Page 87 of A Rising Hope

I reached the top of the attic, the rusty lock on the old door was freshly broken. I followed a small trail of dirt and blood leading through the cramped room stuffed with old décor and furniture.

I slowed down to a quiet predatorial prowl when I saw her.

“I am not going to jump,” Zora nonchalantly proclaimed without turning to see me.

She stood barefoot on the narrow window seal. Broken glass was scattered behind her from the window she had shattered.

“Hard to believe that, considering where you are standing, Zorianna.” I kept my voice steady, in spite of the tremor I felt in my limbs.

If I could get just a few feet closer . . .

“My mother jumped.”

“I know that.”

“It was an ugly day finding her splattered against the cobbled courtyard of our home,” Zora stated, her eyes glued to the unkept courtyard three stories below. “I remember seeing her disheveled face, her lifeless stare into nothingness . . . ” Her hair was down, swaying from the small gust of wind this high up.

“Then why come here?” I asked, trying to keep her distracted, as I took a silent calculated step closer.

“I am not sure. At first I just wanted to see how it’d feel, to stand here on the verge of life and death.”

“And the last battle wasn’t enough of life and death for you?” I snarled, taking another step closer.

“No, there on the field I was prepared to die. I should’ve died then. Now? Now, it’s a possibility but not inevitable.” She let go of the corners of the window frame above her. Her figure swayed with a blast of wind before she steadied herself against the frame once more. “There is nothing quite like walking on the razor’s blade edge between life and death. Leaving it all up to luck. Shall I live or shall I die?” She tucked a loose piece of hair behind her ear. “A thrilling chase worthy of the Numb descent. You know,” she cackled, a cold, unnatural sound. “I forgot just how numbing the Numb truly is. It’s been years,yearssince I’ve felt its iron hold on me.” Her face changed to a vicious frown. “Feelings are gone, and yet memories aren’t.” She balanced on one foot. “At least not yet.”

I evened out my breaths, calm and calculated, even though desperate rage burned hot within me. I didn’t dare blink. My eyes stuck to her figure, fire crackling at my fingertips, ready to lash out.

“Take a step back, Zora,” I ordered.

“That’s easy enough. If you don’t want me to jump, then make it stop.” She turned around, content to see the sliver of dread etched on my face. “Erase my memory and I won’t jump.”

“You know I can’t.”

“Oh, but we both knowyouare the only one who actually can. Erase my memories, Orest. Make me a fucking vegetable or I’ll do it myself right now,” she threatened. “Make the pain go away. You know I won’t survive it. Not the jump, not the Numb . . . not the grief.” She nudged closer to the edge, her glossy eyes locked on mine. “So, pick your vice, Orest, save me by using those little tricks of yours, making me forget my own name and letting me live in pure bliss or . . . ” She balanced on her tippy toes. “I’ll fucking do it my way, just like my mother did.” The wind shook her body, and my stomach twisted. “I know that you know I am not lying. So choose your next words wisely. You only get one chance.”

“No,” I objected. But before she could say another word, I lunged for her.

But she jumped, throwing herself off the peak of the roof.

Without any hesitation, I leaped after her.

I roared as agonizing pain rippled through every cell in body as my wounded shoulder jerked out of its socket with a loud pop, but I only tightened my grip. Broken glass tore into my palm as I held on to the shattered window with one hand and to Zora with the other.

My muscles trembled. I grounded my teeth into dust, using every ounce of strength I could find as I lifted both of us up. I swung our bodies wide, creating enough momentum to throw her back into the attic, before crawling through the window myself.

Zora didn’t fight me. Clarity of the kind that arrives when Death knocks on your door lined her face. But even now, the Numb hadn’t loosened its hold.

“If you weren’t going to erase my memories, then you should’ve at least let me die,” she grumbled, squaring her shoulders.

“Have you lost your fucking mind, Zora?” I whispered into the dark stuffy attic, climbing back to my feet. She watched me get up, scoffing at me before she twisted on her feet, taking a step away.

But she could not walk away from me now.

Not any fucking more.

I grabbed her wrist, jerking her body back to mine, pushing her tight figure against the stacked wooden trunks.

“You want me to erase your fucking memories, Zora? Is that it?” I growled, overpowering her. She looked away, and I jerked her chin up, my fingers digging into her cheeks. I lowered my head closer to hers until our eyes met. And I let her see the true monster hidden underneath. I let her see who I truly was. “Do you think I’d stop there? Do you think I’d let you free of my hold after my powers taste the serenity of your thoughts? Do you know how easy it’d be for me to make you mine? To enslave your body and soul at the will of my thought.” My voice was nothing more than a guttural brush of a whisper, and yet she trembled under its sound. “A single thought and I could make you worship me like no god has ever been worshiped.” Our jagged breaths dangerously intertwined. She jerked her face out of my hold, but I did not let go, forcing her to look at me. “Look, Zora. Do you not fucking see the complete obsession I have with you? Every power, every thought in my mind is infatuated with you. There is no end to the desire I have for you, Zorianna. I crave you more than life or death itself.”

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