Through Fire And Ruin by Jennifer Becker & Alice Karpiel

Author:Jennifer Becker & Alice Karpiel [Becker, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-05-05T16:00:00+00:00

When she finally felt that she could compose herself, Lora took a deep breath and forced a mask of calm back over her expression. Her right hand gripped her phone, which had still been in her pocket, as well as the WiFi cube. She was glad the fae apparently saw her as such a small threat, they hadn’t bothered to search her.

Sitting in the corner of her prison, Lora called her mum’s number and pressed the phone to her ear.

It rang once. Maybe they weren’t home.

Twice. Maybe it was a sign she should stay silent.

Third time. Maybe…

“Lora?” Her mum’s voice came through the speaker and Lora choked on a fresh wave of sadness. “Is that you?”

Trying to keep from trembling, Lora replied, “Yeah, Mum. It’s me.”

She could hear a relieved sigh and possibly tears on the other side. “Honey, are you okay? What’s happening? Why are you calling—I’m glad you did.”

“I just needed to hear your voice.”

“Are you hurt?”

Lora hesitated only for a second. There was nothing her mum could do to help. She would spare her the heartbreak as long as possible. “No, I’m okay. I just need a bit more time.” She was met with silence on the other end. “But I’m close,” Lora said to fill the void.

“You are?” her mum asked quietly.

“Just a minor setback,” Lora added as she looked around the cell.

“You can come back anytime. I hate that you’re out there. You belong home with us.”

“I do. And I will.” A promise rooted in nothing but lies.

“Are you truly okay? You didn’t…you didn’t explore anything fae-related, did you?”

A broad statement, but Lora knew her meaning. Did she explore her fae side? Not in a physical sense, but she couldn’t deny that she had started to get curious. No. She shook her head. It was a dangerous path. She shut down her train of thought immediately; even thinking about it made her feel like she was betraying her family, especially her mum.

“No, of course not. I’m careful, don’t worry,” Lora insisted.

“Good. I wasn’t trying to imply that you would. I wasn’t sure how it would affect you, being over there.”

Lora wasn’t even sure how it really affected her. Would this experience change her? Surely, even if she did escape somehow, being sold and used as a blood bag would have to leave some scars. The thought made her shudder, but her voice sounded calm as she said, “I know. How’s everyone?” Another silence. A heavier one. “Mum?”

“I…they are fine.”

“Want to try again and convince me this time? What’s going on?”

“I didn’t want to trouble you. But since you said you’re close…” Lora could hear her exhaling loudly. “Your dad…he tested positive. He has the virus.”

And there it was again. That feeling of drowning, of being pulled under muddy, terrifying water. No hope in sight. Nothing to pull her up. But she needed to be the hope for her parents. To keep them fighting as long as they could.

“Lora?” her mum asked, worry carrying her voice.

Lora’s eyes were watering.

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