Untouchable by Marii Solaria

Chapter 55 – Lost in the Darkness

“Darkness does not leave us easily as we would hope.“–Margaret Stohl

Kiya

“Osiris! You came back!”

“I told you I would, Princess. I had to take care of a couple of things.”

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Halima’s laughter bounced across the dark realm like a ricochet shit. Overflowing with sheer happiness and delight, 1 watched, much to my horror, the little girl wrapping her tiny arms around Osiris‘ neck like koala to bamboo. His stout arm supported her from the bottom of her knees, allowing her legs to dangle. It was a sickening scene to watch because Osiris didn’t deserve Halima’s affection, not after all he’s done to me. I wanted nothing more but to rip the child from his arms and retreat to someplace safe.

But this realm is my mind. Where exactly is a safe place? This is where my dark thoughts lurk; deep in trenches I dare not to dig up. I couldn’t dig them up. When they do, I’m pulled into a world full of rot, reminding me day in and day out that I’m a broken woman. Nothing can cure me of all the agony and trauma -it’ll haunt me eternally.

Darkness is pervasive and I’m seeing proof right before my eyes. Osiris has deluded my inner child into assuming he is her guardian angel. My heart skipped a beat, striking pain in my chest from an unexplained source. What is more unnerving is that I can feel what Halima is feeling; we’re the same person. Her happiness bleeds into me, sending pleasurable shivers down my spine.

My fear and shock are going into overdrive. This isn’t good.

“You stooped to a new low, Osiris.” I snarled, interrupting their ‘reunion‘. Halima gazed at me curiously while the bastard in question shot me a charming smile. “Manipulating a child? Really?”

“I did no such thing.” He quipped, tickling his finger under Halima’s chin. “I simply gave this child–you- hope. As

continue to reject your true feelings, little Halima has embraced them. Follow in her footsteps and the pain will end.”

you

“No! You poisoned me with your darkness! Your bullshit is the reason we’re here!”

“No. This place has always been here, Kiya, born and bred from horrors unimaginable. This world is a manifestation of your thoughts and feelings. Sure, my darkness loves to play with yours, but in all honestly, I didn’t make this darkness. You did.” Osiris shrugged, adjusting Halima on his hip. “Halima simply transformed it into a place familiar to her; the place that started this madness, the death of your Luna and her daughter.”

“I should rip your throat out now, you malicious bastard!” Artemis warned, venom frothing in her jaws. I glanced at her in mild shock. “You forced your agenda and your sick powers onto Kiya and infected Halima in return! You took advantage of her vulnerability and I won’t let you corrupt my human any longer!”

“Why hold yourself back, Artemis?” Osiris chuckled, tapping his neck. “Come and get me.”

“Artemis, wait!” It was too late. My wolf, fiercely protective of me, charged at the avatar like a bullet snapping, and claws aiming for his flesh.

“I will end you

But, in a blut, everything shifted

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Воли

02:11

shriek in rage, her brown eyes flashing scarlet. “Get away!” Suddenly, a blow of unmitigated force charged at Artemis and me, launching us backward away from the two. Separated by several feet, we landed on our backs, punching the wind out of our lungs. What followed was a sequence of beavy, resounding clangs along with Artemis rabid barking. As my vertigo faded, my vision cleared to

was nothing that could rationalize

a zoo animall Strange lig emanated from the

There was no lock in sight and

to be forced aside by an imperceptible wall pulsating with power with

there, dumb dog!”

my inner child “Don’t you

annoying, though. I like

can fack with me all they want, but harming memis cusses the line. Marthing over to them with purpose. I yanked Halima from Osiris arms and need the bastard as and as I could im his stomach, grinning at his painful gasps.

you doing?” Halima shouted “Let me go!

it. Once we were some distance elsewhere, I set Halima on her fest, ignoring her obvious glaring and sulking Artemis continue to struggle, and my

Hury, please

knee to meet her height “Stop this Ler Artemis go. No good

with our feelings that don’t include murting

me! You’re just scared of darkness because you want to believe you’re this wonderful person full of light when you’re nott

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the Bonu fight shall out in het browns. “We aren’t like this. We’re better than the people

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way you think.” My jaw dropped. I’ve never heard a child’s voice become so cold. Uninviting and unforgiving. Halima pressed her tiny, battered hand on my heart, fingers twitching at my heartbeat. “You don’t have to play Ms. Goody–Two–Shoes all the time. I know how you felt when you killed that man, when you almost killed that dumb Odessa, and everything before that. You can’t look at me and tell me you didn’t feel good because I know you did! Good without the hurt. That’s

she’s right. The instant gratification of beating someone who once controlled me was an abction. An adrenaline rush like no other. For once, the abiding pain was gone. I could breathe like a normal person. The chains to my anguish were broken, and I felt unstoppable.

know what it meant until I heard bubbling and gurgling from behind me, growing with vigor and volume. Sloshing echoed and crackling from the trees were heard. Turning slowly, I’m face to face with the pond Halima was dancing around earlier,

is why I have to do

the water and snaked around my waist and legs,

deep chuckles, and Artemis barking–demanding

but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t move

against the mighty pull of the living pond, crawling forward toward my freedom. My nails threatened to split from my cuticles, but I couldn’t stop. There is no telling what waiting inside

to me, crashed into my face, causing me to lose r With a delighted “Whee!“, we went plummeting into the water with a mighty splash.

my grip.

painful deafness constrained my eardrums, muffling the sound of slashing water. Without something to grip, the force pulled my body further into the darkened depths. Even my powers, connected to the moon itself, couldn’t help me. The silvery light

No light. Only

struggle to breathe in the black tar, desperate for a sign of life and hope. But there

do it.” Halima spoke. Her mouth didn’t move, but I could

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Bonus

countered, weakness taking over my muscles. “We might die here.”

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you want me? You never came to see if I was okay until today. It’s a lonely without you, even with Ala.” For emphasis, she showed her teddy bear. My teddy bear. I gazed at the bear, long

keep her company. Was it my fault that I cursed my

there was consistently that presence in the back of my head, noting how I had no place in the world. That Selene made a mistake with me. Through my grueling weight gain, therapy sessions, and visits to the

to deal with me? Neron must be