The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0597

When I blinked my eyes open again, I was reclining on a leather seat with the back dropped way down. The ceiling seemed to be curved. There were other seats beside my own, similar in shape and style. Nicholas was sitting in one of them.

The ritual was over, then. I didn't feel much pain anymore, though exhaustion did weigh down heavily onto me. But where was I? And where was Elva?

I wanted to ask Nicholas, but my thoughts felt sluggish. My mouth wasn't totally working just yet.

Nicholas was talking, but not to me. He had his phone to his ear.

"I want a medical helicopter ready and waiting at the airport the moment we land," Nicholas said.

Airport? Oh, we were in an airplane. That would explain the curved ceiling and matching chairs. And we were set to return home the day of the ritual. I must have been passed out all of this time.

But wait... medical helicopter? Had something happened to Elva?!

At once, my sluggishness dissipated and I sprung upright in a panicked rush. My thoughts went from too few, too slow to so many at once that I was having trouble organizing them.

My heart raced out of control. I needed to see Elva. Where was she? Was she okay? What happened with the ritual?

Nicholas immediately noticed my distress with a look of concern crossing his face. "I have to go," he said into the phone and hung up. He turned toward me in his seat. "Piper? How are you feeling?"

"What happened to E-Elva?" I said so quickly and with so much emotion that my voice cracked. I reached out and gripped his sleeve with both hands.

Nicholas looked down at where I was holding him. He placed his hand over both of mine.

"Everything's okay," he said. "Elva is fine. Better than fine, really. It's you that we are worried about."

"But the medical helicopter...?"

you, Piper. You've

was not as new as I thought. Worry seemed etched into his features. Was it fear for

slightly in affection for him. He truly cared for

ritual? And

rest of us combined. Afterwards, not even the Oracle could explain why, though she

letting go of my hand," I

stop it, the spell ended. Then, immediately after,

wanting to protect me, I supposed I would have done the same in his position. But saving Elva was and would

sure with my own

you think you can walk?" Nicholas asked. "She's just nearer

have crawled to see her if I had to, but I didn't want Nicholas to worry more. So, even though I

if it was true, I

argue. Instead, he rose from his seat and stepped into the aisle. He waited there, giving

my strength, letting my strong desire to make sure Elva was okay drive me forward. Seeing Elva was a powerful motivator. Even though my legs wobbled, I still placed them beneath me soundly enough and was able to step into the

close behind me as we walked toward the front of the

for bones. It was as if she couldn't sit still. When she crawled over some empty seats and stepped into the aisle again, Elva spotted

toward me to give me a hug. I wanted to lean down and hold her, but I wasn't certain I'd be able to stand back up again. Instead, I gently patted her

leaned back to look up at me with wide, bright eyes. "Are you up from your nap? You were sleeping

gave her my softest smile. "I was just resting,

was no less a nervous flier than the last time we'd been in this airplane, so I quickly ushered

all fastened

gripped onto the armrests with white-knuckled grips, holding on for dear life as the plane rattled around. Elva didn't seem alarmed; she just looked