Fresh air went into my lungs again. I took deep breaths and willed the air in my lungs to stay. Dried tears on my cheek left streaks and my throat was hoarse. It even hurt when I swallowed. I looked around me. Adrian, or the other demon, was nowhere to be seen. "A test." I whispered to myself. "It was a test." I repeated to myself. Right in front of me, the crow stared at me with curious eyes. "It was a test." I repeated again. My hands began shaking. My whole body began shaking. A sob broke free and I shut my eyes to prevent any tears from falling. All I saw was my loved ones being tortured and dead. Horrifying. What kind of test was this? Who thought of this? It was trauma bottled up. I opened my eyes again to stop the images and looked at the bird. "I don't know if I can do this." I whispered to the beast. Silence. Alone with my thoughts and nothing to distract me from it, I decided to stand up. Even my legs were shaking. I fell down again. I was so tired. Maybe it was a good
With them, they took the darkness, the current in the air. They seriously just dumped us in a forest full of danger. Even dark ones flew here. Counting the lucky stars that I was just able to walk through this forest the entire night, I set off again. In the same direction as the dark ones. Only now, I was constantly checking my surroundings. I drank dew from leaves, sharpened a few branches for weapons and even took care of my feet while I hung my boots out to dry. All the while when the crow kept me company. It even picked up a few smaller branches for me to make into weapons. I was hungry, starving, but every berry seemed poisonous. Some worms crawled over the ground and there was a moment that I hesitated. But I didn't eat. I needed water to survive, food could wait. Although that lasagne on my nightstand... What I wouldn't do to be able to go back in time and eat that. After my shirt was dry and I felt a little embarrassed that the bird was there with me while I was in my br
One grabbed my arm and I let out an angry shout, hitting its face with my fist. Its head actually snapped back and I looked at my fist in surprise. Cool. Another dark one grabbed my hair which was loose and pulled me back over the ground. I tried to scratch the one behind me but couldn't reach him fully. At the same time, two dark ones appeared in front of me, trying to grab my legs. I kicked both of my legs out and hit them hard, but it was no use. One took hold of my foot and its sharp nails pierced the skin of my ankle. I screamed in agony, feeling my ankle being pulled too hard. My other foot kicked the one right in its face and he released my ankle. "Son of a bitch!" I yelled at the disgusting creature. Another one grasped both my ankles and he twisted me around abruptly. The dark one holding my hair and another one flipped my upper body over. I was on my stomach, my face pushed into the mud when one hand landed on my ass. No. Once again in this awful place, panic tried to ov
A knock sounded on my door. I ignored it. Instead, I stared at the ceiling after my hour-long shower, trying to comprehend what had happened. All the other knocks after were left unanswered, too. I had locked the door and allowed nobody in. My finger was on the cut on my cheek where the dark ones cut me. It hurt and was a reminder of what had happened. Another knock. And then another. "Go away." I said in a normal voice. I knew they could hear me. These demons had super hearing. Maybe that was why the forest was so silent. I just couldn't hear anything. "Little angel." I looked at the door. I haven't heard that nickname in a very long time. "Who is it?" I asked with a cracked voice. The screaming and no drinking really did a number on me. "It's Ren, little angel." The answer came. My face went to the ceiling again. What did Ren want? Slowly, I got up from the bed and opened the door slightly. "Ren? What are you doing here? I haven't seen you in ages?" The face of Ren looked down
Ren changed me into a warrior-style two piece. It was made from the blackest material I've ever seen. The top was a crop top with spaghetti straps which held my breasts firmly. From the waist down, I wore a long skirt with two leg long splits. My midriff was bare. The warrior boots I had on complimented the whole outfit. My hair was up in a high ponytail and I wore a small, blue diamond necklace. My make up was done dark. I had lost weight in the last few days. My ribs were just visible in between the top and the skirt. I did look like a tough fucking bitch. My expression was an angry one as I looked at myself in the mirror. Maybe it was the whole outfit, but I felt anger for what they had put us through. Then again, the first challenge was to kill someone from our sin. Tia had died. They didn't really seem to care about that, either. "Don't worry about Anna for now, as soon as the ceremony has ended, we will look for her. The King will be furious." Ren said. I had explained the
Three other women, women I didn't know the names of, followed. Their journeys were shown to the world. When they finished, the crowd exploded in cheers and shouts. Every time the screaming started, I looked away. I wondered what the horrors were that they had to witness. Another woman started screaming. They all went on for so long. Then, suddenly, gasps. I looked up and saw the woman waking up. Her wrist band glowed red. "She failed the mental test." Ren clarified in a whisper. I looked up at Ren. "How many failed?" I asked out of interest. Ren looked down at me and got closer. "Five. Two failed, three lost their minds. They have been taken back to their rooms and they're awaiting now if they wake up." Ren explained in a whisper. Three lost their minds. Niran was up next. She entered the stage with a glint in her eye. Her eyes roamed over Adrian with a hungry look. The TV started. Niran also ignored the little girl begging for help. Just looked at her and walked off. Did they al
I looked at myself as I ran to the girl and shouted at her that I would help her. The crowd behind me broke out in whispers. When I grabbed the girl's hand, and the girl changed into a black, hideous monster, I saw the terror on my face. I surprisingly didn't scream, which I thought I did, but saw myself sinking into the quicksand with the monster trying to grab me more. WHACK The sound of the branch hitting the monster made a horrible sound. And then again. And again. Until the monster let me go and I scrambled backwards. My wrist band lit up green. "I passed?" I asked super soft at Ren, who held me closer. "It could have ended two ways. One way was to see through the vision, or maybe some women genuinely didn't want to help, but also by defeating the monster." Ren explained quickly. I nodded. I can't believe I passed. Then the water scene. I saw myself walking to the water and the crowd seemed to hold its breath behind me. It was almost like a horror movie as I walked into the
Lucifer stood up as well, just like Micah. "They're in your realm. Ten of them! Let's get them now!" Samael shouted as he also jumped up. The crowd behind me let out panicked sounds. "We have to go. Now." Micah exclaimed, already looking around for something. What, I don't know. "You've put my woman in danger." Adrian snapped at Lucifer, who looked genuinely shocked. "It's not over." Ren calmly stated. They all whirled their heads to Ren with wide eyes. "It's over. We should probably go and look for them." Mnia snapped at Ren. I tilted my head. "Why, Mnia? You want to share something?" I said back with a sweet tone. Mnia looked at me murderously. "Those are ten dark ones! Right here, in the forest!" Benjamin shouted, grabbing our attention again. "My King. It's not over." Ren said again. I made eye contact with Micah and he looked upset and shocked. "Elle. I didn't know.." Lucifer started but he was interrupted by Ren's hand which had shot up. He signalled for Yroul to continue