Page 43 of Monster

The animal stalked around the back of the shack, roaring toward the woods. Drake was frozen where he stood.Was he the cause of Luca’s illness? Had his presence and his prodding forced the decline he saw?

Hesitating, he stared at the door.

He’s dying reverberated through his mind. I can’t leave him alone, to die here.

Drake forced his feet to move. He entered the shack to see Luca in much the same spot as last time.

Only worse.

He was pale as death, his eyes and cheeks sunken. Drake fell to his knees and rested a shaking hand on the male’s chest.When he felt the barely there rise and fall of breathing and the slow, erratic beating of a heart, Drake released a sigh of relief.

“You… came back.”

Drake took Luca’s hand and brought it to his lips. He laid a gentle kiss to the man’s cool flesh.“Have I done this to you?”

“No,” Luca answered, but Drake wasn’t pacified by the whisper of an answer.

“I never want to harm you… I only sought a way out,” Drake murmured. “A way we could be together.”

“We’re together… here… now,” Luca said before licking his dry lips. “It’s meant to be… isn’t it? You and I?”

Drake closed his eyes. Had he wanted the man so much that he’d destroyed what was left of him? How much of a fool could he be?

He thought Lore had humbled him, but here he was, his ego getting in the way. Drake thought he could save the man… and ended up nearly killing him. “If I go… and leave you alone… will it stop whatever this is?”

“Don’t go,” Luca demanded. His voice was too low for it to truly come out as a demand, but Drake knew it for what it was.

“Come with me,” Drake said.

“I can’t,” Luca answered. “My place is here.”

“It isn’t.” Drake hesitated, but knew this could be his last chance. “You were captured by General Lore and General Harding in South Korea fifty some-odd years ago. They did experiments on you… they added the spirits haunting your mind. You’re trapped inside your own mind… this shack… doesn’t exist.”

The world began to shake around them.

Drake lifted his head and saw the light filtering in through the boards of the roof. He turned back to Luca.“You can’t stay here. You need to free yourself. Umberto is waiting for you on the other side… as am I.”

Luca’s eyes fluttered closed. He faded away some, right before Drake’s eyes.

Drake jumped to his feet and scooped the man into his arms.After racing to the door, he kicked it and knocked it off its hinges.Once more kick and he was through, carefully pulling Luca with him.

As soon as he was outside, he felt a slash to his arm. Another to his leg. Luca moaned in pain—and it was then that Drake turned and saw one of the animals attacking. A wolf snarled at him, its maw dripping with blood. Drake lifted Luca slightly and saw teeth marks in his side.

More animals were rushing closer.

He jumped back and away from the wolf, trying to protect Luca. The wolf leapt to attack—and was knocked to the ground by the panther. The two fought, rolling around on the ground. Sidestepping them, Drake carried Luca toward the spot he always materialized in. Before he could get more than a few steps, a bear jumped into his path.Backpedaling, he swept Luca away and raced in a new direction.

Only to have another beast attack.

His breathing frantic, heart thudding in his chest, he zipped and zagged…

Until he was completely surrounded by angry, sneering shifters.

He stood stock still, sucking in lungfuls of air. There is no air… this isn’t real… it’s his mind and I will break free!

All the animals leapt at once, knocking them both to the ground. Luca was torn from his arms. Drake fought the chaos, searching for Luca in the melee. Save him!

Suddenly, the animals parted.

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