Chapter 22: Echoes of the Abyss – The Price of the Contract

Elina’s POV

“…li…na…”

“…Eli—”

“Elina…”

I came back to consciousness to the sound of Ryan’s worried voice.

I was choking, my lungs clawing for air. Ryan’s arms were still locked around me.

My cheek felt wet, warm, and sticky—probably from Ryan’s dripping back.

My head throbbed like it had been smashed with a brick.

The last thing I remembered was the crowd going feral—Lucas’s fans, wild-eyed and screaming, like his voice had them possessed, shoving and clawing at us as we ran. My arm burned where one grabbed me, nails digging in, and Ryan grunted, blood soaking his shirt from a gash some lunatic’s bottle had sliced across his back.

Then it all blurred—Lucas’s voice shredding the air, blue flames eating the stage, and Ryan hauling me out as my legs gave up on me.

Now we sprawled on cold concrete, a low hum shaking the floor.

I blinked, taking in our surroundings—metal walls, flickering lights, a drone hovering overhead, its red eye glaring.