Page 204 of Blood and Ruin: The Complete Series

“Freee.” The deep voice calls out once more and makes me wonder if there is a link between the two.

I pull on the strange connection, and the spark grows. “Yessss, freee.”

How I had any type of connection to whatever this thing was didn’t make sense. But it was a problem for another day.

I was going to be free of this place, and then I’d figure out how to destroy King and everything he’s built.

I focus on that spark of energy and pull it to me, then push it out into this world.

The lights flicker on and off as a large dark beast emerges, black smoke billowing from its body like armor. Its yellow eyes stare straight at me as it moves closer. Its body is like a cross between a wolf and bear.

The dark beast continues to stare at me as if waiting for something. The connection bubbles up inside me as I narrow my eyes on it.

“Free me,” I order it, my voice deep and commanding with a hint of its own darkness.

The beast moves forward. Grabbing the machine, it slashes its smoky claws through the wires before it focuses on the metal band.

Once its shadows touch it, the metal crumbles, bending in on itself before breaking off. They snap, freeing my arms and legs.

Pushing my body, I pull myself up and slide off the table bed. It takes a minute to shake off the dizziness, but then I head straight for the door.

The guards replaced the bars with new ones after Malik destroyed it. I glance down at the lock and look back at the beast. Instead of talking like when it was in the dark, it gives me a look, one I seem able to understand. It tilts its head as if to say,“You do it.”

Looking back down at the lock, I close my eyes and reach inside me, pulling my power up to the surface. Like a shift, I feel the change come over me. My vision is clearer, and I can clearly see the small dust floating in the air.

Focusing back on the lock, I imagine it breaking in half. Seconds later, dark shadows slide from my hand and wrap around it, doing just that.

I pull open the door, and a shrieking alarm goes off around me.

Damn it. I need to get out of here before the guards find me.

Just as I turn to go left, something makes me stop. Glancing over to my right, I look at the door that must lead to Malik’s room.

He might not even be there and if he is, I’m probably the last person he wants to see, but I can’t just leave without knowing.

Turning back, I move to his room. I see no bars, just a long, thick metal door. His demon side probably needed something a little stronger than a barred one like mine.

With my power still brimming at the surface, I do the same with Malik’s door, but instead, I imagine a hole in the lock's place.

My shadows whip out and punch a hole through it, completely destroying the lock.

Pushing the broken door open, I step into the dark room, my eyes adjusting quickly. What I see stops me in my tracks.

Malik is chained to the wall with a mouth guard, and his hands are pulled by his side, similar to the way I was left on the table.

He spots me, and his eyes widen at something behind me. I look over my shoulder, finding the beast staring at him.

“It’s with me,” I tell him, but it doesn’t ease the fear in his eyes.

Malik tries to speak but can only grunt and growl with the mouthguard on.

“I’m getting out of here. Whether you come with me or not is up to you.” Stepping closer to him, I raise my hands. “I’m going to release you. That way, you can do whatever the hell you want.”

Malik tries to move but can’t with how tight the chains are. Blood drips from his wrists from where he pulled against them.

Looking over my shoulder, I connect with the beast, telling him what I want him to do.

Once the thought crosses my mind, it turns around to watch for any guards coming.

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