Page 150 of Change

The walls were closing in on us—the wetness was pressing in against my other hand now—and I was suffocating, but not once did any shifter try to hold me back anymore.

Then, we were free.

The tunnel gave way to bright lights, and I stumbled forward into what looked to be a storage facility. Gloria, Maria, and Ada padded out of the tunnel, stretching as they took in our new location.

Rows of shipping containers lay in neat lines around us, and bright white lighting glared through the space. Outside of the containers were stacks of burlap bags organized on wooden pallets.

What was this? I moved between the rows. I was tempted to reach out and touch one of the bags, but the shifters were already growling at them, so that probably wasn’t the best idea.

Then, my spine tingled, and whatever that was in the bag was the least of my concerns. A deafening roar filled the area. Ada, Gloria, and Maria surrounded me protectively as the noise echoed through the space, and I moved to the origin of the noise.

At first, I worried it was another shifter—or perhaps another dragon—but as the surprise wore off, I realized what it was: a plane.

My heart thundered, almost overshadowing all else, as I rushed to the noise.

I couldn’t get past this terrible feeling—was I too late?

So, obviously, I wasn’t thinking as I jumped out from behind the shipping containers. Of course, I should have expected that there’d be other people here.

But I didn’t.

We’d only a brief moment of surprise before my shifters rushed past me, engaging in battle with the men—in both business suits and working-gear—as they moved past their shock at our appearance and began to fight back. And, as urgent as this was, even now I couldn’t focus on it.

To the left of the scene was a slowly closing ramp that led into a cargo aircraft.

There.

I was lightheaded but the sense of urgency spurred me forward. Normally, I’d probably never attempt such a stunt. But I ignored the fighting shifters, dodging in and around their battle, as I ran to reach the door before it closed.

The plane was already beginning to move, and my stomach sank as I realized I’d never make it.

I reached for the plane, running as fast as my legs could carry me, all thoughts of previous exhaustion gone. Failing wasn’t even an option—I had to get therenow.

The world moved under my feet, the wind rushed past me, and suddenly, I was on the plane just as the door slammed shut behind me, leaving me, once more, in the semi-darkness. The only light was a faint, dim orange in the distance.

But none of that mattered. I could feel it more than ever, although, how, I couldn’t explain.

Somewhere in here, Titus was alone and in trouble.

My footsteps echoed and my breath escaped in smoky bursts as I rushed toward the light. A dreamlike feeling washed over me as my anxiety rose. My legs felt sluggish and slow, and as the moments passed, the distant doorway never seemed to grow any closer.

It was so far away, until it wasn’t anymore, and my ears popped, and I was there, crossing into the warmly lit room.

Titus.