Page 111 of Riftborne
I had to destroy it.
I recalled watching the emerald-uniformed guard walking the vials past the infirmary. I began moving in that direction, easily navigating the chaos of bodies readying for departure, using their distraction to remain unseen. It was mostly the new initiates. Everyone else had already been deployed.
When I finally reached the corridor leading to the lobby, I turned right towards the Immunity wing and paused, flattening myself against the wall as a few guards in beige robes hurried out the door, dragging crates towards the front gate. Even through the slit of the door, I could tell the hall was cramped with healers fumbling with equipment, readying themselves for the journey West. I shifted, impatiently waiting for the space to clear. Even for just a few seconds. Enough time that I could make it to the end of the hall. I prayed the door would be open.
The healers began to filter out, loading wagons at the front gate with hordes of medical supplies. Finally, the last one left.This was my moment.
I stopped the door to the hall with my foot, slipping inside. Then I was off, racing down the corridor, eyes darting over my shoulder to make sure I hadn’t been followed.
As soon as I reached the door I was looking for, it opened, and Islammed into the blonde guard, sending us both tumbling to the ground.
My heart lurched.
Her wide eyes locked on me as my breath caught in my throat. My instincts took over, engulfing my mind with translucent webbing. The fibers were seared into my spine.
I had never channeled so quickly.
The web shot out of me as if by its own command, latching onto her mind with a certainty I’d never felt before, finding the access point in a flash.
Her expression changed, nearly going blank, now void of the confusion it bore just seconds before.
“Leave. You didn’t see me here. And you’ll tell no one about this,” I said, feeling the words burn down the bond.
She nodded, rose to her feet, and began walking calmly to the end of the corridor.
I let myself take a deep breath as the tendrils found their way back to me. My heart was still racing.
I could be killed for this. I fucking hope it worked.
Climbing to my feet, I looked behind me once more before slipping into the dimly lit room, closing the door and securing the lock.
The room was small, illuminated by violet-blue light that pulsed through the space. Arcanite crystals were half-buried into planters, and platters of vials lined tables. But the most shocking sight were the inky vines that grew from the planter. They twisted and curled around the tiny bottles. They seemed… possessive.
What the fuck?
Nearing the table with the smallest platter of vials, I reached out to examine the vine. My fingers grazed the leaves, flying back when I felt something thick and sticky coating the surface.
My eyes shot down to find blood covering my fingers.
What the hell is this?I’d seen nearly every plant from across therealm, in some form or another. But never anything that looked like that.
And the arcanite… Was it helping the the vines grow?
My mind shifted to Ma’s failed experiment with the crystal, how all of her plants had the life sucked from them. This didn’t make any sense. This vine was enormous, and healthy from what I could tell. But now was not the time to investigate.
I kneeled down, my eyes scanning the names etched into the glasses, cringing as my sleeve brushed against the vine. Draven… Raine….Fia Riftborne. I snatched the vial and could have sworn the vine reared in resistance, but I didn’t dare a glance back.
I sprinted out of that room as fast as I could and didn’t stop until the commotion of the mess hall slammed into me. People whipped past, transporting supplies, bags, and weapons. The energy was stifling. No one spoke. I even saw a few tears slide down clenched jaws as I made a path through the madness.
I had to find a way out of the Compound.
I would take the eastern exit. It was the least guarded, and I could escape without too many eyes on me. I ran across the mess hall towards the training gyms, taking the small corridor at the end near the initiate lodging.
I flew up the stairs as fast as I could without making too much noise; and looked around the corridor before darting to the gate.
Fuck.
There were guards swarming it. My pace slowed.
