Intended Series Collection: Books 1-6, Abigail Grant [best thriller books to read txt] 📗

in my ear when we pass the mean woman. “Looks like the witch brew worked.”

I want to laugh, but I hold in the temptation. I just nod and continue after Jack and Neo until the tunnel opens up to a sight I never expected in a place like this.

A market. An actual hell market is laid out in an enormous cavern surrounded by the same black rock that we’ve been staring at for an hour. Various booths, tables, and blankets are spread throughout the dark cave, covered with different merchandise.

There are likely thousands of demons roaming about the place, and not a single ounce of organization. The demons look like regular people and none seem to mind the bone deep cold. So much for hot, burning hell fire.

Some demons are old and weak looking, while others are young and beautiful. Some demons look abused and are dressed in barely covering straps or tattered clothing.

I have to look away as we pass a woman wearing almost nothing and selling what looks to be an assortment of road killed animals. She smiles wickedly at the men in our group and I can’t imagine what else she might offer.

Every step along the jagged rocks takes nearly too much effort. The ache inside of me is worse than I ever thought imaginable and I might throw up if I don’t take a break soon. I can’t stop until I find him.

The noise in the echoey market is nearly deafening. The chatter is constant, and the majority of it makes no sense to my ears. Every language is spoken down here, and many of them I’ve never heard in my life. Growls and screams echo through the cavern as well, but I don’t see any sign of where they could be coming from.

I want to grab onto my group so I don’t lose one of them in this disgusting place, but I can’t imagine that hugging and holding hands is a common occurrence down here. I just keep following Daniel with everyone else until he stops.

“Here. Get to work,” he says to us, and walks off without a second glance.

I look to my people and they all have the same confused look as me. “Work?” I ask them and they shrug.

Neo’s face goes pale as he points to the area behind where I stand. “I think he wants us to do that.”

I turn around and gasp at the pile of human bodies lying in a large bin only feet from me. The icy air in the freezing cold hell finds my lungs and I begin to hyperventilate. I run to a dark corner of the large cavern and fall to my knees, vomiting uncontrollably.

A hand lays on my back and I turn to find Alexa leaning over me. “Are you alright El? I mean, you’re clearly not, but.. you know what I mean.” Her red curls fall in her face and her eyebrows press together as she watches me.

I shake my head. “I know what you mean. I’m not okay at all, but we just need to find Gavin and get out of here.”

Uncle Jack, Neo, and Jed join us. Jack helps me to my feet and grabs my hands in his. The gentle gesture surprises, but also comforts me. He looks into my eyes and speaks in a quiet voice. “El, you can find Gavin. I know it’s new to you, and it is to him too. But I also know that if you breathe and focus, you’ll feel the pull. Trust me.”

I pull in a deep breath, trying to ignore the many different odors that come with it. I close my eyes, still holding Jack’s hands to help steady me, and I focus on the invisible string tied around my pained heart. I follow the string in my mind, trying to find where it leads and in seconds the pull jerks hard to the right of me, and I gasp at the feel of it.

I open my eyes to see all of my loved ones eyes looking back at me in anticipation. “He’s that way, I’m sure of it.” I point to where my heart is pulling me and the five of us stand tall and head to a dark tunnel directly to my right.

The ever dramatic Jed groans, but follows my lead without question. “Great. Another tunnel.”

Chapter 9

The pull on my heart grows stronger with each step I take. I know my team is behind me, but I am focused only on the feeling of Gavin. We pass through a dark tunnel similar to the one we entered hell by, but this one has small holes in the rock walls that hold fires for light.

I get a sense of deja vu in the wide tunnel, and I know exactly where I am. My heart continues to get tugged forward, until the sudden turn I knew would come.

I spin to my left and there is the metal door I saw in my vision before, only this time it’s closed. “Gavin.” I cry his name out in a whisper and run to the door.

I can feel him on the other side, and somehow I can even discern his pain from the torture he has endured. “Gavin, can you hear me?” I talk quietly through the large door, trying not to alert any demon’s that we’re here.

No sound comes from the other side and I want to scream out to him. I turn to my group and they’re all facing away from me with weapons drawn, guarding Gavin and I.

Alexa turns and her wet eyes watch me. “Open the door with your powers, El. You have so much in you to use. Just forget the pain,” she pleads with me silently. I know she wants me to save her brother, but I feel inadequate.

I have no intention of giving up, though, so I pull small amounts of energy from deep inside of me. I don’t want to overwhelm my