I need to find my way out of here; I need to find my precious treasure.
With a roar, I begin to pound on one of the onyx walls of my makeshift prison. The only reason I know it’s there is because my fist meets resistance whenever I throw a punch. My knuckles begin to ache fiercely, but still, I rain down blow after blow.
When it feels as if my body is no longer capable of fighting, as if my knuckles have been scraped of all skin and are red with blood, I collapse back on the ground, one arm curled around my legs. I reach into my pocket and instinctively grab the chocolate bar Violet gave me when I first met her.
It’s my first gift. My first present from a person who wants nothing from me except my love and acceptance. For so long, the love bestowed upon me was conditional, and I constantly failed to meet their expectations. Even my own parents referred to me as a monster and beast. Jack may be my brother, but even he never trusted me enough to set me free longer than a month or two at a time. He always wrangled me into the deepest recesses of our shared mind while he once more took the reins.
I understand their trepidation. I’m a monster. I’m the beast that lurks beneath your bed at night, waiting for you to leave the safety of the blankets so I can snatch you up. I’ve killed people—more people than I care to admit—but I have also saved people.
Shaking my head vigorously, I release a bellow of rage, rise to my feet once more, and slam my entire body against the wall. Only, instead of a hard surface, my body meets nothing but air. I stumble to the ground, stealthily pushing my hands out to catch myself before I can faceplant.
What the bloody hell?
Directly ahead of me is a thin shaft of brilliant white light, illuminating a few feet in every direction. The light calls to me like a beacon, one I can’t possibly resist. One that I don’t want to resist.
Before I can even take a step closer, muffled cursing captures my attention. I whip my head in the direction of the noise and growl threateningly, preparing to rip the intruder limb from limb. If anyone tries to keep me from my precious treasure, they will pay the price. I will not hesitate to do what needs to be done.
“Who’s there?” I bellow, and the footsteps abruptly pause.
A moment later, a timid voice calls, “Hux?”
“Jack?” I stalk forward, my hands extended, until they rest on a pair of shoulders. “What the bloody hell are you doing here?” I demand, my hands tightening on his skin. I just barely resist the urge to shake him.
And then the sheer wonderment and joy of being able to actually see and hold my younger brother bombards me. For so long, he has been nothing but an elusive fantasy. Before Violet, we were forced to write notes back and forth to each other whenever we switched places. While I flourished in the darkness, my little brother thrived in the light. He sought to save the world and the people in it while I sought to destroy it.
“Brother,” he whispers, voice choked.
“Where the bloody hell are we?” I demand. “And where’s my precious treasure?”
“What do you mean?” Jack questions, sounding genuinely bemused. “Aren’t you driving the body?”
I just barely hold in my snort. “I’ve been in the darkness for the last few hours.” Phantom shivers race up and down my arms as I remember the coldness and gripping loneliness. The only thing that made it bearable was the prospect of seeing Violet again. I was nearly driven mad with my fear for her. The last thing I remember was standing beside her as we went to the portal…and then, nothing. I’d assumed Jack was in control of our shared body.
But…
“If we’re both here, then what the bloody fuck is happening with our body?” I hiss through gritted teeth, my head whipping towards the sliver of light. As I watch, horrified, it begins to spark and fade, the hole becoming smaller and smaller as the seconds tick by.
“Run!” Jack screams, darting around me and towards the piercing light. I’m right on his heels, finally able to see his silhouette and blurry features the closer we get.
The light is now half as tall as it was initially, significantly dimmer until it’s a hue of molten amber instead of silver.
Just as we’re about to barrel through the hole, it flickers once and then abruptly dissipates, once more leaving us encased in pure darkness. I can’t see my hand in front of my face, let alone Jack.
A roar of pain and fury leaves me as I desperately touch the air where I last saw the light.
No. No. No. No. No.
I can’t remain in this place, not after I found my mate. I need to be there for her and protect her.
Who knew how hard it would be to once again live in the darkness after experiencing the light?
“What are we going to do?” Jack whispers, his voice wobbling.
I drop to my knees and pound my fist against the ground. Once. Twice. Three times. Each blow sends pain reverberating up my arm, but I welcome it, allowing it to cool my blistering emotions.
When I don’t answer, my free hand clenching around the chocolate bar, Jack continues in a ragged voice, “I think…I think we’re not alone. I think there’s someone else here with us.”
If that’s the case, then a stranger is currently in control of our body. A stranger who has the power to get close to my precious treasure…
Rage skitters through my veins as I scream my pain for the world to hear. Hanging my head, I allow my fingers to unclench from the chocolate bar before holding it reverently to my chest.
“Brother,” Jack begins softly, placing a hand on my shoulder. When I don’t immediately answer,
