Page 326 of Psycho Devils: Aran's Story 2

Nothing happened.

Tears streamed from my eyes, and I pulled her limp body against mine as we tangled in the air.

We spun out of control.

I clutched her body with desperation. I didn’t want to live in a world where Jinx wasn’t in it to make fun of me. She was a little storm cloud of darkness. She was the mean younger sister I’d always wanted growing up.

Please. I can’t live without her, I begged the gods.

Jinx was too smart to die like this. She had too much to offer the world. There would never be anyone like her. She was special. Unique.

I sobbed brokenly.

She was a part of my family.

If you save her, if you let her live, I’ll do anything for her. This isn’t right. Take me instead. Please.

The green lawn approached.

Rapidly.

I sacrifice myself. Take me instead. Let her live, I screamed silently into the void. I don’t care what she’s done to me. It doesn’t matter. She does.

I reached desperately for the post to my right. Ripped my fingernails off my hands as I clawed at the wood like I could somehow stop our momentum.

Flesh pulled off bone.

I left a bloody trail behind.

But it didn’t slow us.

Suddenly, a male voice whispered, “Welcome to the Consciousness. We’ve been waiting for you. You are more righteous than we thought. Your service begins. Now.”

Memories flashed through my mind—the angels muttered to themselves and clutched their heads after challenges. Convulsed like they were electrocuted. Like someone was speaking to them.

My eyes shot open.

A stinging sensation like nothing I’d ever experienced exploded down my spine.

My back bowed, and I screamed.

A thousand cracks erupted at once.

The ground was rapidly approaching as I writhed and bucked in the air—a frenzy of convulsing limbs.

We torpedoed.

Blue exploded in my peripheral vision, and there was a loud clattering noise.

The grass was disturbingly close.

My back throbbed with agony, but there was something new protruding from my flesh.

It was skin and bones.

A network of cartilage holding thousands of ice daggers.

No.

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