But we’d already reached the goal. We’d won.
“Give it up, man, you lost,” Biz shouted back, then choked. Her hands flew to her mouth as she doubled over, and a dry cough wracked her thin frame from head to toe.
My sister needed her medicine, and a doctor, in that order. There had to be staff on the other side of the gate. They’d get her some help.
“It was supposed to be me,” the man shouted. “You don’t stand a chance.”
“I beat you,” I shot back.
“Stars forgive me.” His shoulders slumped, and he fell back against the wall. “Find Monitor. Tell him Narsk—”
A klaxon’s blare drowned out the rest of his words. Red lights flooded the tunnel, only to be replaced a split second later by a green blaze so intense I had to shield my eyes. The ground jolted under my feet, and I grabbed Biz by the shoulder and pulled her closer to me. Born and raised in California, I knew an earthquake when I felt one.
The masked man barked an angry word that I didn’t understand, and a flash of light erupted around me. Needle pricks of pain speared into my chest and arms like a swarm of sweat bees biting into my skin. The sharp scent of ozone filled my nostrils as a throbbing hum pounded through my head. I didn’t know what the maniac had hit me with, and I didn’t care. I had to get my sister out of the tunnel before the whole thing came crashing down on top of us.
My biggest concern was no longer the game.
It was survival.
I shoved the gate open and dragged Biz through.
>>>Akashik network interface implantation confirmed.
Transfer commencing.
Two Sleepers inbound.
Constellation locks aligned.
Gate stability near optimal.
Discharge in ten seconds.<<<
“What was that all about?” I asked Biz as we raced down the corridor past the gate.
“What?” Biz glanced at me with worry on her face. We’d reached a corner and darted around it in search of our prize. “You must have really smacked your head. We’ll get you to a doctor as soon as we get out of here.”
“I’m fine,” I lied. The voice had sounded like it came from above my head. I’d thought there was a hidden speaker in the ceiling. If Biz hadn’t heard it, though...
Maybe I had knocked a screw loose.
The ground jumped again, and the gate slammed behind us. The tunnel continued around a corner to the right and ended in a heavy metal door.
It didn’t open.
I banged my fist against it and shouted for someone to let us out of the tunnel before it caved in.
No one answered.
>>>Transfer in three...<<<
I hunkered down over my sister, just like I’d practiced in a hundred earthquake drills. The sound of stone grinding against stone grew louder by the second, and Biz turned into me, hiding her face against my chest.
Tremors rattled my bones and made my eyes jitter in their sockets. Small stones fell from the ceiling to pelt my back and skull.
A slab of stone crashed down behind us. Its impact was followed a split second later by a boulder longer than I was tall, and then a hailstorm of bowling ball-sized rocks. Biz screamed and clutched me so tight her fingers dug into my spine.
>>>Two...<<<
The green light shifted back to red, then to yellow. A powerful tremor knocked me back against the wall. I braced myself with one hand and used the other to shield Biz. I had no idea how I could hear the woman’s voice over the incessant thunder of the earthquake.
>>>One.<<<
The light went out. The ground stopped moving. No more rocks fell. A deafening silence crashed down over me, broken only by the rapid drumming of my heart in my ears.
>>>Akashik network interface transfer status report
Transfer complete. Constellation dismantled.<<<
I had just enough time to be thankful we hadn’t been crushed flat by the falling debris before Biz and I plunged into darkness.
Click here to continue reading Shadowbound.
Need a Little More Adventure?
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Inheritance: The Last Enclave Book 1
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Viridian Gate Online: Cataclysm (Book 1)
Viridian Gate Online: Crimson Alliance (Book 2)
Viridian Gate Online: The Jade Lord (Book 3)
Viridian Gate Online: Imperial Legion (Book 4)
Viridian Gate Online: The Lich Priest (Book 5)
Viridian Gate Online: Doom Forge (Book 6)
Viridian Gate Online: Darkling Siege (Book 7)
Viridian Gate Online: Side Quests (Anthology)
Viridian Gate Online: The Artificer (Imperial Initiative 1)
Viridian Gate Online: Nomad Soul (The Illusionist Book 1)
Viridian Gate Online: Dead Man’s Tide (The Illusionist Book 2)
Viridian Gate Online: Inquisitor’s Foil (The Illusionist Book 3)
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Viridian Gate Online: Embers of Rebellion (The Firebrand Book 2)
Viridian Gate Online: Path of the Blood Phoenix (The Firebrand Book 3)
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Viridian Gate Online: Absolution (The Alchemic Weaponeer Book 2)
Viridian Gate Online: Insurrection (The Alchemic Weaponeer Book 3)
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Darkening Skies (Path of the Thunderbird Book 1)
Stone Soul (Path of the Thunderbird Book 2)
Demon Beast (Path of the Thunderbird Book 3)
Hollow Core (School of Swords and Serpents Book 1)
Eclipse Core (School of Swords and Serpents Book 2)
Chaos Core (School of Swords
