Tangled

Unshift 254

Unshift 254

254 Ava: In the Attic

Just as I'm about to suggest we try something else-anything else, like banging until we find at hidden door-movement catches my eye. A shimmer ripples across the far wall, like heat waves rising from sun- baked asphalt. It swirls and coalesces, taking on the familiar appearance of the portals we used to travel to Dakota Sanctuary,

Relief floods through me, tempered by caution.

Magister Orion asked for a portal, but his directions were vague. There's a hell of a lot of world out there.

Marcus steps forward, his jaw set with determination. "I'll go first," he says, his tone brooking no argument. Before I can protest, he's through the portal, vanishing in a blink.

Vanessa and I exchange a quick glance, an entire conversation passing between us in that split second. Together, we step into the swirling vortex.

The world twists and blurs around us, and for a heart-stopping moment, I feel like I'm falling through an endless void. Then, abruptly, solid ground materializes beneath my feet. I stumble forward, colliding with warm bodies in the darkness.

"Oof!" Vanessa grunts as we all tangle together, a mess of limbs in a space that feels far too

small.

"Sorry," I mutter, trying to extricate myself without elbowing anyone in the face. "Where are we?"

A rustling sound, then a click. Soft light floods the space.

Marcus stands a few feet away, his hand on a dangling pull cord attached to a bare bulb.

I take in our surroundings with growing amazement. We're in what appears to be an attic, but unlike any attic I've ever

the rafters.

devices. tick softly, their gears exposed like mechanical organs. Crystals of various sizes and colors catch

objects, the attic is surprisingly clean. No cobwebs drape the corners, no dust coats the surfaces. It's as if

breathes, her eyes wide as she takes in the

seems charged with potential, tingling against my skin. My newly awakened magical senses hum, picking up on some sort of energy present in the space. Marcus moves cautiously, his trained eye scanning for potential threats. "It seems safe

13

In the

wouldn't touch anything if I were you. No telling what some of

itch to explore. We might not know where we are, but I can tell

reach out and grasp them. I clench my fists at my sides,

to contact Lucas and

that damn communication orb, but at least Vanessa brought it

I'll investigate the area. We need to make

it looks peaceful doesn't mean it is, the

faint sound reaches their ears. I don't hear anything, but Marcus holds a finger to his lips, tugging at

can hear it

go dark.

my throat

We're not alone.

shoving me behind them. Their bodies form a living shield, and I struggle to quell the surge of

press my lips together, fighting the urge to protest. Now isn't the time for heroics or misplaced pride. I force myself

silence stretches, broken only by our shallow breathing. Sweat beads on my forehead, trickling down my temple. The air feels thick, oppressive. Every creak of the floorboards beneath us sends a jolt through my

Marcus and Vanessa. Their muscles are coiled tight, ready to spring into