Page 80 of When Day Breaks

"Have you ever felt that burning need to prove something to someone, and when you still feel the sting of rejection, all youcan think about is ridding yourself of the pain?" He doesn't look at me as he speaks and I clench my jaw knowing exactly the feeling he's describing.

"Oh, who am I kidding?" he remarks. "I know you know it all too well, sister." He turns to look at me. "Let's just say I know what it's like to actually act on that desire for obliteration and unfortunately, I wasn't successful." I close my eyes, understanding what he's saying and hating that he endured whatever he'd gone through.

That feeling is hollow.

It brings me back to a memory Rivian had recounted of how he saved Travois, wondering if maybe he had saved him that time as well. I attempt to start to tell him the truth about the day in the ocean, but he interrupts me before I get a chance.

"Shh," Trav shoots his arm out to stop me from walking any further. "Do you hear that?"

I concentrate my ears, closing my eyes to try and listen to our surroundings. The only thing I hear is the parade of rain and thunder tangling outside the castle.

I lift my eyes to see that he's zoned in on whatever noise he hears and I wait for him to explain. "That," he says as he turns to look behind us to the direction he must have heard it come from.

"What are you-" I try to ask but he cuts me off. "That siren. It's getting closer and closer," he tells me.

Perplexity paints my face as I can't make out the same sound as him. I watch him to see that he's obviously hearing something I'm not and worry sets in.

We're stopped in the middle of the hallway that leads to the dungeon. Out of the corner of my eye I see a flash of yellow and immediately pull Travois to follow.

"Come on," I urge but he's planted in his position, trying to locate the sound. “Birdie went this way. Let's go." I try to pullhim my way but he doesn't even respond and then without warning, he's brought to the ground.

"Agh, fuck!" Travois clutches his head in both hands, a look of agony twisting up his facial features.

"What's wrong?" I rush to his side as he falls to his knees, screaming and groaning in pain.

"Make it stop!" He tries to shout between the sudden torture he's enduring and I look around frantically to see if anyone is around.

"What is happening?" I question frantically as I watch him fold lower to the ground, gripping his skull and obviously being tormented by something or someone.

Suddenly, his cries stop and a blank stare falls from his dark eyes. Panic engulfs me as I step back, scared of what will happen next.

But before I can make any further move, my back bumps into someone's chest and a darkness covers my face.

I'm bagged and a voice I'm entirely unfamiliar with whispers into my ear through the rough fabric.

"Hello, my queen. Let's play a game." And then, my neck is snapped.

It's torture knowing that the pain from having your head spun around, cracking your spinal cord and shutting off all the lights, is something that you have to endure when you wake from the death that was intended.

I'll never get used to the aches and the anger that floods me when my eyes flutter open, knowing that someone clearly wanted me knocked out so they could transport me to whatever prison I'm being held in.

I sigh in relief when I see that my head is no longer covered, but gasp when I see Travois' seemingly lifeless body is laying mere feet in front of mine.

I check for chains. There are none. I am free to move, so I stand to my feet and analyze my surroundings. We have to be in Hollows Trace still. The same colored bricks and cold cement surround me, but I don't immediately recognize the area. The only thing different is the firepit off to the side.

I rush over to Travois but he's knocked out cold. His heart is still in his chest which gives me relief. Still, I'm frantic to get him awake, not knowing how long either of us have been out.

"There's no use," a voice echoes over me and I look behind me to see empty air.

I stand as I demand a reveal. "Who are you?" I turn around over and over to see if I can spot someone, but my eyes come up empty.

"You might not ever know." The ghostly response sends a chill down my spine as I find recognition in the female voice, not the same as the person who bagged me earlier. But the eeriness of familiarity causes me to shiver and I shake my head, not wanting it to be true.

"Don't be a fucking coward now," I taunt, raising my voice to dictate command and light laughter responds to me.

My head snaps to the direction of footsteps approaching and I see a figure dressed in a white, flowy dress step out from a dark corner.

It's just who I thought it was.

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