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“Nick!”
The voice broke through the fog clouding my mind and I shifted. The ground beneath me was cold and rough like a barren field of rock and I opened my eyes. A dark landscape lay in front of my wobbly vision and I closed my eyes, resting my cheek on the cold earth.
“Nick,” the voice came again and my eyelids fluttered open. I went to raise my head and flashes of light interrupted my vision, leaving flares across the bland landscape, like a miniature microburst of energy.
I rolled onto my back, wincing at the delayed pain that layered over me like an unwelcome guest. My mind still hadn’t caught up. All I knew was I felt like a train had run me over.
Train.
Freight train.
Shit.
Tornado.
My eyes snapped open and despite the debilitating pain racking my body, I sat up, expecting to see the decimated hallway and cafeteria beyond. What filled my vision caught my breath in my throat.
My gaze followed the mountain of a beast before me and I tried to back up, but movement was next to impossible in my deteriorated condition. The only thing I had going for me was Leviathan had his back to me and was growling at something else.
I maneuvered to my elbows and knees, forcing myself to move. I nearly cried out when I tried propping myself up with my right hand and stopped, pulling it to my chest again. I dipped my head, concentrating on both breathing and being invisible.
After a few deep breaths, I raised my gaze, scanning the landscape and honing in on an outcrop of rock which became my one and only goal. If I could get there, I might be out of range of this deranged lizard.
“Nick,” the voice came again, pulling my attention in the opposite direction.
I turned my head, the movement leaving my vision swimming, like I had been dunked under water. Blinking, my eyes adjusted and I froze, but this time it wasn’t fear that clenched my muscles, it was my father’s imploring gaze. His light eyes were filled with pain so deep it made that which pummeled my muscles seem like a fly swat.
The word that slipped from my lips was one my mother would have made me bite a bar of soap for, but I couldn’t help it. All at once, I knew where I was and based on my condition, I doubted I was still alive on the other side of this dimension.
“Run,” he whispered, his gaze flicking toward the agitated Leviathan but I could only laugh at the directive. He wanted me to get up and run when I could barely crawl, but I nodded, sending another glance in the direction of the monster while I pushed myself to my feet.
I stumbled, trying to be silent, but the shuffle of my feet caught its attention, and I stepped into the shadow, wishing it to swallow me up, to render me invisible. When the beast’s gaze passed over me and landed on the empty spot where I had awoken, it roared and turned in the direction of my father’s cage.
I backed away, each step excruciating, testing my willpower until I reached my destination and slid behind the rock, collapsing to the ground. I leaned against the cool smooth surface and closed my eyes, allowing a moment of rest before I glanced at my ruined palm.
I stared at the charred marking. It looked more like a tattoo than a burn and I blew the dirt away to study the clear design—a black scythe—but it was the white lightning bolt traced across it like a Braille warning that made me gulp down a lump of fear.
A burning pit formed in my stomach and I closed my fist, bringing my gaze to the oppressive blackness of Purgatory.