Tangled

Unshift 213

Unshift 213

213 Ava: It's Gone

"Did you see that?" I ask Kellan, my voice barely above a whisper.

He glances at me, brows furrowed and body alert. "See what?"

I shake my head, not quite sure how to explain the strange phenomenon. "Nothing. Never mind."

As we exit the car, I can't help but glance behind us, taking in the six guards that follow in our wake. Their presence should be

reassuring, a sign of Lucas' commitment to my safety, but instead it only serves to heighten my unease.

There's something in the air, a buzzing energy that sets my teeth on edge and makes my skin feel too tight. It's like the world is holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

We enter the building, our footsteps echoing in the empty hallways. Kellan leads the way, broad shoulders tense beneath his suit jacket. I trail behind him, my heart hammering in my chest as we descend the stairs to the basement, noticing that there's no light coming from below.

Kellan and I both pull out our phones to use as flashlights, but don't stop our descent.

When we reach the bottom, I stop short, my breath catching in my throat. The office, the reception desk, the colorful artwork that had adorned the walls-it's all gone. In its place is nothing but a bare, concrete room, devoid of any sign of life. As if no office had ever existed. No drywall. No electric wires.

Just... nothing.

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"What the hell?* Kellan mutters, his eyes scanning the empty

space.

1 step forward, my fingers trailing along the rough wall. "It was here, wasn't it? We didn't take a wrong turn?"

A silly question. It's the same building, in the same neighborhood.

Nothing's changed.

And yet Steve isn't here.

Kellan shakes his head, his expression g...n. "No, we didn't. Something's not right."

This place reeks of magic, Selene growls, her hackles raised. Be careful, Ava.

My throat is tight, making it hard to swallow. The air seems to crackle with energy, making the fine hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Every instinct screams at me to run, to get as far away from this place as possible.

was never right about Steve and her little

the basement of a decrepit

felt nauseated when I looked

think

is sucked from my lungs. I crumple to my knees, one hand clawing at my chest, the other scrabbling against the rough concrete floor.

to breathe.

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213 Ava It's Gone

us, the light from our phones snuffed out like candles in a hurricane. I'm drowning, suffocating, my lungs. screaming for oxygen. Tears streamh down my face, hot and stinging, as I silently beg for mercy,

suddenly as it began, or

it's over.

feeding oxygen to my starving lungs. Sunlight sears my eyes, blinding after the impenetrable darkness. Spots dance across my vision as I try

parking lot, sprawled on the asphalt like discarded ragdolls. The guards are scattered around us, some on their knees, others flat on their backs, all of them gasping and coughing

the building

once stood an abandoned structure housing

no debris, not even

grass.

never

"I think Steve's a Fae," I say lamely, the

"No shit," he mutters, dusting off his pants with

The signs were there all along- the strange energy that surrounded Steve, the

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reality, the unease that coiled in my gut every time I looked into her

into thin air, leaving no trace of its existence. It's the kind

only assume it's

magic

runs a hand through his hair, his expression grim. "We need to tell Lucas. If Steve's a Fae,

way."

working with vampires is a new level

wants," I say, my voice steadier than I feel. "Why she was helping us, what her endgame

but I have a

is she, and why is the

phone, his fingers flying over the screen as he sends a message to Lucas.

where we met her, where she helped us track down information on the vampires, has vanished

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213 Am * 03