Chapter 176

It was a tangible feeling, an ill sense of darkness on the approach, before Walter actually saw anything. Everyone had stopped on the far side of the bar, save Nathan who was up at the doors. Between them a ripple of smoke began to form that by the time Nathan turned back to everyone had taken the shape ofMalak. The true Malak—male, blond hair, trim suit.

Walter trembled where he stood. Then he was no longer standing but thrown back into the wall along with everyone else, held firm, painfully tight and immobile by Malak’s power. Only Nathan remained standing. He looked at them all, startled, guilt-ridden, like he was looking at a reflection in Malak and this was all his fault.

The sun had been shining outside, not the fake sunny skies from the way Nathan had shielded them, but the real sun, Walter was certain. With the appearance of Malak, however, the darkness returned, throwing everything into shadow.