan inquisitively. This is nothing like the compound I stayed in, hidden in plain sight.We cross the street as discreetly as we can, trying to blend in with the shadows as we join the rest of the group behind a white van and a few bushes. We're clustered together, squeezed in to ensure that we all stay hidden as
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 20
Ryan gave me a small first-aid kit to dress the throbbing wound on my arm as we drove back home. The cut is deep, and even though I do my best to treat the injury, it's not enough. Against my protests, Ryan forces me to call Devin to get a nurse to the pack house to heal me when we get closer to my pack. Devin didn't hesitate in aiding me, despite the late hour I disturbed him. I could sense the worry and unease on the other end of the line, but I refused to give any more details. Ryan doesn't speak much for the rest of the journey. His silence is deafening in the stillness of the night, but I know that he needs this time to mourn, so I stay quiet, suppressing the onslaught of questions that threaten to tumble out of my lips. I'm almost relieved when I recognize the sightings, eager to leave Ryan and the last remains of the battle behind. Still, as I stare at the man next to me, a rooted sadness settles in. How many times did he execute this ritual? How much did he lose to hold his
Sacrificed Warrior Chapter 21
Devin drives me home, filling the silence with easy conversation, but it does nothing to appease my nerves. Still, I'm grateful for the distraction. I hold a list of recommendations in my hand on how to treat my stitches, left by Bethany on the kitchen counter. I start to regret the way I snapped at her. My mother eyes me eerily when I get home, her glance lingering on my sweater. I thought about returning it to Devin, but the fabric is way too comfortable and warm to commit such a crime. When she charges at me with a whole set of questions, I dodge her moves, promising that I'll clarify everything to both of them tonight. I pass my day in a state of pure anxiety, distracted by my thoughts, so much so that Mrs. Hill sends me a sharp look every time I space out. I count the hours until they get back, getting more impatient by the minute. I attempt to make myself look presentable and fail miserably. My hands shake as the doom gets closer, impossible to ignore. I grab the necklace,
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