Page 79 of The Divide that Binds Us

The member takes a few steps forward, so we tense in sync.I point to the wall, sweating.“What does this text even mean?Is this written in blood?!”

The man grimaces.“Everyone had a difficult past they’ve weathered through, but we’re given a second chance by Mildred.As an act of devotion, yes, we made this with our blood, but not by her request.She hates the idea of us inflicting pain on ourselves.”

He brings up a full smile and holds out his hands, the drapes of his robe swinging outward.“Your hesitancy only speaks to your own troubles you’ve faced.I know this is unbelievable, but sometimes it’s easier to experience something for yourself.”

I’m trembling so violently that my breathing is haggard.Nicholas is sweating and looks constipated.The member takes another step forward, more assertive this time.The air buzzes around us as the squeak of the ceiling light intensifies.

“Come,” the man offers.Nicholas’s stiffness breaks with a slump against the wall.I try to keep my eyes on both of them, but my body loosens and relaxes.

Nicholas steps forward.

“N-Nick!”I whisper.

Nicholas faces me, shrugging.“Let’s hear him out.”

Skylar’s presence ruffles through me, waving off the buzzing.Static fizzle away from my thoughts, so I grab Nicholas’s arm and pull him next to me so I can wrap my shield around us.He rapidly blinks and jiggles his head.

I glare at the man, suspicion elevating.

“Who are you?Where’s Mildred?”

“I am just a simple man with a new future ahead of me.I want to bring you to Mildred, but you must come with me.”

We back into the wall, but I’m closest to the void of our exit.The member reaches forward, and I catch the infamous red A Billie told me about branded on his hand before he flinches back from the shield.

But of course, another rat scurries by, breaking my concentration and dropping my barrier.The man quickly reaches again for Nicholas’s wrist with an even bigger smile than before.Big mistake.

“There’s no need to fear,” he says.

A deep growl erupts from Nicholas.“DO NOT TOUCH ME.”

He bursts into flames, so I duck and roll out of the way as the tiny brick room is engulfed in his raging inferno.Fire sparks touch the ceiling light, which explodes and pops off into raining fiery ash.The member’s robe is on fire as he yells and throws it off, revealing a gas mask.We’re inching toward the creeping darkness from where we came, but the member wears his full Guard uniform with a menacing scowl.His right forearm, now exposed, reveals a glowing white glyph on his arm—a Trace Mark.

No.Freakin’.Way.

Fear rocks through me, so I rush through the spiraling fireballs raining from the ceiling light, pushing through the Guard and pulling on the giant door to open.Nicholas tangoes with the man before swiftly sidestepping from his punch and puts him in a headlock until he passes out.

The door finally drags open from my long attempt, and Nicholas rushes to push from the other side until I’m able to slip through with him.

Darkness wraps around us as our sight is lost.Nicholas huffs and conjures up mini fireballs that skip through the darkness, lighting two paths at the L-shaped fork ten feet into these tunnels.A fireball also hangs out between us, so I’m able to see Nicholas’s face.

“Hey.What was that?Back there.You were gonna switch sides?”I ask.

“Something told me to; it was humming in my ears.”

“Me too.He’s a Spirit User,” I tell him.“His influence is potent.”

Nicholas sighs.“Yup and a Guard, too.That’s so messed up and wrong.”

I stare at the path ahead, unsure of which tunnel to take.The mini flames dance around the halls, almost illuminating the tunnels for us, but Nicholas seems disgruntled.His eyes dart around, lips progressively tightening by the second until the flame next to his ear hides behind my shoulder.

“Which way should we go?”I ask.

“Nowhere.There’s nothing here.”

I turn to him.“What?”

“I have eyes in each flame, spreading far and wide through this whole place.Nothing is here.No sign of life.Meaning—”

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