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It vised around my chest, gluing my ribcage to my heart so every breath wrenched and suffocated.
I tripped and stumbled.
Fumbled at the black wall.
Blinked with blind eyes.
With a groan that sounded as if it came from a tortured, pitiful thing, I tumbled out of the alley and back into the cave of wonders.
The glow worms flickered with indignation at my arrival.
They judged me as I collapsed to my knees like a pauper and gasped for redemption like a thief.
Pressing my sweaty forehead to the damp cave floor, I fell to my side and flopped onto my back.
Darkness.
Everywhere.
Fucking everywhere.
In me. On me. Around me.
But pinpricks.
Staring back.
Glittering like glowing sapphires, forming an entire galaxy above me.
I focused on them.
I clung to their light.
The angelical luminescence wasn’t strong enough to forgive or absolve me.
I was unforgivable.
Unredeemable.
I was nothing but blackness and death.
Chapter Five
………………………….
Ily
“WHICH WAY, PETER?” RACHEL TAPPED OUR broken friend on his pasty cheek.
Peter mumbled something and tried to lift his head, but unlike all the other moments when he’d been able to power through his pain…he no longer had the strength.
With the softest groan, he tumbled sideways where we’d placed him against the wall.
“Oh no.” I caught him before his head cracked against stone, gently lowering his cheek to the cave floor. “Peter?” I shook his lax shoulder. “Jaagate raho, Paavak. Chalo bhee. Aap theek hain.” (Stay awake, Paavak. Come on. You’re okay.)
Nothing.
None of us spoke for the longest time, all of us hoping for a miracle where Peter opened his eyes, sprang to his feet, and led us to victory.
