Page 136 of Inception

I turned to see Trace standing at the doorway still wearing his perfectly tailored tuxedo and a matching frown. He looked calm and in control as he strode over to us.

“Let her go.”

“That’s not going to happen, Romeo.” Dominic seemed amused by the interruption, excited even. It was almost as though he preferred doing this in front of an audience. “I’m leaving here with the Amulet one way or another. This one’s pulse, on the other hand, is optional.”

“You’re bluffing,” baited Trace.

“Care to test that theory? I’ve already orchestrated two attacks. Albeit failed attacks.” He narrowed his eyes accusingly to Trace. “I’m sure you remember. You were there.”

It was Dominic all along. He was the one who sent the Rev and those demonic Runners after me. He was heartless; soulless. He would take Taylor’s life and wouldn’t think twice of it, and Trace would be next. Morgan’s premonition made that clear.

“You shouldn’t have come here,” I said, trying to hide the fear emanating from my voice. How could he be so stupid? How could he put his life at risk like this? It only brought him closer to destiny; closer to his gruesome end.

“I had to.” His expression was one of powerless defeat. “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if he hurt you.”

Dominic laughed, an evil grin curling across his lips. “You’re a little late, Romeo. We’ve already sailed that boat weeks ago. Though, if my memory serves me right, there was a lot more pleasure involved than pain.”

“What are you talking about?” Trace’s eyes reduced to slits as realization set in. “You bit her? He bit you? When—” He didn’t bother waiting for a confirmation. He charged into Dominic like a missile, knocking him off his feet and landing several paces back.

“Trace! Don’t!”

I tried to stop him—tried to jolt him out of his rage-fueled onslaught, but it was too late. They were already entangled in a web of fists and hate-filled expletives. Trace was playing right into the vision and there was nothing I could do to stop him.

Fists pounded against bone, and flesh tore open, spewing blood all over the concrete floor like an exploding volcano. I scrambled forward, pulling Taylor out of the way as I screamed out Trace’s name. But he couldn’t hear me.

Or he was choosing not to.

He rammed into Dominic over and over again, like a bull shark with a taste for blood. Dominic absorbed each of Trace’s hits with a grin. A sick, masochistic grin that made the bile in my stomach churn. I didn’t know how much Dominic could withstand or the kind of damage he was capable of inflicting, and not knowing only pulled me deeper into my nightmare without end.

“Is that the best you can do?” laughed Dominic.

Trace’s back stiffened. Fury and vengeance collided over his face and then exploded through his clenched fists. He hammered down onto Dominic harder, faster, his fists moving at the speed of light until Dominic’s arrogant smile tapered into a line of nothingness.

Hope ignited in me as I watched Trace gain the upper hand, pinning Dominic under a torrent of front-knuckle punches.

The structure trembled with each of his hits, spitting out debris from the cracked ceiling above us like victory confetti.

“Get him, Trace! Rip his head off!” I hardly recognized the murderous scream as my own.

Dominic growled in response, a deep, unnatural roar that was neither animal nor human. His form suddenly began flickering, vibrating as a thick opaque blackness overtook his arms, legs, and face, making it impossible for Trace to land a hit. It was as though he were melting away or—

“Shit!” said Trace, jumping off Dominic.

“Oh my God!” My mouth fell open as the soldering picture became clear.

Dominic was morphing—shiftingright before our bulging eyes. Within seconds, a black wolf-like creature emerged from the dark miasma. His eyes sharp as knives, his mouth a hostile snarl, baring his teeth like a promise of death.

Trace raised his hands to him, palms out and pleading. “Alright. Okay. Let’s talk about this for a second.”

Dominic pounced on Trace, clawing at his face as he took him down in a mess of blood and fur. Trace swung out at him wildly, but it was no use. They were the desperate hits of an overpowered man. Dominic was faster in this form. Stronger.Deadlier.

Jagged teeth and feral claws ripped at Trace’s body and chest, tearing away at him as though he were made of sand. Blood poured from his wounds like water, pooling on the ground around him as his body snapped back and forth in unnatural ways.

“Stop it! You’re killing him!” My deafening screams were futile. Morgan’s vision was coming alive right before my eyes and I hated her even more for it.

“Run, Jemma!” Trace’s voice came out choked and hoarse. “Get out of here!”

“I won’t leave you here,” I shouted back, tears spilling over my cheeks.

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