Chapter 38

I opened my eyes.

A monster had me. A nightmarish image with too many heads and a horrific mashup body, smirking as I struggled in his grasp. "Help me! Heeeeelllllp!"

A dark-haired man charged us, arms raised. His fingers ended in blades, glinting in the moonlight.

I screamed again.

"Nava!" the man cried out. He skidded to a stop before us. How did he know my name?

I screwed my eyes shut, whimpering, stuck between a nightmare and another nightmare. Wind whooshed against my legs and I was dropped onto the ground.

I cracked an eye to find the man battling the monster. Not on the same team, then?

"Use your magic!" the man barked at me.

I stared at the crazy stranger. Then I did what any sane person would do and ran screaming into the night.

Behind me, I heard the man swear, and the monster laugh.

The stranger caught up with me in the middle of the road. I glanced over my shoulder but the monster was gone.

"Let me go." I tried to tug free.