Telepathy : 14
Falling rock and crunching gravel. I opened my eyes and sat up in the pitch black cave. Thomas stirred next to me but didn't wake up. He lay out on his side using his arm as a pillow, his wings splayed out like a blanket. I pushed one off of me and held my breath, listening.
It was coming from above the cave, on the surrounding cliff and rock face. I closed my eyes and concentrated on what I could feel. There was Thomas' slow breathing and heartbeat next to me. But then there was a second heartbeat. The same triple beat that was unique to hybrids. And to Wraiths.
"Thomas, wake up." I whispered and reached over to shake his shoulder. He woke up right away and sat up quickly.
"What's wrong?" He looked around the cave nervously but I held a finger to my lips.
There's something outside the cave walking around. I pointed up at the ceiling and his lips pressed together in a fine line. He could sense the third heartbeat as well. It was faster and stronger than any heartbeat I had felt before.
A Wraith? He looked back at me.
Fuses…you're a long way from home. The deep, rumbling voice crept into my skull like ice water. I held my temples and squeezed my eyes shut as dark green blotches filled my vision and painted the back of my eyelids. Curiosity and annoyance swelled in my chest. I squinted over at Thomas to see him in a similar position, doubled over and panting. These emotions sweeping through me were not my own. Rocks scattered overhead and a large boulder fell from above the cave mouth. It crunched into several pieces as it smashed into the entrance.
Who are you? Thomas tried his best to straighten out, though one hand still hovered over the side of his head.
We do not have names… The voice whispered, but then a stronger emotion followed, pressing into my chest like a heavy weight; loathing. Hatred as deep as my bones. It made my heart skip over itself in terror. Thomas sucked in a small breath, closing his eyes again with a grimace of pain.
A strong presence shifted through my mind and memories began recalling themselves.
'But he's a hybrid! Everyone will be jealous!'
'This boy will be the death of you. You can't protect him forever.'
'Hybrids look out for each other. You can trust me, and I can trust you.'
'Now you see him? It's his job to try and kill her.'
'How much time does she have?'
I clenched my teeth as every image rushed past against my will. There was nothing I could do to control them. I closed my eyes tightly and imagined a ball of fire burning through the images like flames to paper. I dumped the waterfall over it and it cooled into a solid iron ingot.
She suffers in the city, but enjoys the kill. I gasped as the voice returned and the memories were blown away like smoke.
Get down here and face us instead of hiding! Thomas' voice clashed into the heavy presence, taking both it and I by surprise. Rocks immediately began falling as something shifted overhead.
"Shut up!" I hissed but Thomas suddenly dropped to his knees, his hands gripping the sides of his head as he groaned. He cried out in pain and fell to the side, his wings opening and flapping frantically like he was having a seizure.
A dark silhouette, barely visible against the dark sky, appeared from the side of the cave entrance. A rectangular head with a long neck, followed by muscular shoulders. 4 clawed legs put it around 20 feet tall. The body was sleek and ended with a long forked tail that swished ominously. Folded wings lay perfectly aligned with its spine, blocking the entire entrance. Icy green eyes darted between us and its mouth opened slightly to let out a deep, guttural growl. It crouched low to the ground, stalking us.
I ran to the side and picked up a jagged piece of rock from the cave floor and hurled it as hard as I could. It collided into the side of the Wraiths head and it roared, rearing up on its hind legs, its front claws splayed to attack. I ducked underneath them and jumped onto its back. Dark green and black patched wings unfurled, nearly throwing me off, but I drove my barbed tail deep into the creature's side, just behind the left leg. The Wraith reached around with its long neck and sank its teeth deep into my left arm, wrenching me off its back and throwing me to the ground. But just as fast as it had grabbed me, it let go. In the dark cave, scratching claws against rock and choked growls filled the space, then all was silent.
I panted hard and lay curled into a tight ball on the cave floor. I opened my eyes and slowly lowered my arms from my head. The Wraith was gone. I scrambled to my feet and looked down at the large splashes of dark blood leading out of the cave entrance. Running to the very edge, I peered out into the night. The Wraiths body was below us, crumpled on the canyon floor, dead.
"Thomas?" I called out with a shaky voice and ran back inside the cave. He lay on his side still groaning. Pain lanced through my left arm like lightning.
"Newt?" He slurred and looked up with squinted eyes. He shook his head and tried to sit up. But I was staring down at my arm, shocked at the amount of blood. Deep lacerations ran down my forearm and wrist, all of them dripping blood at an alarming rate. The pain was building and was now so overwhelming I could barely breathe. I slumped down next to Thomas, holding my arm against my chest with tightly closed eyes and clenched teeth.
Gentle hands moved down my arm, fingertips brushing the skin like butterflies. Then tight pressure cinched around my upper arm. I gasped and opened my eyes. Thomas knelt in front of me, tightening his belt around my arm as tightly as he could.
"Leave it, we have to stop the bleeding." He muttered under his breath. "We need to get back to the city, come on, stand up." His arms were lifting me up. I stood on shaky legs and he moved away from me to the cave entrance.
"What happened?" I asked but Thomas ignored the question as he stared down at the Wraiths body.
"I don't know." He motioned for me to hurry. "But it doesn't matter. We need to get you to the hospital."