Page 5 of Phoenix Chosen 2

There are two images on the iPad, and she zooms into the ribcage of one. I can see a clearly defined black line going through them.

“This was the fracture when you were brought in yesterday, and…this is from just now.”

The second image’s line is much smaller, like a pencil mark compared to a Sharpie.

“Unless there was some kind of artifact with the x-ray, I would say you’re healing at an unusually rapid rate, Tyler. Have you ever experienced anything like this before?”

I stare at the image, and all I can think about is my pregnancy on Circeana and how quickly it developed over the course of just several days.

“Nope,” I say.

“How are your pain levels?” she asks.

“Feeling pretty good,” I tell her, and she’s alarmed when I start tilting my torso back and forth. “Hurts a bit, but…”

My attention is drawn to what’s on the TV. A new anchor soundlessly talks to the camera with the headline, “Man arrested for attacking costumed character” plastered on the banner beneath him.

“Well, I’d like to do some more tests,” Dr. Luna says. “And we…”

A mugshot appears on the screen and my heart flips so hard I almost fall off the bed. I grip the side rail and swoon. My head is spinning. Am I seeing things? Is that a hallucination, or is it his fucking doppelganger?

I grab the remote and unmute the TV. Dr. Luna stammers mid-sentence and turns around to look.

“—as Kermit the Frog,” the anchor says. “The attack happened this afternoon, outside of a local pet store. Police have the suspect in custody.”

I leap off the bed and fly to the TV. Just before they cut to an interview of a young guy wearing a knockoff Kermit the Frog character costume, I get a good look at the scowling face in the mugshot. Those copper eyes are all I need to see to know it’s him.

Kalistratos.

“Oh my god,” I say. “He’s here. He’s fucking here.”

Dr. Luna is looking at me like I need another CT scan. I throw my arms around her in a big bear hug and feel a slight twinge in my side.

“Oof, okay, yeah. Maybe I’m not fully healed yet.”

“T-Tyler?”

I grab her by the shoulders, my grin a mile wide. “I have no idea how, but he’s here,” I tell her. I know I look like a deranged lunatic, but I don’t care.

I grab my stuff off of the counter.

“Tyler! What is?—”

“Thanks, Doctor,” I tell her as I zip for the door. “I’m feeling much better. I’ve gotta go.”

Kalistratos is here—and he needs my help.

3

KALISTRATOS

Iam in the underworld.

At least, that’s the first thing that comes to mind to explain this bizarre place. I’ve been given a set of odd robes and am made to sit in a stone box behind a metal gate with other captives. Some of them look lost, like they’re awaiting death.

“Jesus,I’m tellin’ you, I didn’t do shit!” a man shouts at the guard sitting behind what appears to me to be a block of perfectly transparent ice, though it shows no sign of wetness or melting.

I’m shocked at what I heard. “What did you just say?” I demand, grabbing his tunic. “Say it again!”