The Fallen 4 by Thomas E. Sniegoski

Author:Thomas E. Sniegoski [Sniegoski, Thomas E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Published: 2012-08-14T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Dusty stood before the giant sword. He could see little more than a darkened outline through the milky haze that obscured his vision.

“Are you sure about this, Dusty?” Aaron asked from beside him.

Dusty could hardly hear the question. The emanations from the Instrument crowded his head. “I’m good,” he managed, momentarily turning his failing eyes from the vibrating blade toward Aaron’s voice.

The Instrument had been plunged deep into the flesh of the earth by the monstrous Abomination of Desolation, and was now tuned with the new horrors of the world. It saw everything that happened across the globe, and wanted to share all of that news with Dusty. The sword could also see the future, and wanted to show him the multitude of those possibilities too.

That was more than enough to drive a normal person insane, but Dusty wasn’t normal. He hadn’t been normal since he’d come to possess the Instrument. If he’d had the choice, he would have broken the psychic connection with the great weapon, but Dusty knew that wouldn’t happen until he was dead.

He felt Lorelei’s hand upon his shoulder. “Just let me know when you’re ready,” she said into his ear.

Dusty didn’t want to do this, but he owed it to his new friends, and the world. Who knows, he thought hopefully. Maybe whatever I do today will free me from the damn Instrument tomorrow.

It was worth a shot.

“I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” he said over the nauseating hum inside his own head.

Lorelei was going to use her magick to help him focus, to keep his mind from spinning into oblivion with the Instrument’s millions of visions and alternate realities. Dusty could faintly make out the scroll containing the spell and Lorelei’s copper bowl as she set them on the ground next to him. She’d also brought a dove for sacrifice (How many of those poor things bite it in a week here? he had to wonder) and the globe from the science room to use as their map.

“Remember,” Aaron said. “We get the locations of the Fear Engines, and then that’s it. Break the connection as quickly as you’re able. No need to put yourself at any more risk than absolutely necessary.”

Dusty nodded. Part of him wanted to scream that simply being near the sword was a huge risk, but there wasn’t any point in making Aaron feel worse than he probably already did.

Dusty turned his focus to the blade before him. “Ready when you are,” he said to Lorelei, who dropped the last of her special ingredients into the bowl.

The contents of the bowl began to smoke, and Lorelei picked up the small rolled scroll and started to quietly read from it.

Dusty opened his mind to the Instrument—and almost immediately wished that he hadn’t. He felt as though he were drowning, drowning in sheer terror. Images bombarded him, barely giving him the opportunity to process one before another replaced it. It took everything he had not to scream, everything he had not to search out the nearest jagged rock and cut his own throat.

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