Frostbound Torment 2
Nothing prepared me for the scene I caught as I looked up. My eyes widened in terror at the headless sight of the attendant whose body stood with blood spilling out of her naked neck. Gone was her burning bright rouge hair, gone was her cynical grin, gone was her head, and gone was the power she held over my life mere minutes ago.
A feeling settled over me first, relief. But then it registered the reality of the death I just partook in. I shut my eyes hoping the image would leave my mind but I could still see her headless body. My stomach churned, and I felt sick enough to throw up. I slapped my hand over my mouth hoping to hold down my vomit.
“Harlyn, your hand,” Abel had dashed to my side, kneeling right beside me. I opened my eyes to another horror.
The claws that had been clinging to my arm were now limp, lifeless, and attached to a severed hand that held on to me like a grotesque accessory. I scurried back, shaking, dragging the corpse’s icy grip with me. It felt like it refused to let go even in death.
“Hold on!” Abigail snapped, her voice sharp like glass. She rushed forward, tearing the frozen fingers from my arm with one fierce pull. I yelped as the remaining shards of ice bit into my skin.
Unfortunately, that was my tipping point, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I turned over to my side and let the bile out of my throat. I hoped I could vomit what I was feeling but all that left my mouth was the pieces of food I'd eaten the day before.
When I finished pouring out my insides, my gaze searched for the crimson-streaked mess on the carpet, and most importantly, the person who killed her.
There he stood amidst the carnage. Ethan. I hadn't noticed him right behind the body. His eyes were blazing, molten fury simmering just beneath their surface. He lowered his arm, and I caught sight of his hand slicked with blood.
He looked unhinged, the air around him crackling with energy that promised disaster if anyone dared to push him. His chest heaved like he’d sprinted miles to get here and beads of sweat coated his face.
“Shitty creatures,” he spat, his voice brisk and venomous. He kicked the lifeless body to the side with disgust, as if she were no more than trash to be disposed of. The body hit a nearby couch with a loud thud. I gulped down my trepidation.
“What are you doing here?” Abigail demanded in a soft tone, the type you'd use for a familiar wild beast you can only hope to tame. “We could have dealt with it.”
“But you didn't. She was going to kill her,” Ethan growled dangerously low, pointing at me with his bloodied finger. “You were all just standing around watching.”
“We had it under control,” Abigail retorted, but her tone faltered slightly as her head hung low.
“Does this look like control to you?” Ethan countered, his voice dipping lower as he gestured toward the bits of brains on the carpet. His jaw was clenched tightly to the point I feared he might break it.
I wanted to speak, to interject, but my throat felt like sandpaper. My entire body was still shaking and my arm throbbed with a dull ache where the claws had left shallow, frozen gouges in my flesh. Any sudden move suggested my limb would fall off.
“We get it,” Tyler pitched in suddenly, stepping between them with a flicker of his usual nonchalance, though his shoulders were tight with tension. “We can tackle each other on this later. But she looks like she’s about to keel over.”
“I’m f—,” I croaked. The lie wouldn't leave my mouth properly. My knees wobbled as I tried to stand. Luckily for me, Abel was eager to help so I leaned against him doing my best to ignore the blood on my body.
“No, you’re not, you're cold.” Abel pointed out. He steadied me with a firm grip. I welcomed the warmth of his hands hoping I could forget the cold I felt minutes ago. It wasn't enough.
Ethan ignored them all, his focus narrowing in on me like a hawk. His gaze softened so fast that it felt alarming. Right, I was playing the part of the helpless idiot who needed saving again. My mouth felt bitter.
“How bad is it?” Ethan asked sharply.
I tilted my head in confusion. “The... in general, me? or?“ my sentences kept chopping.
“The marks on your arm,” he clarified.
“Oh,” I peered down my arm, gaping at the holes. How would I heal from them? “I'm not sure.“ I told him honestly. Tears brimmed my eyes.
“We're leaving,” He ordered. “Call who you need to come clean up this mess,” he turned to face Abigail.
She nodded simply, her raven tresses bouncing gently against her shoulder blades. She looked so composed. I was jealous.
“You,” Ethan sharply faced me.“You'll be shifting tonight to heal that,” he stated as a matter of fact.
“What?“