Page 159 of The Secrets of Jane: Reborn

Some begin to work on getting to the other women, the willing one being freed first as a few of the others protest.

Sheila’s rope catches fire; she squints and holds her breath, as if waiting for the burn, but it’s only the rope that’s set aflame.

We dip over another wave.

I grab onto a pole and clench for dear life, watching as Sheila slams her body into the boxes as she’s free from her confines.

The rest of the crew either scramble away as the flames overtake the space or fall into the fires themselves, screeching while they burn, the shock to their system swiftly overtaking them as they slowly collapse to the floor.

Where the fuck is Misery?

Sheila stands over a dead crewmate, a bloodied blade in her hand, probably stolen from him. She smiles at me. “I like your plan.”

“And I like your attitude,” I say. “Let’s get the rest freed.” Smoke overtakes the area, and while I choke on it, I can’t help but notice it doesn’t make me dizzy. It’s the rancid smell of the space that makes me want to vomit the most.

With my back to the main entrance, I move to another Cinder after freeing one, Sheila helping another. Panic spreads on the face of the one I’m about to approach. “Careful!”

I glance over my shoulder to where she’s looking, and the willing one from earlier is back, coming right at me with a dagger.

It—it takes me completely off guard.

The blade pierces my chest, and I’m almost shocked that this happened. I don’t quite feel the pain, but rather the disturbance of everything suddenly not working properly.

“Maybe that will make you sit still,” she grinds out. “Don’t take it out, or it will kill you. I’m sure someone can heal you so Misery won’t be mad.”

My eyes flare, the taste of metal on my tongue. “But they won’t healyou.”

She knits her brows, the fire burning so bright I can see flames reflected in her eyes. I take a large step back and scream from the discomfort and agony as the blade is pulled from me,pressing forward once it’s out to disarm her with my other hand, and stab her right in the heart. I lean over, labored breathing and blood spilling from my mouth. She struggles to catch her breath as she collapses to the floor, her arms lifelessly falling to her side, eyes remaining wide open.

I collapse to the floor, the Cinders all working to free each other as crewmates stand in the doorway, yelling hopelessly.

I place a hand on my chest, and it feels as if I’m drowning in one lung, like it’s impossible to breathe on my left side. My mind can’t focus as I’m next aware of Sheila trying to press onto my chest for me, the Cinders all standing together, over half their clothes burned off.

Lifting my gaze at Sheila, I shudder when I exhale. “Get to the ocean. Jump in. The sirens will get you to safety. They have to be out there.”

I close my eyes and heal what I can when my hand replaces Sheila’s, but this isn’t like any injury before. My entire lung feels punctured, and it’s a structural issue I haven’t healed in my own body before. And I’m alsoweak.

I pivot to look at the men in the threshold, many of their eyes falling to my breasts.

“She’s got a Zenith tattoo,” one yells.

“Aye,” I say, leaning my head forward to look up at them as I grind out, “I do.”

Even Sheila looks down at me in shock.

“Let’s fucking leave them!” one of the crew shouts, and the others. “We need to get sand from below and put out the fires!”

My senses become dreamlike, some survival in me able to stand when Sheila helps me. Who knows if this floor will cave in soon, and I can’t get to the ocean stuck in here. At least, the sirens probably can’t get tome,either, if I’m trapped in this wreckage underwater.

I only make it to the hallway, the sound of a panic somewhere so far in the distance, before I collapse on the stairs, breathing freely, knowing that they have lost.

“Go, Sheila. Get the rest out.” I manage to get out, having no idea if she heard me or not. My inhale is ragged, every breath carrying a groan with it.

My eyes close as my body relaxes onto the stairs.

Drifting within my memories, I’m taken back to Soren’s chambers in the Spiraling Stone, wishing I could lie next to him as tears begin to leak from my eyes.His grating voice is in the murky depths of my recollections, the corner of my mouth curling into a sad smile, the discomfort subsiding as his memory envelops my senses.

He came for me.