Unshift 261
Unshift 261
261 Ava: Yanking At Her
It's almost like a presence saying hello.
Thinking of that little string, I tug back. Twice.
An answering jerk. One. Two. Three
The words I just spoke drift into my head: It's like the book is alive.
it crazy to talk into this void in my head, in the general direction I hope the book is in?
Sure. But at least no one can see or hear me doing it.
Hello? I call out, trying to
there?
Use the same mental channel I use to speak with Selene. Are you
Another tug on that string.
I really, really need you to come to where I am. It's safer here. Or something. How do you explain. to a book that the world has gone to shit and you want to keep it from being used to create further catastrophe?
Please.
Being polite never hurts.
This time, that string-y feeling yanks, and it feels like my heart is constricted, interfering in its ability to beat.
I can't breathe. Pain explodes in my chest, radiating outward like a supernova. My lungs burn, desperate for air that won't come. The world around me blurs, sounds fading into a high-pitched buzz that fills my
cars.
An eternity compressed
vision darken, reality slipping
it began, the pain recedes. The world snaps back into focus, colors sharpening and sounds returning. I gasp, drawing
gently but insistently. I blink, trying to orient myself. We're still in
mirror.
My voice comes out as a croak.
my heart was being squeezed in a vise, like something was trying to pull it right out of my chest. And that string, that connection to the
Yanking
thrumming in my
as a
shiver down my spine. "I think I made contact with the book. It
mine in the
trying to call it to me like Magister Orion said. And then..." I trail off, unsure how to describe the sensation. "It was like it grabbed hold
shaking her head. "Stupid question.
and
Marcus's
books that try to yank your soul out of your body don't
something in me rebels against the idea. "No, it wasn't malicious. Just desperate." I pause, surprised by my own
me tugs again, and I swear it's
you getting hurt. Maybe we should wait until we reach Lucas before trying
my body is vibrating from the inside out, a constant reminder of the magic pulsing
we're somewhere safe before I try contacting the book again. Too many
sense of self-preservation in me
if I desperately want to
sends a pang through my
chest, fragile and desperate. Vanessa shakes her head, a worried frown creasing her brow. "No, nothing yet. Vester should be able to reach me by now. It's strange." "How long has it been since you could sense him?" Surprised, I peer
minutes had passed. The realization is chilling. How much time am
24
Yanking
slipping away into
he admits. "But it was brief. Flectr before I could really grasp
T1I1m3PBnIpTej6l/vGpA5zSU8R+O9JV3alcpemAc/6R48qd/Wigxk8UB6NRKDT2cS1isYBDHYqAMPY02L8w5UGDTjczlxuqHarJqW8UxXhjf3GOT/PbalbMa5flbfyir/GBa1NoASaJLZ/EUh2+59NGRaU3gJQoKXky5cAhd103E/wqRzyGP+kBn/6uyZ2FoTYAn9aBWTVBmVXLmPQ9RIRd5V2YsSb8m3QxSI8uJBOgKVEh7EJhTp+PgOe6qIeSUwkISt6wTvK+8WNqLgtshPPJdAtmvSA+7rEg+UGhu1Vaw3am3YcOK81WU81Oj0WNLtLx0I/u7bCTyXt3Tjmm7KWIPUzNXCwYDMVKUc+XutRZkYfO3ct0yA1COPUkmqqQjaybKjSXS2io22rnAH7+03KJaW00D+PItartyYxmMMumb2qsxCPoRc6vNb2yXY551kwcvV8HcX8UgNABx1OaVjKLHygWWwIIk2Nsnchgn6WYZIQAFHnxIxzEzcuBtvd0bhlRravzCgOmD+lZcj7fszP1KSe/LVYPkfLmPm7i8vUvWsuxfFSyT8hKjcYBvkq2II23APVtHhfkFXPCMa3qOWhgRwyPvTZ7kUIWfF+MySnsyZ4pYLukRYJsS7+1kKL0kPMLBqp3ks9E4QYR3HsQBIZTyWJeYtmA7Rkx8lKEOgOC9kt7oFPc+9uibd/PCNt21o/+Ja8E7yZ81LI74bK1HwkL/uCFJ90jTWtxD2WALx02R/ynpT0ChgDSdRcgRPBQnr/rBnK3b+kp2WizKT3/noEhDfK/X53QQFmT39KpjtoQso4xgCKGUbfk+07WxJEXz5xsMSRnD9ehuU7ddwiQ1fEeaT1m7gYq+IgRAjb5dlBGikkdyXyYAuzWWQxdbIOkLnZ3uSzs64qGJMoBIDPTiRk16RgfayVUmr0LvUb2bYPCneC7SZeVvNB1rOHmWKXua9/m8PGAzU1cTgf5jJJJAm7txwdAJk7DuPQQPEpR6wgLunPNbP1v9Y3+9QxFnCy/DHc3Uw9DUUSyp1c2UusPCvtaqHLOg8j3/l17wx5AJgQtxoQXulMmtrdTwe8cQCZ/4HVm5nOcIdvVSyMpmEplxg4h3zXSl8GJN4W+cMkdNTF+C2+SW8tyiRKv1gqR5Rlzzl/hzOKlIyj3r+SeMIv9wyttnbeSm0RRe1Wq6Z2PILXgoDeQjJXO8stcOE9m3qLvxfaaGS7feHTWqz3jUGr/fSOXFAwB3lNPPE04su3Noc37o6S06aGhgv2YN8JAxlZ71kSzy4j31PQVfiUAK5hR4/lOy46DCn/SjXHaI9r48UpveAbcvgsUzE3tD+WvYuPolFhVdc5cwPoNI3iLTYJPP32bsXcFSlBTn8B1ZkDnqY+j1Xd5m+jerOFe/VVgRoKABd6UxV3xWFWdDrCAqFJ/kBCPnSuFnJsPtId6DiQ2+ejDd+FQmZU6gPSylQ968liZBzBIKy4x5IcemE+3TtYAvCFGF3LaifnJfTGAR2FlVRToPs3YZZOCwsLNd9UquZqjl+D4SD3mt9XDob1t7XPaqBTJGT6/z6lN2YaNK8ghQcCx8iSDMoEP2K0ApkaaH0c0UpAFUMyLHzPdf+0IHcxP+U+Ie7Jr67zTt2yatqRojA8zxpbRed/dCQrNKvHwS1Yj6IjBV2i/+YQYlNF/+iWjG4UbbP30Cq96qfpOKO+6ks2JHFJNzZ4v+VthGVAPramh2TOCVV0GxfUawht4aO6NvUrukUHGYgc2ozirlkWEP5pyWEEKatYjInh6R2E5OnqyUHDF65O84QhcAOdP0S7pGlP3Vs+3phAHv+1a6VrIk4CLgaKsgPPBMbYp9sk0quz3dk4SRG+Q8xRBiGv+21c/pMFTEPiTLe44zqTeDyvtQDmJGe1D9FL1OeltpICvOCo74YEmRzCS+acYRtY8SAuN6dVtMVt/pjHQiV4ugUR5lbJ8r13sz3hQOK8vL/DO1LX+jyb8js/jCyvWeKggiCuXxvk1hXp3VQ1AgOXXsi80lcQOw2ohNkbOCs8ryc/r5EqdsR1DAtM41peR3pL/hpZLyMBHoYKpj0Nl2lkHJEBH3lcqoSlyn31gZcVsoZdqLYt2C+2MA3gMs+AdOjP9QfnlAzRA4pMMvMulCq62Cu4WB8ZlDVbzRpz760+nTyPvh9koWRuHfabYWK+lbRLgfhtzhoKv/TTI3n02RQo2c/AiKEK1fhRRSgQ/X9iwfueLHGnT5pvSR11HYb5LXNx+O5wtV58+I6QtTmRHJz1JMeAhDxN7AT2fVXCQn87c7RM5xQmcc8d5BCicYXMVUMQdH185tZWYBowc/AD05zvk4ZHAnjN3aAKLpiDDWFcMPlbwCJaT/nuDlABjAmAXtnA4xZqTxDefVVTgTT+26Irl9n0YAq0ArNtbGpPTC2ID90cfdeIeF5o/FLetwPmtQE0uxbzqqrIO3nR7wH/f06l/X1CQvA26SUlNnNt5zaB2ale4K2frOkvd/YZWgPvg6WqAztkTyDde3BIs8cRr81YHEd6gVvvjQeLa6VXzALzEOslSriIk56BVbm4za7yK2tTsK5guaEDlaho6JzOXHLHEVPuFzd7HD9AqkBBULxGfszUX710d8m5ts0VZJxfmJ0GQnPOP8TcKikaYUAHPhhSyqAb42sNH4hkhWCaiyvSBlkVZQ+ZRsukgo1YLkwMU+tEdn+Nrvi8F7KJSOtfvnQ5g2GjkI/4Q2utFnowZWD7Z2qYuFv6uw+pi9DCqYOxFRynoZEV0YgPa9w5FPI41AWpYgXNuAu2zgsbSkZ0E/dyZfJwgqSM1FykPYXFMoapHI8vT0I5A83rZPvx0BMSsncNPEVXJD7WnyxCe9SOv26HneMIeoO5HtMgdnplw2HfpELhjgIvq7PSjZG7p5+bwR5lUTUmczgLSgW1EdIemJ6LAw4lV4+JFR1mP/lOJ8TrlnUEt4QGy1BNxJhC+HBwxLLBm5IV24UgS1wqYjJGxyiT/EaeX2mhbhXjtFbjOJwZhbTctamfX9mu7vX50CrvnBZxz99GHEJLvyjAXz3KqduEM539J1L2X0WTb5Q7XCzNZ9H0wkYtVJ1JX0X+A0eHV71nkMUJFbtvTGvW+lekR2XXGtLl3sLF3l5eNTYF1svAZI0z0Jhg2eWWO4TLJ3KsjD5tdXuE51tR0tmzzw3bpkSldYyKbNmWZeu0kaxHyHmOHR1ZJ+4lN/eVtJABdbic1av0oAOrgX1aFLzveBWexsWZxmc/mm/TaWfJjVxMWfcctxa3UU5CaX6VCo4O3BOMCEsCixbpyqqVnCCkf26lhpw/Juo3Li6ONI9e9hn+1XinLcJEZWWBtWKa0iCLJJJ2yiQI=
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!