Page 46 of The Raven's Alpha

A maniacal cackle reverberates through the air as his flesh appears to dissolve, his tendons snapping like twigs as his bones burst forth from his skin like skeletal fingers, while a crimson tide of blood erupts from his lips in a macabre display of agony, as if his very essence is being ripped asunder.

Frozen in mortal terror, I try to shriek, but my vocal cords are seized by some unseen force, rendering my voice a mere whisper of sound, as I struggle to draw breath into my constricting chest.

The boundaries between reality and hallucination blur, tormenting me with visions of agony and despair that threaten to consume my sanity.

The same grotesque tableau replays like a gruesome refrain. I succumb to the void, and when I stumble back into consciousness, the man is always there, his presence as constant as my own despair. Sometimes he sits beside me, his gaze fixed on the wall as if trying to will himself into unconsciousness, his face a mask of stoic suffering. Other times, his body contorts in agony, his cries echoing through my mind like a living nightmare.

I'm trapped in a perpetual cycle of agony, with no escape from the maddening repetition. The moments I'm awake are a blur of terror, as I'm forced to witness the man's gruesome suffering. My heart races with every beat, threatening to burst from my chest as I'm tormented by the thought of never being free from this living hell.I'm consumed by the fear that my heart will finally give out, and I'll succumb to the darkness, never to awaken again.

I crack open my eyes, I'm met with a gruesome sight, my mate's lifeless body lies before me, his face a grotesque mask of blood and bruises, his mouth frozen in a permanent scream. Desperation claws at my heart like a ravenous beast, as I reach out to him with a futile cry, only to have my pleas echo off the cold, unforgiving walls.

But when I blink, the illusion shatters once more, revealing a new atrocity. My mate now lies on the opposite side of the room, his once-strong body now a pulpy mess of broken bones and torn flesh. A crimson tide spreads from his shattered form, pooling on the floor like a viscous stain that seems to writhe and twist towards me like a living thing. I try to scramble away from the lethal liquid, but my limbs feel heavy and unresponsive, as if weighed down by the crushing despair that threatens to consume me whole.

I shriek a desperate cry, my eyes snapping open to reveal Eddy's face looming inches from mine, his eyes wide with fear, but his skin unmarred by the brutality I'd witnessed mere moments before. The stench of death and blood still clings to him, yet there's no sign of injury on him. No gashes, no bruises, no hint of the violence I'd expected. The contrast is jarring, like a cruel joke played on my ravaged mind.

"Eddy, what's going on?" I wail, my voice cracking with desperation as I cling to the only familiar presence in this twisted nightmare.

He leans in, his lips brushing against my temple, but instead of warmth, I feel a chill run down my spine. His touch is like a cold whisper, as if his mouth has passed through me without making contact. I shiver at the sensation, my mind reeling from the impossibility of it.

When he pulls away, his voice is a low, husky whisper, sending shivers across my skin. "Don't worry, omega mine," he says, his wordsa gentle reassurance that only makes my heart ache more. "I'm coming for you, okay?" His eyes burn with a fierce intensity, promising to rescue me from this desolate place. "Be strong for me," he adds, his voice cracking with emotion.

I blink away the haze, my eyes snap open to an empty room. The air is heavy with the scent of my mate's absence, and I'm left feeling bereft and disoriented. The silence is oppressive, punctuated only by the distant hum of machinery and the creaking of old wood. I'm alone, truly alone, for the first time in what feels like an eternity.

Chapter Nineteen

Eddy Elwood

My chest rises and falls in laboured gasps, the only sign that I'm still clinging to life. The darkness that has engulfed me begins to recede, yielding to the soft, silver glow of the moon and stars. I wrestle to pry open my heavy eyelids, the effort leaving me gasping for air.

When I finally manage to open my eyes, my gaze falls upon the empty space beside me. My heart sinks like a stone in a dark well. Darcy is nowhere to be found. Panic sets in as I frantically scan the surrounding area, my vision blurring with the intensity of my search.

With a surge of adrenaline, I force myself to move, my body protesting with every tortured step. I push open the mangled door of the truck, the crunch of metal and glass echoing through the night air. The windshield lays in shattered fragments on the cement.

My eyes scan the deserted landscape for any sign of him, but there is nothing. No sign of life, no hint of his presence. The only sound is the distant hum of the forest, a cruel reminder that time is slipping away.

Stumbling through the wreckage I realise my vehicle is now a write-off. Terror sets in as I note, I'm stranded with no means to find my mate. I rush to find my phone, ignoring the searing pain in my arm as I nick it on a sharp piece of metal.

Frantically searching the truck, my heart thumps when I spot Darcy's phone lying in the footwell. The cracked screen seems like a cruel mockery of our fragile bond. But it's still working, and I'm desperate to find some clue that might lead me to him.

I dial the most recent number on his call history, and my father's voice booms through the line, his concern palpable. "Darcy! Are you alright? What's going on?"

My voice cracks as I confess, "He's gone. They took him."

My father's words are laced with urgency as he asks, "Gone where? Edgar, what's happening?" I recount the events of the night, my words tumbling out in a rush of fear and anxiety. "I think they took him... What do I do?" My voice breaks as I beg for guidance.