MIRAI nearly scream when a hand wraps tightly around my waist in the dark. My scream ends up coming out as a muffled gasp when the arm presses me against a hard, brick wall of a chest.We’re not allowed to speak and I cannot see Mason’s face so I just lean against him silently, watching the semi-horror scene before me.Halloway is crying in earnest now. Her tears pour down her cheeks in torrents as Damon hovers over her with the knife.Behind me, I feel Mason’s muscles stiffen and bunch even more as the questioning progresses. At some point, it even feels like he wants to push me away completely and run to Halloway’s rescue.“Please, I’ve told you the truth. I have no idea what you’re talking about.” The bitch sniffs.“So you do not know anybody by the name Mira? Mira Fernandez?”If I wasn’t watching intently, I would’ve missed the way her shoulders tensed up at the mention of my name before she quickly goes on to say;“No. I have no idea who that is. Please, just let me go. Is it m

MIRAI can’t breathe.That’s the first thing I register as Mason pulls me away from the burning, choking flames. I have absolutely no idea where we’re going. The fire spreads so quickly, almost half of the room is engulfed within minutes. The smoke stings my nose and tears flow freely from my rapidly throbbing eyes.“Mason!” I splutter. “Do you know where we’re going?”I have no idea where Vanessa is and I hope to God that Damon has managed to get her to safety.I don’t know if Mason heard my question because he doesn’t answer. Instead, he just keeps pulling me along.Within seconds, the entire room is choked with flames and thick, black smoke. Just as we’re about to turn into a dark corner, a scream rents the air. Mason and I both freeze at the horror-filled sound. Then it hits me and my legs nearly give way.“Vanessa! That’s Vanessa scream!”I try to break free of Mason’s grip but he holds on to me tighter and yells.“Don’t fucking go anywhere, Mira. Let me get you to safety fir

MIRAParticles of dust slip past my lips and nose, causing me to cough and splutter all over the place.It takes a good three minutes for all the dust and smoke to finally settle down. Then I really begin to panic.“Oh my God. Mason and the others are still in there. Oh my God!” I whisper over and over.I hear a muffled sound from behind me and turn sharply to find Halloway… crying?Her head is lowered and her shoulders are shaking with nerve-wracking sobs.I don’t know why, but the sight of her tears stir up a demon within me which I cannot seem to control in time.One minute I’m standing on my own, wondering what the fuck just happened and the next, I’m across the room with my fingers wrapped tightly around her throat while I scream profanities I’m her face. “What the hell did you do?! What did you do, you bitch?!”I’m pretty much aware of the fact that I might choke her to death in the next few seconds but I do not particularly care at this point.Halloway trembles and wheezes in

MASONI have no idea how long I stand there and wait for the doctor to inform me that he’s joking. I have no idea how many times I silently scream at him to laugh in our faces and call all of this a big joke. Honestly, at this point, I wouldn’t even get mad.But when he still says nothing while Mira nearly cries her eyes out in the background, I finally lose my temper.One minute, I’m trying to wrap my head around everything he’s just said and the next, my fingers are wrapped around the good doctor’s throat as I threaten to choke the life out of him.“You had one job.” I growl. “Just one job. I specifically told you not to even dream of coming out of that ward alive if you couldn’t save all of them. Now you’re telling me that my best friend has lost his child?”The doctor’s face is slowly turning purple as he struggles and flails in my grip. At this point, my rage is way too venomous to guarantee that he might come out of this alive.The choking pressure in my throat grows worse and

MIRAMy pulse pounds wildly as I take in Halloway’s drooping shoulders and defeated expression. Something tells me that whatever she’s about to tell us will change the narrative of everything going on here forever.“What is it, Halloway?” I ask shakily.“Speak!” Mason bellows and I jump, completely startled.“Damon and Vanessa both need to hear this. It affects them as well.” Halloway mumbles, ratcheting my suspicions.It all happens in a blur. One minute, Mason is standing beside me and the next, he’s across the room and hovering over Halloway, his shoulders stiff and threatening.“Don’t you think you’ve done though?!” He growls. “Don’t you think you’ve caused enough damage? You’re fucking delusional if you think I’m letting you anywhere near them. And to think that I trusted you, you two-timed, two-faced bitch.”I wince at Mason’s harsh words but I know she deserves it. She deserves everything she gets for trying to hurt us. For actually succeeding in hurting us.Halloway’s eyes fi