Page 39 of Dragon 7

Yet it reached me all the same.

Someone’s hurting her, and I’m going to fucking kill them.

"Hiro!" Kenji's voice cracked across the dark. “Where do you hear her screaming coming from?”

"Guys, she’s fine!" Yoichi shouted.

Kenji and Yoichi began to argue. I didn’t even pay attention. The cart lurched as Yoichi hit the brake.

And with that, I leaped off the cart and raced off into the forest, tracking our Tiger’s screams.

Yoichi yelled, “Hiro!!”

I ignored him and sped away, faster than I’d ever run before.

The forest opened before me. Roots twisted across the earth. Branches reached overhead. Moonlight spilled through the canopy in broken silver pieces.

More of Nyomi’s screams hit me.

I sped up so much, my boots barely touched the ground. The wind caught my clothes and pulled at them.

The night rushed past.

Trees became streaks.

Shadows became blurs.

The world narrowed to one thing.

Nyomi.

Another scream drifted through the darkness.

Faint.

Muffled.

Her.

My heart slammed harder.

No!!

I pushed faster. My legs burned. Leaves exploded beneath my feet. Low branches whipped against my shoulders and snapped behind me.

The island flew past.

I flew with it.

The wind became my companion. It wrapped around my body and carried me forward. It whispered through my hair and pressed against my back.

Faster.

Faster.

Faster.

Another scream reached me.