Page 22 of Ruined Kingdom

I tried to call out to her, but I couldn’t even speak. In the reflection of her eyes, I saw myself smirking down at her sinisterly.

By the Goddess, let this end!

“Kaine!”

The voice was familiar but far away.

“Kaine, wake up!” It was Sophia.

Wake up?

Suddenly, I bolted out of bed and almost snapped my neck to check on Sophia.

She was hunched over me, trying to wake me up. “You were crying out… I’ve never seen you look so scared.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she explained to me what had happened.

It was just a dream?

I looked at my hands in disbelief. It had felt so real…

“What did you dream about?” The love and sincerity in her eyes made me feel even more guilty for what I’d dreamt.

“I don’t remember.”

She clearly didn’t believe me, and I could tell it hurt her that I was lying to her, but she tried to hide it from me by averting her eyes.

“Would you like me to fetch you something to drink? Perhaps some milk to calm your nerves.”

“No. I will get it myself.” I jumped up, finding myself unjustly curt with her before exiting the room. I couldn’t look at her without picturing that look of fear and betrayal on her face.

My whole body revolted against the idea, and yet my mind cruelly replayed it over and over again.

As soon as I was able to shut the bedroom door behind me, I leaned against the wall, clutching my head.

What’s happening to me?

A sharp pain stabbed into my arm, where my wound still festered.

I ripped through the bandages to see that the wound was bubbling with a black tarlike substance.

That was when the idea of harming Sophia began to seep out of my subconscious mind and into the forefront of my thoughts.

Stop!

“Kill.”

Release me!

“Kill.”

I will not!

“Kill her!”

My skin ripped open as bushels of black fur surfaced from underneath.

My spine elongated painfully.

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