Page 78 (1/2)

My cheeks felt damp Tears coursed down theround Under my palms were several thick pieces of bark Sharp pieces The sa hiers curled around one of thein’s voice sounded like lightning "Not really"

I never thought I could kill someone

Maybe who I was before could’ve I didn’t know, but it was so

Not until that in stood there, this thing that was so "You didn’t have to do any of this"

He tilted his head to the side and frowned "What do you know? You re, but I knew enough

I didn’t giveI launched tomy arm back Surprise flickered across his face, and then that was all I let ht th I had inthe piece of bark deep into his eye

His scream was cut off as I jerkedthe sound and feel He went down on his knees, and I followed him as I started to pull the bark out, but it snapped off, embedded deep

He shifted under ht surroundedpain lit up the center of my chest I couldn’t breathe I couldn’t think The pain and light sed ht brief gliround, it jolted every bone, but I barelyI barely felt it

I tried to sit up, but I couldn’tmy head, and when that happened, it sort of just flopped to the side

So felt wet insidefroht, and I thought I heard the Origin screa The air crackled and spat fire Shapes took for to clearto the corners Day turned to night A roaring sound deafenedevery square inch The light flared and pulsed The airThe air sin into the ground, through it Dirt spewed into the air, a thick,the Origin deeper into the hard soil

"Why?" Luc dein’s throat as he lifted him out of the pit his body had made Arms flopped limp and useless at his sides "Why all of this, Micah?"

The na his nahed out a broken, bloody-sounding laugh "Because I knew I couldn’t beat you You’d do what I couldn’t"

A horrifying moment ticked by and then Luc dropped hiround, Micah let out a groan "You have no idea what is co to be here for that There’ll come a time when you’re" His voice dropped, and I couldn’t hear what he said until his voice rose once more "They’re already here"

I saw Luc’s response

He stared down at Micah, aghast A heartbeat passed and then half his arround Micah had fallen into There was a flash of intense light, and I knewI knew Micah was no h ish, and there was a bone-deep cold settling into me

"Peaches Open your eyes" Hands cuppedhands Warain

"Howhow are you still alive after that?" I’d seen hi above atheredme to his chest "Peaches, what did you do? Look at you"

"II jabbed his eyeballs out"