Page 250 of Shadowman

“So… what? You’re just gonna run back over there and join his team? To survive?? Is it worth it??”

“No,” I sigh, defeated. “It’s not. But I need to go back for him. Trevel… cares about me. I know you can’t see it, because you don’t want to. But he does, and I’m not going to leave him alone over there. I’m just… not.”

Brushing past her, I barely make it a foot before she grabs my arm. I spin to face her, and this time, she’s inmyface.

“Fuck you,” she growls, hand dropping to her pistol. “Don’t make me do this…”

I’m smoldering at her with my eyes, hardened in betrayal… Masking hurt.Lots of it.“If you’re gonna kill me, at least have the guts to do it with your bare hands,jeulgeoun.”

Her fury is mirroring mine. But it doesn’t last long. It fizzles off into sorrow fast, and she slouches, shaking her head.

“Fuck it,” she croaks, like she’s giving up too.

Shutting me out, like Velle did. She storms away, and I stand here…

In this broken mausoleum of lost souls.

I’m every bit as destroyed as the prison as I weave my way through the trees. This small forest, now a battleground, was once an elusive and mysterious place I’d only heard about.

A year ago—hell, even a month ago—I would’ve given anything to be out here, frolicking through the woods at night, inhaling ocean air while waves crash off in the distance. But now, I don’t want to spend one more moment out here than I need to.

The mansion, as beautiful as it is, feels like my new prison. Nowhere on this island is safe. There’s no place for me, in any of it.

What would it feel like to have a home…?I’m not sure I’ve known the feeling ofbelongingsince my grandfather died.

Heading for the shore, I keep my ears open to the sounds of threats. The Warden’s men could kill me. I’m sure they wouldn’t feel bad about it, whether he directly wants me dead or not. But based on what Velle was saying, I think this area of the forest is being patrolled by a different kind of monster.

The snap of a twig stops me fast, and I whip around. It’s dark as fuck, and I have no flashlight.Though that might be a good thing…

Crossing the west side of the island, I can see the shore through the trees. I wish I knew what I was looking for. Truthfully, I’m not even sure why I’m out here. I should just go back… Back to Trevel. Let him heal me with his touch and his presence. It might not be completely pure, but it’s worth something, Iknowit is.

When I’m as confident as I can be that the coast is clear, I make my move, sneaking between the trees and over to the shore. I see something right away, and my heart is already in my throat. Rushing to it, I drop onto my knees in the sand.

There’s a piece of split wood sticking out. Using my hands, I dig frantically, shaking and sputtering for breath. Based on the chipped paint and the size of it, I think it might be…

My bottom lip is trembling as I lift the hunk of wood out of the sand, looking it over and cursing God, or the universe,whoeveris responsible for this.

Because I can feel it in my heart, splintering down the middle like this piece of wreckage from a small boat…

This was them.

Luthor and Ren…

They really are dead.

Falling forward, I press my forehead to the debris, fighting back tears that are forcefully driving their way out of my eye sockets.

“No…” I cry quietly, shaking my head over and over. “No no…please.”

I whip the piece of wood away, punching the sand. Agony is rippling throughout my entire body with nowhere to go. It’s pulling me under…

A noise has me lifting my head, aiming blurry vision toward the woods.

“Felix…?” I sniffle. I don’t see anyone.

But I do see something else that’s apparently washed up onto the shore… A backpack.

Crawling over to it, I open it up. The thing is soaked, but I find an unopened bottle of water and some mushy granola bars inside. An aggrieved sound leaves my lips.