Wade’s blackened form leaps from the bed, ripping off the hospital gown and dropping it to the floor. A strange, guttural sound escapes his lips as the bones inside him begin to snap and bend, growing in both height and size.
Stepping out in front of Wade’s deforming body, the Angel of Death stretches his arms out wide. “Wade, you have to fight this. Don’t let the Moirai win.”
However, what stares back at him is undoubtably no longer Wade. Instead, the Horseman tilts his head down, his black eyes staring straight through the Angel of Death.
“Wade, please,” his father pleads. It’s a last feeble attempt—even I know that.
The Horseman responds with a quick, forceful jab through the Angel’s abdomen. His black fist protrudes through the other side for a moment, then disappears when he retracts it.
The Angel of Death collapses, falling in some sort of bizarre slow motion.
“No—” I cry out, crawling my way to him and yanking him backward as quickly as I can.
His breathing is labored as he struggles to hold himself together. “Use…the…box,” he says softly as something akin to black blood oozes from his lips. He reaches out, clutching my hands in his. His eyes plead with me but dim all too quickly.
Slumping forward, his body disintegrates into a cloud of black smoke that disperses right through my outstretched hands.
Before I can stop myself, I scream. The sound does nothing to deter the Horseman as he turns his horrifying black stare toward me. Instantly, I know there’s no way I can outrun him, and he’s clearly got no qualms about killing people who are in his way. Even ones his body would have otherwise cared about.
Without a second thought, I propel myself from my physical body, forcing myself into astral form in the hopes that it might confuse the Horseman long enough for me to regroup. My body drops, and for a moment, the Horseman halts his progress forward.
If this form could breathe, I’d be holding my breath, hoping he doesn’t realize my heart is still beating.
When my body doesn’t move, the Horseman drops to his hands and knees, prowling forward like some kind of feral animal. Even in this form, I can feel the energy of the room shift as the Horseman bends closer to my body. His tongue flicks outward as he tests the air.
“Come out, come out,” he chides, his voice a deep baritone that sends a chill straight through me.
I don’t take the bait. But I also don’t leave. If there’s one thing I know, it’s that I need to get my ass out of here and find a way to warn everyone. I can’t do that if I’m dead, and I sure as hell can’t do that in this form.
“Hey, you big black oaf. What do you think you’re doing? Leave the girl alone,” Diana Hawthorne calls out from the doorway. Behind her, Cat and Colton look like they’re ready for the beat-down of the century.
When the Horseman of Death looks over his shoulder, Diana juts her chin out, blowing some stray pink hairs out of her face.
“If you really want a challenge, how about picking on someone who can’t die,” she says, placing a hand on her hip.
The Horseman turns, clearly more interested in this new prey than the measly little girl crumpled on the floor. He rises, his black body almost tall enough to reach the ceiling.
“Ooooh, shit. Here he comes,” Diana mutters, her blue eyes wide as she spins on her heel.
The three of them race off down the hall and the Horseman takes the bait and rushes out the door after them.
Relief floods through me and I don’t hesitate. I drop back into my physical form, with the clear intention of getting as far away from here as I can. There’s no time for fear or grief. I need to get somewhere safe and figure out my next move.
As I regain my physical bearings, I scramble to my feet. In the distance, I can hear the commotion caused in the wake of the Horseman and his chase. Screams pierce the silence and some are abruptly cut off in mid-tone.
My stomach rolls and I find myself again fighting the urge to be sick. Holding onto my stomach, I race from the hospital room, running the opposite direction from where Diana and the others ran. I need to put as much distance as possible between us.
Turning the corner, I slam straight into my mom. I let out a surprised squeal, collapsing into her.
“What in the hell is going on?” she asks, craning around me to get a better view.
“Everything—” I wail. “Oh, my god, Mom. Wade…” Tears rush to my eyes and for a moment, she tugs me into her.
“I’m so sorry, honey,” she whispers.
“Mom, it’s not safe. We can’t stay here,” I say, breaking the connection. I know what she thinks has happened, and while she’s partially right, I don’t want her to witness the rest of it.
“What do you mean? What’s happened?” she asks, alarm rising in her tone.
I try to catch my breath and force my mind to form the words. “Wade—the Moirai—”
“Slow down. Tell me what happened,” Mom says, holding onto my upper arms and steadying me.
Swallowing hard, I say, “Aisa’s cursed Wade. He’s become a Horseman.” The last word squeaks out of my mouth and I cover my lips with the back of my hand. “We have to run. He’s already killed his father.”
My mom’s eyes widen and she breathes, “An Angel of Death has been killed?”
I nod frantically.
“Holy shit,” she says, raising her fingertips to her mouth. “This is bad. Very, very bad. You’re right, we need to get out of here.”
In total agreement, I turn to run the way she had come, but
