Their Secret Obsession by Pippa Moon

Chapter 0326

Knox's POV

Darkness enveloped me like a thick fog, heavy and impenetrable. Voices echoed somewhere in the distance, muffled and indistinct. I tried to focus, to latch onto any sound that could anchor me, but it was like grasping at smoke. A sharp sting jolted me briefly into consciousness. Blurred shapes hovered above me. I recognized Chase's voice-urgent, tinged with panic-as he spoke to someone I couldn't see.

"He's not responding! We need to do something now!" Chase's words sliced through the haze, but I couldn't grasp their meaning.

I tried to turn my head to see who he was talking to, but a blinding white light seared into my eyes, forcing them shut. Pain radiated from somewhere deep inside me, but I couldn't pinpoint its source. My throat felt like it was on fire, raw and searing. I attempted to speak, to call out, but only a raspy croak escaped my lips.

Havoc stirred weakly in the recesses of my mind, his usual fiery presence reduced to a feeble ember. He howled in pain, a sound that resonated with my own distress.

"What's happening?" I thought, but no answer came. My memories were a fragmented puzzle, pieces missing and edges frayed. As the white light intensified, I squinted, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Shadows danced at the periphery of my vision. Panic bubbled up within me.

"Where am I?" I spluttered, my voice barely more than a whisper. The effort sent a jolt of agony through my chest. I attempted to push myself up, but a searing pain tore through my side, stealing my breath. I gasped, collapsing back. Desperately, I tried to lift my hands to clutch at the source of the pain, but they felt heavy and numb, unresponsive to my commands.

"What is happening?" I murmured, confusion and fear intertwining. Footsteps approached, and suddenly Liam's face loomed above me, his expression etched with concern.

"Liam? What are you doing here... Where is here?" I managed to ask. He placed a cool hand on my forehead.

"You're burning up," he said softly. "Try to stay still." His touch was calming, but it did little to alleviate the growing dread.

"His wound is black, look," Liam called out to Chase, his voice strained. Black? What did that mean? Panic clawed at me.

"Wound?" I echoed. "Who's hurt?" But even as I asked, a sharp throb in my side provided the answer. It was me.

appeared beside Liam, his face drawn tight

between them. With great difficulty, I lifted my hand, noticing

exchanged a grim look with him. I closed my eyes, trying

and you," I said slowly, my brow furrowing. "You were telling

I dug

we went to find her. There were tunnels, and... Sebastian." The name left a bitter taste in my mouth. Flashes

memory sharpening. "He ambushed us." A surge of adrenaline coursed through me as

"And then?" Chase prompted.

as another wave of pain washed over me. "He taunted us. There was a fight." My eyes snapped open as the realisation

I admitted, a mixture of anger

getting hurt?"

I shook my head slowly. Havoc stirred again, a faint growl

weakly. Stabbed. The word

think... I was stabbed," I voiced aloud, uncertainty lacing my voice. Chase's

got you with a blade we

you mean?" I questioned, dread

gently. "The wound-it isn't healing. The edges are... blackened, almost burnt." I tried to lift my head

it healing?" I

"But we

felt Havoc recoil at

can't heal you." Fear tightened its grip, but I pushed it down, focusing on those I loved. If this was how it ended, so be it. But I needed to know that Kane and Lottie were safe before I gave in to the fight. "What about the others? Kane, Lottie-are they

with Adam, we think,"

of desperation fueled me. You think?" I growled, but pain ripped through me, forcing me back down. The agony was unbearable, and tears pricked at the