Chapter 26
Alchera
“There’s no time to rest! If we don’t keep moving, we might as well kill ourselves,” a man says, his tone commanding.
Glancing around me, I’m standing on a rocky hill and looking down at a lake.
It’s beautiful.
The wind blows, sending shivers down my spine, and when I glance over my shoulder, I see a waterfall.
Thank God.
“I’m not as fit as you. I’ll only hold you back. Go on ahead. I’ll catch up with you,” another man says.
“Don’t give me that shit. Give me your bag,” the first voice snaps.
Finally, I see two men making their way to the waterfall. A tall guy looms over a shorter one, and everything about him screams military. He’s well-built, his brown hair cut into a crew-cut style. The shorter man has an intelligent light shining from his eyes.
“Come on, Matt. We have to move faster,” the military one snaps again. “We need to get to the cave.”
“I’m trying my best,” Matt says, but he struggles to keep up. “Will we really be safe in the cave?”
“It has water and shelter. It’s all we need. ”
“What about food?”
“I’ll hunt,” the military guy mutters.
I see the mountain rising behind the waterfall.
“I’m tired, Dylan,” Matt gasps.
“Fine. We can rest here for ten minutes. We were lucky to get away from the city. Half of the country is gone. The radio said that tsunamis have struck all over the world. We’re going to take cover as high above sea level as possible and wait this thing out.”
“Okay,” Matt groans as he sits down on a small boulder. “I can’t believe all the disasters. It’s terrifying. What if hiding in a cave doesn’t help?”
“It has to,” Dylan mutters, his eyes roving over their surroundings as if he’s watching for threats.
The ground beneath them begins to tremble, and Matt immediately jumps up and moves to Dylan’s side.
As the vision fades from my mind, my head hurts so badly I can only let out a soft groan.
Raighne’s fingers brush over my temple, easing the ache, then he asks, “What did you see?”
“Two men somewhere in the US.”
I lift my head from his thigh and push myself off the ground, climbing to my feet.
When I move toward the waterfall again, Raighne orders, “Slow down. Tell us what we’re walking into.”
I glance at my group, then letting out a sigh, I say, “Finian and Brenna, please stay with the group.” I turn my attention to Raighne. “Two men. Dylan and Matt. I think they’re brothers. Dylan gave me the impression he’s had military training, and Matt gives me a professor vibe. They’re in a national park of some sort and near a waterfall, so we have to move fast.”
Raighne nods, and placing his hand on my lower back, he walks with me into the pool. We wade through the water to the curtain, and I take hold of his hand before I bring up the image of the waterfall we need to shift to.
“Ready?” I ask .
“Yes. I can see the waterfall clearly. Let’s go.”
Stepping into the curtain, I feel dizzy. Everything is taking one hell of a physical toll on me, and I don’t know how much longer I’m going to last.
When I come out on the other side, I suck in a few deep breaths and wait for my head to stop spinning.
After wiping the water from my eyes, I scan the area. It looks the same as in my vision.
“We need to move,” I hear Dylan say.
“What if we go into the cave, and another earthquake hits, and we’re buried alive,” Matt rambles, clearly scared of everything that’s been happening.
Thank God. At least they’re still nearby.
I wade through the water toward the embankment, and Raighne helps me out. When we’re both standing on a grassy patch, I point at the boulders where Dylan and Matt are resting.
“I’ll let you handle it, but if one of them gets aggressive, I’m taking over.”
I glance up at Raighne. “Just don’t hurt them.”
I’m sure I look like some crazy swamp woman, and I hope it doesn’t freak the two men out too much.
When we move closer and make our way around a boulder, Dylan’s head snaps in our direction, and he quickly moves closer to Matt.
“Hey,” he mutters, giving us a cautious look.
“Hi,” I respond, keeping my tone non-threatening. Noticing Dylan is armed, I hope to God he doesn’t shoot me.
Here goes nothing.
“My name is Alchera, and this is Raighne. I’m sure you’ve noticed all the disasters around the world.”
“Yeah,” Dylan replies, his eyes flicking between Raighne and me. “That’s why we’re out here. You?”
“Please, don’t freak out,” I cringe, already knowing this isn’t going to go well, “but I’m here to save you and Matt. You need to come with us.”
Dylan’s eyebrow lifts, and the next second, he reaches for the weapon at his hip.
When Raighne moves slightly in front of me, Dylan yells, “That’s close enough.” He points the gun right at us. “I suggest you leave the way you came.”
“Go back to the curtain. I’m going to move Matt your way. Grab him and shift back to Ireland. I’ll follow with Dylan.” Raighne’s voice sounds in my mind.
“You sure? He has a gun.”
“Which can’t kill us. Go, Alchera.”
I move cautiously back to the pool, holding my hands in front of me so Dylan can see them at all times. “We’re going,” I tell him, hoping to set him at ease.
“You too,” he growls at Raighne.
“I’ll move as soon as she’s safe.”
When I climb into the pool, Dylan frowns at me, and shaking his head, he yells, “What the fuck are you doing?”
I quickly wade to the curtain. “Now!”
Raighne doesn’t move a muscle, but suddenly Matt flies through the air with a terrified cry ripping from him.
“What the fuck!” Dylan shouts.
The moment Matt plows into me, I think of the waterfall in Ireland, and as I drag him into the curtain, I glance at Raighne and Dylan. I see how the weapon is ripped from Dylan’s hand before Raighne slams him into the pool.
Jesus.
I shift with a terrified Matt and the moment we appear in Ireland, I help him to stay on his feet.
He glances wildly around us while he gags, probably feeling sick from shifting for the first time.
“You’re okay,” I say, keeping my arms wrapped around him as I pull him to the walkway around the waterfall. “The nausea will pass.”
Finian and Brenna come to help me, and once we have a dazed Matt sitting on one of the boulders by the walkway, I say, “Take deep breaths.”
“Dylan?” he gasps.
Just then, Raighne comes through the waterfall, forcing a struggling Dylan to move .
Finian runs into the pool to help Raighne control Dylan.
“Calm down,” Raighne snaps at Dylan. “We’re doing this to help you.”
“What the fuck?” Dylan keeps muttering while shaking his head to rid himself of the dizzy spell caused by shifting.
“Now I’ve seen everything,” I hear Doug mutter.
Dylan’s eyes lock on Matt, and he yanks free from Raighne. When he reaches his brother, he pulls him to a standing position and holds him as he glances at the group.
“Who are you people?” Dylan asks, sounding stunned out of his everloving mind.
“I’m Alchera,” I say again, thinking there’s no way he’ll remember my name from when I introduced myself before we shifted.
“That’s Raighne and Finian, and this is my sister, Brenna.” I point to the other humans. “Doug, Sarah, Sky, and Jason. They’re chosen ones, just like you and Matt. This planet is going to be destroyed in a matter of a week, and we’re here to take you to a new Earth called Vaalbara.” When Dylan’s lips part, I hold up my hand. “I know it sounds crazy as hell, but there’s no other way to explain it. I still have to get four other people before we can return to our world, where you’ll start a new life.”
“The fuck?” Dylan mutters, struggling to deal with the shock.
“I think we should all go to our house. It’s not far from here,” Sarah says, sounding weaker than earlier. “I need to take my meds and get some rest.”
“Sarah’s right,” Doug agrees. “We could all use a break where everything can be explained to us.”
I look at Dylan. “Will you come?”
“Do we have a fucking choice?”
“Yes,” Raighne mutters as he walks toward me. “Either you come willingly, or I’ll force you.”
“Not much of a fucking choice,” Dylan growls.
“Dylan,” I say to get his attention. “Please let me save you. Save Matt.”
He lets out a disgruntled sigh but doesn’t argue as he gestures for us to walk.
While Finian takes the lead, Raighne waits for everyone to start moving before he brings up the rear.
“Thank you for helping,” I tell Raighne mentally.
“That’s what I’m here for.”
“You look angry.”
“I’m fine. Let’s get out of here.”
We all pile into the van, and I worry about how we’re going to get around if we get more chosen ones because it’s already a tight fit.
The moment Raighne sits down beside me, he pulls me onto his lap to make more space for the others. With one arm wrapped tightly around me, he uses his other hand to take hold of my jaw. Nudging my face so I’ll look at him, we lock eyes.
“How are you holding up?”
“I’m just tired.”
I feel his warmth pour into me, and I know he’s searching for any signs that I’m not coping.
“How are you doing?” I ask.
“I’m built for this. Never worry about me.”
“Easier said than done,” I grumble.
He lets out a chuckle as he nudges me to rest my head against his shoulder and presses a kiss on my forehead. More of his warmth fills me, I can’t stop myself from drifting off to sleep.
Ares crouches in front of me and gestures to our left, where my father and Jason are hanging. “Who should I kill first?”
Locking eyes with him, I hiss, “Fuck you. I won’t choose.”
He raises to his full height, and when he moves toward them, my heart beats wildly in my chest.
“No!” I start to strain against the rope tied around my body and fall to my side. Air explodes over my lips as I watch with horrified eyes when Ares moves closer to my father.
“Your father or your chosen one?” Ares asks again before chuckling. The sound is pure evil.
A knife appears in his hand. The blade looks like it’s made of black obsidian.
“Let them go and kill me,” I cry. “I choose me.”
Ares chuckles again as he shakes his head. “No. It will never be you.” He moves in behind my father, and pressing the blade to his neck, he slices Dad’s throat open and blood pours from him like a waterfall.
“No!” I scream, ugly sobs tearing from me.
“Wake up, Alchera.” I hear Raighne’s voice as his warmth battles the darkness in me.
My eyes flit wildly between my father, who’s bleeding out, and Jason as Ares moves in behind him.
“Please!” I beg. “Kill me.”
Ares chuckles again as he slits Jason’s throat, and a wail of grief echoes around the room.
“Alchera!” Raighne’s voice thunders in my mind, but the intense sorrow and guilt I feel drown him out.
Ares moves closer to me, and unfastening the ropes keeping me imprisoned, his touch turns gentle as he brushes his palm over my temple and hair.
“I’ve got you,” he says, his tone sounding loving. “I’ll always have you.”
I try to shake my head as he leans closer to me, and when I feel his breath on my face, agonizing terror grips my soul.
Black smoke creeps past his lips and forces its way into my nose and mouth.
“You’re just like me, Alchera,” Ares whispers. “We’re both doomed.”
Suddenly, a bright light chases the darkness back to the farthest corners of my mind, and Raighne’s warmth is so intense it rips me out of the nightmare.
My eyes snap open and it takes me a second to focus on Raighne’s face that’s tense with worry.
My heart is pounding in my throat, and my breaths come fast and hard.
Ares’s voice is still echoing through my mind as Raighne squashes me to his chest.
My torturer is out there somewhere, and I can feel him coming for me.
“I won’t let him near you,” Raighne’s voice drifts like a cool breeze through my feverish mind. “Just focus on me. You’re safe.”
My mind feels like a piece of chewed gum. The visions and nightmares are starting to take their toll on me.
I let Raighne hold me until my heartbeat and breaths return to normal, then say, “I desperately need to take a shower. ”
“Okay.” He helps me off the bed while his eyes search my face for any signs of distress.
I let a smile form on my face and say, “I’m fine.”
“I’ll get you something to eat while you wash up.” He gestures to a dresser. “Sarah left clean clothes for you to wear.”
I nod and watch as he leaves the room before I glance around me.
There’s only a dresser and two single beds in the otherwise empty room. I grab the clothes, which consist of a pair of sweatpants, a sweater, and socks. Walking out of the room, I find a bathroom to my right.
I’m thankful when I see bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash and quickly switch on the faucets in the shower.
I better enjoy this shower because God only knows when I’ll get to have one again with the world going to shit around us.
I strip out of my damp clothes, feeling grimy from the day I’ve had.
When I step beneath the warm spray, I let out a moan.
So good.
I take my time washing every part of my body, and when I feel much better, I switch off the faucets and dry myself. Finding body lotion, I rub some into my skin before getting dressed in the clean clothes. The sweatpants are a little long, so I roll the fabric up around my ankles.
I use my finger to brush my teeth and rinse my mouth twice with minty mouthwash. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I tug my fingers through the short strands to tame the wild mess.
Once I’m done, I stare at myself, wondering how I’m going to survive the days to come.
How long will Ireland stay intact? If this country is devastated by a disaster, we might not have the waterfall to shift through anymore.
Will we be able to find a plane again so we can travel to where the remaining chosen ones are? How long will it take to get to them?
“Don’t think about any of that,” Raighne mutters in my mind. “We’ll deal with everything as it happens. Come eat.”
Leaving the bathroom, I walk down a short hallway until I find a kitchen on my left.
Not seeing Raighne, I ask, “Where are you? ”
“Living room.”
I walk past the kitchen, finding everyone huddled in a smallish living room.
There’s a round table with four chairs in the corner with sandwiches stacked on a plate.
Raighne comes to me and hands me a ham and cheese sandwich.
“Eat it all.”
I nod as I take it from him, then glance at my chosen ones, who are all staring at me.
“How are you all holding up?” I ask while giving Dylan and Doug cautious looks.
“I’ve decided to just go with the flow because there’s no way I can explain everything I’ve seen today,” Doug mutters.
Dylan is leaning against a wall, his arms crossed over his broad chest. For a moment, he stares at me, then he says, “If everything y’all said is true, then I guess we should count ourselves lucky. It’s just hard to wrap our minds around it.”
I let out a chuckle. “I know. I felt the same way.”
Dylan frowns. “The same? You’re not one of them?”
“Oh, I am, but I was sent to Earth at sixteen and lived here for five years as one of you. I recently found out everything, and it was one hell of a shock to the system.” I smile at him. “So I understand how you feel.”
He nods at me then says, “You should eat.”
Right.
I take a bite of my sandwich and give Jason a grateful smile when he brings me a bottle of water.
“How are you holding up?” Jason murmurs, keeping his tone low.
“Better.”
His eyes meet mine. “Just let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
I glance at the other chosen ones, then turn my attention back to him again. “Just help me keep an eye on all of them, please.”
He nods, his gaze drifting to Sarah. “I will.”
“Especially her,” I whisper, hoping she’ll survive what’ s to come.
As if Sarah can sense we’re talking about her, she looks our way then asks, “Are the clothes okay?”
“Yes. Thank you so much. How do you feel?”
“Better after I got my meds and some rest.”
My eyes drift over her pale face. “Just hold out a week. Okay? Once we’re back on Vaalbara, they’ll heal you.”
There’s no excitement or hope in her eyes that we’ll actually be able to heal her, and it chips away at my heart.
Honestly, I’m not even sure Aster and Janak can heal Sarah. But I seriously doubt Awo would choose her only to let her die on Vaalbara. It just doesn’t make sense, so I’m holding onto hope there’s a way they can cure Sarah.
“I’ll put your other clothes in the washing machine so they’re clean for tomorrow,” Brenna says.
“Thank you. I left them in the bathroom.” I give my sister a grateful smile before sinking my teeth into the sandwich again.
Doug picks up the remote control then says, “Let’s see what’s happening in the world.”
We all turn our attention to the TV screen, and I continue to eat as an announcer sits behind a desk with disasters flashing on a screen behind her.
“The west coast of the United States has been declared a dead zone. With millions fleeing to the borders of Canada, the Canadian government is doing its best to assist the survivors.”
I only manage to eat half the sandwich because when more images of disasters and dead bodies fill the screen behind the announcer, my appetite vanishes.
“Chile, Hawaii, Japan, New Zealand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the coast of India have all been struck by monster tsunamis caused by the San Andreas fault line earthquake, and the death toll is well into the hundreds of thousands if not millions.”
“God,” Sarah whimpers.
We all stare horrified at the TV.
Sky covers her mouth with her hands as a sob breaks free. “My family.”
Matt quickly wraps his arm around her shoulders. “I’m sorry. We lost people, too.”
“All communications with those countries have been lost,” the announcer continues, “and there’s no possibility of sea rescue due to the ocean’s unstable manner.”
I feel grief pouring from my chosen ones. Flashes from the visions I had of the disasters bombard my mind, and the plate slips from my hand.
I hear the terrified screams.
I feel their heartbeats stopping one after the other.
I see the blood, the maimed body parts, and the horrific destruction.
“Switch it off,” Raighne orders before he frames my face, forcing me to look at him. “Focus on me.”
My lips part, and I inhale a shuddering breath while it feels like shadowy fingers creep over my mind, threatening to rob me of my sanity.
Raighne leans closer, and his warmth pours into me. “Just focus on me.”
I stare into his eyes as his presence soothes the darkness, calming the chaos that the visions and nightmares are causing in the deepest parts of my soul.
“Is she okay?” Jason asks.
I suck in deep breaths then nod. “I’m good.”
“Panic attack?” Matt asks. “I get those too.”
Sky pats Matt’s hand while giving me a worried look.
“Really, I’m fine,” I say to reassure everyone.
Just as Raighne crouches to pick up the plate and half-eaten sandwich I dropped, the air vibrates around us.
“What the fuck?” Dylan snaps.
“Raighne!” Finian hollars, and the next second, Ares appears with a woman’s hand gripping his throat.
Then the rest of Adeth materializes with Griffith and Roark trying to restrain her.
Ares lands on his back, and as he skids into one of the couches, I’m filled with horror .
No!
Ares slams his hand into Adeth’s chest, and it sends her flying through the air before she hits a wall while Roark and Griffith fall to the side.
“Help us,” Roark orders as he darts back to his feet.
Raighne instantly throws his arm out in Ares’ direction, using his power to keep him from moving.
“Ares is with us,” Griffith shouts.
What. The. Actual. Fuck?
I stand rooted to the spot as Raighne’s other arm reaches toward Adeth, and he forcefully keeps her pinned to the wall.
Light shoots from Finian, stunning her, and before Finian can stun Ares, Griffith again snaps, “Ares is with us. Free him, Raighne.”
Oh my God.
My eyes flick wildly over my chosen ones before I shout, “Dylan, Jason! Get the chosen ones out of the room. Now! She wants to kill you.”
Doug picks Sarah up, and they’re the first to rush past me. Jason herds Matt and Sky away from the danger while Dylan pulls out his gun and trains it on Adeth.
“Get out of here, Dylan. You can’t kill her with a bullet.”
He gives me an unsure look and moves closer to me. “I’m not leaving y’all to fight alone.”
Before I can say another word, shadows fill my mind, and I hear Adeth.
“Have you missed me?”
My eyes flick to her. “No.”
“They won’t dare kill their precious dreamer.” An evil smile tugs at her mouth as she keeps her gaze locked with mine. “Let me in.”