Oracle: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Series (A Diana Hawthorne Supernatural Mystery Book 1), Carissa Andrews [read my book .txt] 📗

Stars and burst of light invade my vision and I’m suddenly spinning in a sea of abstracts.

Blake’s voice is far away, saying something—but I can’t quite grab hold on the words. My body has an odd sensation, as if it’s being moved—but I’m not really in it.

Maybe if I rest for just a minute...

No sooner does the thought flash through my mind, I feel myself sinking. Sinking through the earth beneath me—sinking into a place of utter cessation. The beauty in the stillness of this space is something I never knew could exist—and yet, it feels vaguely familiar. Almost as if it’s the place from which we all spring from.

Whatever it is, it’s a restful, peaceful place I could totally get used to. Yet, somewhere in the back of my being, I know it’s all temporary. Rest and peace have never been in the cards for me.

A blast somewhere nearby extracts me from the tranquility and forces me back into my body. My eyes pop open at the sound of gurgling beside me. Breathing takes effort, as I struggle for each inhalation. Slowly, the pain eases and I twist around, taking in my surroundings.

“You shot me—” Peter screams in agony. “You fuckin’ shot me.”

Less than a foot from me, Peter clutches at his shoulder, blood streaming from beneath his palm.

A few meters away, Blake drops the gun to his side, then tucks it in the space between the small of his back and his jeans.

“Are you okay?” he says, rushing to my side. Blake drops to his knees, placing his left hand on my shoulder.

I nod, unable to find the energy or breath to speak.

Returning the acknowledgment, he stands up, making his way to Peter. Without a single warning, Blake lands a blow across the man’s face, and his body slumps to the dusty floor. His limp hand slides from his wound, and Blake grabs hold of it, twisting him over to apprehend him in the same manner as Brady.

“Holy shit, Diana—you are either the dumbest person I know, or the bravest. What in the hell were you thinking? How did you even find us?” Blake says, shaking his head and dragging Peter’s limp body closer to Brady’s.

Sitting, up, my gaze strays past him to the group of girls hiding in the shadows.

Swallowing hard, I shake my head and point to the girls.

I don’t have it in me yet to talk. Besides, the priority should be the girls now—it’s what we came here for, after all.

Blake’s eyes linger on me for a moment, concern and conflict creeping across his features.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks.

“No not really. But I’ll be okay. Go help the girls,” I whisper, my voice scratchy and labored.

Nodding, he shoots a quick glance at the apprehended men and walks off down the cavern tunnel. Shining his flashlight toward the girls, they tentatively step out into the light.

“Are you…are you here to save us?” a redheaded girl no more than ten says, clutching to the arm of the brunette next to her.

Blake stands his ground, not chancing going any further, as he bends down on one knee.

“Yeah, Diana and I—we’ve come a long way to make sure you’re all safe,” he says, his tone soft and gentle, pointing my direction when he says my name. “Are any of you hurt?”

Each of their faces flit through a series of emotions as they each try to decide what to respond with. Their pain isn’t necessarily anything that can be seen, but none of them are 100% okay with how the past few weeks have transpired.

A blonde girl in the back raises a pointer finger to the men beyond and says, “They’re not the ones in charge. There’s another man—”

“Lester, right?” I say, edging myself to an awkward stand. The words tumble out, as my body screams from the movement.

The blonde girl nods.

Blake throws a glance over his shoulder, his eyes bright and curious.

“Well, we need to get outta here before Lester comes looking,” he says, walking to me and holding an arm out to grab onto. “You sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, just had the wind knocked out of me. I’ll be fine in a bit,” I say, forcing air deeper into my lungs.

Turning back to the girls, Blake says, “I’m going to get you all out of these restraints, okay?”

He lets go of my arm gently, waiting for me to grab hold of the cavern wall. Once I’ve steadied myself, he walks to the grouping of girls, and takes out a small pocket knife.

“So, what’s everyone’s name?” he says, keeping his voice calm and gentle as he cuts through the duct tape binding them all together. “Mine is Blake.”

The small redhead is the first to speak, “I’m Torie.”

Her hand waves quickly in front of her body.

“I’m Haley,” the blonde says.

“Rebecca,” the brunette says, rubbing at her newly freed wrists.

The last one, a tall, dark-skinned, dark-haired girl steps out of the shadows. She doesn’t say a word, but instead, embraces Blake in a full-on hug.

“That’s Kaylee,” Torie says.

Blake waits a moment, allowing Kaylee to feel safe and calm. He rests his hand on the back of her head, holding her close.

“It’s really nice to meet you all. This is my—uh, this is Diana,” Blake says, waving a hand to draw me closer to the group. “I wish we were all meeting under better circumstances, though.”

“How’s everyone feeling?” I ask, walking closer. Breathing is much easier, but it’s still hard to get words out.

“I’m starving—” Haley says, her eyebrows tugging in.

“It’s been almost a day since we ate,” Torie says, nodding as her tummy rumbles.

Blake tips his head in acknowledgement, “Reinforcements are on their way, but we need to get outta here. As soon as we’re out, I’m sure food will be a top priority. Is everyone able to walk?”

They all nod in tandem with one another.

“Allow me to lead the way. I know the way out,” I say, taking my time to step