Page 446 of The Luna Duet
I hissed and struck at the people holding me down.
I needed to run.
To disappear into the sea and swim to Aslan.
He needs me!
He’s on that wreckage.
Shipwrecked by a storm.
He’s drowning...
“ASLAN!”
“Just give it to her,” Dad bellowed. “I can’t stand this. I can’t handle seeing her like this. DO SOMETHING!”
“Do it.” Hands pushed my shoulders against the bed.
My eyes flared as I studied the crush of doctors through my river of tears. “Nerida...listen to me. You need to stop, alright? Take a deep breath, and we won’t have to sedate you.”
I stilled for a moment.
I played possum until the pressure on my shoulders softened.
And then, I launched up.
I fought and won.
I fell off the bed again and tried to leap to my feet.
I’m coming...
The sea.
I need the sea.
I’ll swim—
“Neri. Stop. Baby. Please, stop!” Mum landed beside me, all while hands wrenched me from the floor and shoved me back onto the bed.
I screamed harder. Louder.
I’d lost the ability of speech.
I forgot how to speak words.
I couldn’t tell them how I burned inside.
How I stung and seared and shattered.
This pain wasn’t describable.
It was utterly indescribable as it tore through me, snapping every bone, scribing its excruciating autograph onto my soul.
I would always wear its mark.
Always belong to the devil.
