Chapter 42 #2
Through the shifting flames, he caught glimpses of Ren and Riven as they tried to keep up with him—both crumbling under their own nightmares.
Ren had dropped to his knees, clawing at his throat as if he was being strangled, eyes bulging with fear.
And Riven swung his sword wildly at nothing, screaming in what could only be described as pure terror.
Their cries twisted in Jak’s ears, feeding the illusion.
He bolted, running blindly through the hall as flames licked at his heels. The walls warped and dripped like molten wax, and every breath felt like inhaling knives. He slapped at his arms, but the fire only spread, crawling higher, hotter, and hungrier.
Jak stumbled, nearly falling, as his legs trembled beneath him. He needed to move. He needed to fight this. Every instinct told him to curl up and let the fire take him as the agony spread, but his rage flared hotter than the fear.
His heart thundered, hands shaking as they blistered from the phantom flames, but he clenched them into fists, forcing himself upright. The hallway stretched endlessly ahead, and with every step, he dragged himself forward, his boots feeling like they were melting to the floor.
Somewhere in the haze of terror, he thought he heard his men shouting his name, but their voices were muffled and distant, drowned by the crackle of the blaze.
He spun toward the sound, chest heaving as sweat dripped from his brow. Down the hall, an elven guard strode toward them, one hand lifted and aimed directly at them as blood seeped from several wounds. His merciless eyes glowed, and the pressure beneath Jak’s skull grew unbearable.
“You won’t get away with this!” the male roared, voice echoing.
Jak’s gaze drifted down to his feet, to the fire engulfing them, and then the walls that were charring as every second passed.
I’ll only have one shot.
His hand moved on instinct, reaching for the pistol at his hip as his pain became unbearable. Steadying his breath, the metal felt cold against his fingers as he lifted it and aimed.
“Take this, you mind-manipulating fuck,” he muttered, his voice barely audible.
Jak squeezed the trigger and the shot was deafening, the barrel flash lighting the hall in a searing burst. He watched the bullet’s path, and he didn’t miss the widening of the guard’s eyes as he realized too late what was happening.
The bullet struck true and crimson bloomed like a flower across the elven’s forehead. His body jerked back, right before he dropped to the floor, lifeless.
The world snapped back to reality. The flames vanished, taking with it the ash and his melted flesh. Jak staggered, gasping as the illusion’s hold disintegrated. Behind him, Ren and Riven pushed themselves to their feet, glancing around.
He wiped the sweat from his brow with a trembling hand and hissed through clenched teeth, “Gods, I hate elves.” His eyes flicked to Riven. “No offense, Riv.”
“None taken.”
Jak spat blood at the floor and wiped his lips on his shirt. “We need to get moving!”
They didn’t hesitate as Jak led the charge, every muscle screaming as they tore through the castle halls.
The marble floors gleamed under the flicker of torches, and the scent of smoke and blood lingered in his nostrils.
Around every corner, he expected another ambush—another guard about to trap them in their own minds—but they found only silence broken by their frantic footsteps.
The corridors felt endless, each turn revealing another stretch of high-arched halls lined with carved pillars and banners.
Alright, Esmi. Where are you, gorgeous? They needed to find her before it was too late.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of twisting halls and pounding adrenaline, movement ahead caught his eye. At first it was just a shadow darting through the corridor, but then it grew clearer, transforming into a lone figure running full speed toward them.
Jak’s run came to a skidding halt as Ren and Riven slammed into his back with a few grunts. The three of them froze, squinting against the dim light.
“Is…is that Esm—”
“Shh,” Jak abruptly cut Ren off.
Mainly because he realized it too. He watched, his eyes flaring as the figure morphed into her—into Esmi.
Her bare feet slapped against the floor, leaving smears of blood where her skin had torn.
The broken chain links of her cuffs clattered against each other with every motion, shining faintly in the torchlight as they swung wildly from her wrists.
Her midnight hair streamed behind her in a tangled banner.
His heart stopped. She’s alive. But that look on her face…the desperation at which she was running. Something wasn’t right. He’d never seen her wear that look before.
He’d never seen her show even a hint of fear before. And now she was fleeing from something as if her life depended on it.
Then came the sound of pursuit. From the hall behind her, armored boots struck the floor in unison, and the shouts of elven guards echoed like thunder. A swarm of males appeared, weapons glinting in the torchlight, their war cries filling the space as they stormed after her.
His grip on his weapon tightened, and the fury in his chest roared to life.
“Go!” he barked at Ren and Riven, and they bolted past him, aiming for the entourage galloping toward them all.
They surged forward, pistols drawn, the thunder of gunfire echoing through the hall as each shot tore through the advancing guards. One by one, the elves crumpled, their shouts choking off mid-cry.
Jak sprinted after them, pulling his own pistol free.
Every shot he fired was fueled by rage for his best friend. Each guard that fell under his bullets felt like a step closer to freedom. And when his last round clicked empty, he didn’t slow. He only hurled the useless weapon aside and kept running.
“To me, Esmi! Hurry, and run to me!” Jak bellowed, voice raw.
Her head snapped toward him mid-stride, her storm-glass eyes locking with his. And then she was sprinting even harder, stumbling but never stopping.
Jak’s throat burned as he roared her name again, voice cracking under the weight of every sleepless night, every moment he thought they had all lost her forever.
Come on. Just a little further. You’re almost here.
“Jak!” she screeched, and she was close enough now that he could see tears streaming from her eyes.
The sight of her like this nearly tore his heart in half. Her arms pumped, her legs barely keeping pace as she fought to survive. The sound of the chains around her wrists was a melody of defiance against the storm chasing her—chasing all of them.
Then, at the very last stretch, her lips parted in a soundless cry and she leapt, soaring through the dim light straight toward him.
The world around them blurred as Esmyra reached him, launching herself into his arms. He surged forward, catching her midair. The impact of her body slamming into his shuddered through him, but his grip was iron as he held her up, lifting her clear off the ground.
Her arms wrapped around his neck, cold chains biting against his skin as he buried his face into her shoulder for the briefest, precious second. Her heartbeat hammered against his chest as he crushed her against him.
“You’re safe. I’ve got you. We’re never letting them take you again,” he whispered into her ear, and she let out a whimper.
A fucking whimper. What in all gods had they done to her?
Rage burned through him as the sharp cracks of gunfire continued to ring out. And then, finally, a tense quiet crept in.
He held her tight, refusing to let her bloody feet touch the ground as her breath came in ragged gasps against his neck. Her body trembled in his arms, but she clung to him with the same desperation that burned in his chest.
Both Ren and Riven had emptied their pistols, the sharp click of dry chambers echoing through the hall.
Without hesitation, they drew their blades and aimed toward the three guards left.
Ren rushed one, slamming the guard into the wall before driving his sword into the male’s throat with a brutal twist. Riven ducked under a sword’s thrust, hooking the guard’s legs and plunging his blade upward into the man’s ribs.
Steel clanged as bodies fell, and the stench of blood filled the narrow corridor. The final guard lunged for Riven, and Jak’s eyes flared.
“Hold on, gorgeous,” he whispered in Esmyra’s ear.
And then in a swift motion, he bent down and grabbed his dagger from his boot, whipping it toward the elven guard. Jak smirked as the blade embedded itself in the side of the male’s head.
Finally, silence followed once the male collapsed.
“Thanks, boss,” Ren huffed, eyeing Esmyra with a subtle, victorious grin.
“Don’t mention it,” Jak answered as he craned his neck to look at her while her face remained buried in his shirt.
“Can you stand?” he whispered.
She nodded, and he didn’t miss the tiny sniffle that escaped her. In any other instance he would’ve teased her for it, but he could only imagine what she’d been through over these last several months.
“Are you real?” Her voice cracked on the last word, mimicking his heart.
He looked at Ren and Riven, their eyes softening as they watched her.
His men wiped their blades, casting sharp looks back over their shoulders, already on edge for whatever came next. The bodies of the fallen guards were sprawled around them as crimson streaked the floor.
Jak finally set Esmyra down and cupped her face with one hand, forcing her tear-glossed eyes to meet his.
“I’m real. This is real. You’re not seeing things.
We’ve got you,” he said, and her shoulders visibly relaxed.
“But we need to move. Maerinys warriors are here, and they’re tearing this place apart. ”
Esmyra’s eyes widened, panic flickering behind them. “No, no, they can’t be here.” She shook her head violently, taking a half-step back as if the thought burned her.
He grabbed her shoulders, steadying her, and gestured back down the hall from which they came. “Do you know why they’re here, Esmi? Are they here to help you?”
She shook her head, her eyes going distant. “They’re here for me too. But not for the reason you are.”
Jak’s lips pressed in a hard line. Of course they were here for her. But the way she said it, the way her body tensed at only the mention of them, should’ve made him realize they weren’t on the same side at all.
“Then we run and fight our way back through.” He winked. “Draevyn’s here with us. No idea where at this point, but he—”
“He was in the throne room,” she cut him off. “I saw him.”
“Aye, then it appears we know where we’re headed.”
Esmyra sucked in a sharp breath and held up her shackled wrists. “I have no magic.” The words came out almost as a whisper, brittle and ashamed. “The cuffs drained me. I can’t use anything.”
Without hesitation, all three of the men moved. Ren stripped the daggers from his belt and shoved them into her hands. Riven pulled free a short sword and offered it hilt-first. And Jak dug into his coat and handed her his second pistol, pressing it into her palm with a grim nod.
“Take whatever you need,” he said. “We’ll cover you.”
Esmyra smirked as the weapons settled into her grasp before giving them a subtle nod.
Without another word, all four of them bolted back down the corridor.