Chapter 38
“DONOVAN!”
One minute he’s there, and now I’ve lost him again.
“DONOVAN!”
Shit, shit, shit. My eyes are watering, and my throat burns. I start coughing and can't stop.
“Theo?” A close voice behind me makes me jump.
I whirl around, and my mouth drops open. “Wes?”
Even though everything around me is chaos, a feeling of love and happiness swells in my chest. He said my name.
He. Said. My. Name.
But still, Wes looks like a man standing on the railings of a bridge, looking down into the swirling waters and wondering whether to jump.
“It’s alright, Wes,” I say, keeping my voice low and calm. “Everything’s alright. We’re just going to find Donovan, then we’re going to get out of here, OK?”
Wes’s eyes dart around wildly. “Where is he? Has he gone? Is he gone?”
I make a calming motion with my hands, as it clicks in my brain. It wasn’t Donovan I saw through the smoke, it was Wes.
“He hasn’t left us, Wes, but we are going to find him now. We’ll all be back together in a minute.”
Wes’s hand flaps against his leg, and I can see his rising panic. “I don’t know, I don’t know,” he mutters. “Donovan’s gone. Everyone’s gone. Everyone left me.”
His pain slices through me.
“Come on, let’s go look for him. We’ll be together soon.” I know I’m talking to him as though he’s a child, but Wes seems one tiny strand away from collapsing, mentally and physically.
Two men, beating the shit out of each other, stumble in our direction. “This way, Wes. Can you follow me?”
Wes shakes his head slightly. “No. No, I take you, that’s what I should do. Get you out of here. This is wrong, this is all wrong.” Suddenly, he grasps my arm and starts hauling me across the floor.
Even with all the mayhem going on, I take a second to revel in the joy of Wes actually touching me.
He chose to do that.
“Maximus said we should head for the library,” I shout.
It’s so loud, I don’t know if he can hear me. I’m also turned around and have no idea which way the library is.
Wes takes us around the far side of the stage. “We can get through here. Hurry now.” He pushes open a door that leads to a corridor.
Several people are huddled inside. Wes ignores them, decisively leading me who-knows-where, but never releasing his grip.
The noise is muffled now as we stop outside a door.
“Here,” Wes says. “This is right.”
As soon as the doors shut behind us, Wes lets out a sigh. The room is quiet and dimly lit, with just a few low sconces on the wall.
I’m smiling but cautious. Taking a step back, I scan Wes from head to toe.
Absolutely no sign of the dark essence. Thank Gods.
Exhausted, I flop down into the nearest chair and send out a group message
—Guys?—
—Pulu, where are you? Are you safe? I’ve got Willow and Naomi with me, I’m taking them outside—
Thank Gods for Alexis. —I’m OK, safe. Have you seen Donovan? Cosmo saw him with a head injury—
—No, didn’t see him, but I’ll go back once the girls are safe—
—I’VE GOT HIM— Cosmo’s thoughts shout at us. —In the rotunda, medics are in here—
Phew. —MAX?—
—Can’t stop…two…three…staying alive, staying alive…—
What?
“Theo?”
Wes suddenly kneels in front of me, looking puzzled.
“Theo,” he says again, nodding slowly. “I think I’ve been hurt.” His eyes are unfocused. Concussion?
“Your head?” I ask.
Wes frowns again and brings up a hand in front of his face.
“Can I hold your hand?” he asks. “Please?”
I immediately nod and link our fingers. Instantly, I push my Lumina into him, but it acts sluggishly, not responding correctly. —Wes? Can you hear me?—
Nothing.
There’s a strange sensation that Wes’s brain is covered in some kind of protective shield. I can’t get inside, nor can the Lumina. I push some more, searching for cracks.
“Theo! Wait.” He winces and sucks in a breath. “What’s happening?”
“What do you feel?” I ask.
“I, I, I’m beginning to remember something. Something…” He pauses, then looks at me with large, soulful eyes. “Theo, I’m beginning to remember you. Not a lot, but I have a sense that I do know you. Fuck.”
My whole body feels weak at the news, and my eyes brim with tears. “That’s great,” I croak.
Shit. It is great, but now is not the time for this reunion. “Let’s put a pin in this and get out of here.” Suddenly, a flash of dread runs through me. “Wait, is Ludo here too?” —Lu?—
No reply.
Wes winces and rubs his head.
“Did Ludo come with you?” I ask again.
“Who? Fuck, my head hurts.”
I’m desperate to help, to keep working on renewing our connection, but I also need to get us out of here. And I need to know Ludo is safe.
I send one more burst of the power into our connection, ignoring the sound of the door opening behind us. Nothing matters but breaking through this force field. I funnel every scrap of Amirene's light into the crack, praying for a miracle, but his face only twists in further agony.
Save him.
I’m trying, Amirene, I’m trying.
The door clicks shut, cutting off the roar of the riots. I don’t turn around. I can’t. Every ounce of my being is focused on Wes. With all my might, I channel the lilac and gold power of Lumina from me and into him.
His face contorts. Am I hurting him? It’s all happening so fast.
“Theo,” he croaks. “I can’t. I can’t stop it.”
“Stop what, my love? Stop what?”
I push some more, and there! I find a weaker spot in the shield that surrounds his mind. A look of pure agony fills Wes's face.
Am I torturing him? Gods.
“NO!” Wes screams, and I can’t force it anymore. I drop my hand, severing the fragile connection between, but not snuffing out my hope.
“No,” he says again, eyes wild as he looks around the room. “NO!”
Wes’s face fills with fear as his hand moves, almost mechanically. “Don’t,” he groans, as the same time his arm circles around my neck. “Please…”
A needle pricks my flesh.
"Run," he whispers, tears leaking from his eyes, even as his thumb depresses the plunger. "Theo, run."
The last thing I see are Wes's dark-gray, panic-filled eyes as everything turns black.
THE END FOR NOW