Island of Fire (The Unwanteds) by lisa Mcmann Read Free Book Online Page B

clutched at her, devastated that she could see shadows and he couldn’t, yet trying not to lose hope. If she could see, she could try to escape. But if she had to drag him with her, he was only a liability. And despite her response, despite knowing deep down that she wouldn’t leave him willingly, he was still scared beyond anything he’d ever been through—beyond the Purge, beyond the battle, beyond the excruciating implantation of the necklace of thorns. Samheed was frightened that something would separate them, and that he would be left blind, deaf, mute, and alone in this stark cave once again, this time forever.
    Lani’s lips parted in surprise when Samheed didn’t let go of her. And even though she’d been concentrating, straining hereyes to see more and more as the light slowly increased, something in her stomach flitted about just then, and she became highly aware of Sam’s warm cheek against hers. She swallowed hard and her breathing grew shallower, almost as if she was afraid her intake of air would disturb the moment or cause Sam to come to his senses and let go. But he didn’t. Lani’s eyes fluttered closed, and she turned her attention from things she could barely see to things intangible and invisible inside of her, and for the briefest of moments, the two breathed together in time.
    When they drew apart at last, it was with a somber realization that they were alone in this strange and horrible world, and that hope for rescue was waning. That despite the trauma and horror of their predicament, all they had was the person sitting next to them. And all they could do was wait for Alex.
    But Alex hadn’t come.
    Neither needed to say it. They sat side by side, backs against the wall, fingers intertwined, with no pressing need for sight or sound in this moment, as long as they had each other.
    It was perhaps an hour later that a towering shadow darkened the brightening space in front of Lani. She startled withforce and scrambled closer to Samheed, gripping his hand tightly as she tried to explain what was happening with taps from her other hand on his knee. But it became apparent that the figure, in the process of setting down a tray of food, noticed her commotion. In the grainy light, Lani saw the black holes that were his eye sockets, two dull orange spots coming from the depths of them, and a slow, evil smile spreading across his face.
    He lunged at her, snatching her by her free arm, and pulled her toward him. Lani’s mouth opened wide in a silent scream, her body being pulled upward by the figure and down again by Samheed, who hung on to her hand and arm with all his might, knowing only that his worst fears must be coming true.
    Pain tore through Lani’s body as the figure grasped her around the waist and yanked her up and away from Samheed. He stomped on Sam’s foot and kneed the boy in the stomach, but even breathless and racked with pain, Samheed hung on to Lani’s arm. “I’m not letting go!” he screamed, but the words could be heard only in his head. He kicked out wildly, trying to connect with whatever it was that was taking Lani away, but he missed over and over. Sweat slickened his grasp, and with onelurch into the air and a kick from the enemy, Samheed lost his hold and hit the ground hard.
    Lani nearly went flying in the other direction, but the figure tightened his grip around her waist as she kicked and pounded at him, and he carried her away, leaving Sam motionless on the stone floor of the cave.

In a Word
    B reathe,’ ” Alex murmured. He looked up at Sky. “It says ‘breathe’!”
    Sky looked back at him, her eyes shiny. She nodded. Then she pointed at another picture inside the miniature mansion.
    Alex turned back to Mr. Today’s tiny office and aimed the magnifying glass on another picture. Sweat poured down his face as he concentrated, then tried not to concentrate too hard. This picture was similar to the first, but the colors of the dots were different, as was the