Page 7

She froze, sweat trickling between her brows under the sweltering sun as she scanned the horizon for the source of the explosion.

“How can it be white? A ball of fire is not white,” Adan continued to argue.

A blurry figure appeared before her, wavering until it solidified. The image made Khalani’s heart pound like a gong.

It was the Governor, Alexander Huxley, staring directly at her. His flawless face and golden hair were unmistakable.

Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and she stopped moving, her feet rooted to the shimmering sand. The voices of the others faded to a low, monotonous hum.

The Governor’s lips curled into an ominous smile, and she recoiled at the crimson blood dripping between his teeth.

“Kanes.”

A hole appeared in the Governor’s chest, right where she’d shot him, expanding and bubbling over with blood. Alexander Huxley peered down, staring directly at her, licking the red stains leisurely across his teeth.

Khalani couldn’t swallow. Couldn’t breathe. Like a noose was gradually tightening around her neck.

“That wasn’t very nice,” the Governor whispered.

Her limbs shook as his neck twisted, and the skin peeled away like tape. Lengths of electric wires unraveled beneath his skin.

Reaching for her.

“Kanes!” Someone gripped Khalani’s shoulder and spun her.

She yelped, raising her fists instinctively, but it was Takeshi’s large frame that stood over her. His frown deepened at her too-wide eyes.

“What happened?”

“Takeshi…I…he…” Khalani turned back, but the Governor’s decrepit body was no longer visible. Her limbs trembled and she drew both hands through her hair, feeling like she was losing her mind.

Khalani barely noticed the deep scratches she left on her scalp.

“Tell me what’s wrong.” Takeshi moved closer, scanning the horizon for threats.

“The Governor,” she rasped. “I saw him.”

Takeshi jolted, pivoting his attention back to her. “That’s impossible, Kanes.”

“But I did! He was there. Maybe he’s not dead. He could still be after us. I don’t…I don’t,” her voice shook as she struggled to find the right words.

Takeshi’s probing stare narrowed. Like she was crazy.

Was it all just a figment of her imagination?

Was Khalani finally losing her mind?

The emptiness surrounded her, screaming and laughing. Her skin felt too tight. Like she was wearing a costume of herself.

The scorching heat of the desert burned, and the deafening silence pulled the last threads of sanity from her mind like spaghetti. She crouched down and squeezed her forehead.

“Is she okay?” Serene’s concerned voice echoed from somewhere behind her.

A strong hand wrapped around the nape of her neck.

“Head between your legs,” Takeshi’s deep voice coaxed. “That’s it. Breathe for me.”

Khalani tried to lift her head, but he held her firmly in place. When she felt his fingers prod for knots and lightly begin to massage her neck, she gave up the fight and let her head rest between her knees.