Page 106 of Resolve
The light goes out, plunging us into darkness.
Fuck.
How much do I want to bet those goggles were for night vision?
Dane and I both activate our gifts, providing a small amount of light for our group. The combination of the deep red and soft white light casts an eerie glow on the immediate area. We may as well put a flashing arrow over our heads to tell him where we are, but I’d rather we havesomelight to see him if he sneaks up on us than be completely blind.
“Ah, pet. How I’ve missed you,”Gordon infiltrates my thoughts, rising from memories I thought I’d locked away for good.
I try to ignore him, even though my body starts to remember anyway. The cool water tank that took away my troubles. His voice, the only thing keeping me company in the dark. My lungs constrict, forcing me to breathe faster.
James’s and Gordon’s voices start to blend into one, calling to me through the dark, and just like that I’m right back in the water tank where I can’t move. I’m restrained so tightly that I can’t do anything but listen. “I know how much you crave the dark, Raegan. You miss him. You miss the freedom he gave you. All you’ve had since they stole you away is trouble and worry. But Gordon gave you peace. Don’t you miss that? Wouldn’t you like to return to that peaceful state you’d been in where you don’t have to feel so much?”
It feels like I’m spinning. I can’t see or hear anything outside of his voice. I don’t feel my body anymore. I’m floating. Trapped in the water tank as the words echo and repeat in my head.“Did you have a nice dream?”Gordon continues, and my stomach hollows.
A dream?
“You didn't actually think you'd escaped me, did you? You merely fell asleep in the tank again.”
No. You’re dead.
“Do I sound dead to you? Let me show you.”
Something shakes me, and nausea burns up my throat.
Don’t touch me!
My gift flares on reflex, and someone yelps.
I hear laughter.“My pet is finally turning into the monster she was meant to be. Why don’t you let it out? Prove to me you’re not worthless.”
“—gan!” a faraway voice interrupts Gordon.
The restraints tighten like chains wrapping my entire body, suffocating me.
No! Let me go!
“I swore I’d never do that, beautiful,” a rough, deep voice says above me. A whiff of musk and amber catches me off guard.
There’s nothing to smell in the water tank.
Something strokes my palm in a soothing circle. “It’s Dane. I’m right here, and I’m not going anywhere. You’re safe. Gordon’s dead. Come back to us,” another voice pleads.
“Don’t listen to him. Listen tome, Raegan,” a third voice commands. “Look at me. Now.”
I know these voices. They’re… safe. I blink, struggling to focus in the dark, until I realize it’s not pitch-black. The dark red and pale white light blinds me for a second.
“Useless,” Gordon mocks, but it’s not just his voice. It’s someone else’s, too.
“Good girl,” the third voice croons. “Look at me.”
A clash of metal in the distance startles me free of whatever trance I’d been in, and Aiden’s face comes into view. Kellan’s bear-hugging me from behind, and Dane’s squeezing my hand at my side. He looks both relieved and… in pain?
“She’s back,” he breathes, exhaling sharply.
“What happened?” I ask, worry rising in my chest like acid.
Kellan releases me, and Aiden answers. “His gift, most likely. Jackson went after him, and Reid’s trying to turn on the lights. Dane—”
