Chapter 24

"I hate to break up this wonderful tale of make believe, but please don't scream."

Ofcourse, what do we all do … scream. Jumping up, I grab Wynd and Zllera running a few feet from the wall. My heart is beating so hard in my chest that I feel like I am going to faint. It takes a second for my mind to catch up with what I am seeing, and I still don't believe it. Stepping right out of the crack in the wall that was behind us is a guy. At first, he appears as a moving shadow only to form completely in front of us.

"I told you not to scream."

"That's just damn stupid. When the wall starts talking, I am going to react. Who the hell are you?"

"My name is SiN."

"Who names their kid SiN?"

"That is a conversation for another rising. Come on, these rocks are shifting radically, and I can only take one of you at a time."

"We are not going anywhere with you."

"What? You would rather stay here with the worms?"

"Zllera, do you know this guy?"

"No."

"Ok mister, … you may be tall, dark, and handsome, and apparently named appropriately, but I am not handing these kids over to you."

"I was there when you were taken. ZoD is just on the other side of this wall. Now stop wasting time and hand me the little one."

Wyndwhimpers her little arms circling my neck so tightly she is almost choking me. "IfZoD sent you, then what does he call me?"

"What besides a pain in the ass? Are you talking about a pet name?"

"I am not telling you anything."

"Frack woman we don't have time for this." He must have seen by the look on my face that I am not going to budge because he disappears into the rock again only to pop back out a few seconds later.

"He calls you, Amori. Is that good enough?"

Instantly, I am in front of him. "What do you need me to do?"

"I can only take one of you at a time because the crack is so small. Just to warn you, it will feel funny, but it only lasts a second. Who is first?"

"TakeZllera, it may take a moment for me to unwrap Wynd."

Zllerainstantly starts crying. "NoTessa, I don't want to leave you here!"

"Baby, you are not leaving me, I will be right behind you. According to this guy, your dad is just on the other side of this wall." I push her towards him and before she can say another word, his arms are wrapped around her, and I watch in amazement as they disappear right before me.

Wyndstarts crying, jabbering something about WallMen and monsters. It takes me a minute to calm her down and I start to get worried when he doesn't come right back. I am bouncing Wynd on my hip, trying to distract her when I hear the clicking noise start to get louder, … they're coming back. I can hear them on the other side of the gate when SiN appears again, but this time he has scratches on his skin.

"The wall is closing."

WhenI push Wynd towards him, she screams out for me. AsI back away, her little arms reach for me, and I can't stop the sobs when they disappear. The floor underneath me starts to tremble and seconds later, I see the crack seal up completely. I'm devastated and happy at the same time. My heart hits my chest because I know there is no way for him to get back to me now. Walking over to the wall, I put my hand on it, trying my best to push all the feelings I have towards the bond I've formed with ZoD. I know he is right there only feet away, but it might as well be miles.

Thegate opens and in walks the one who talked to me originally. He looks around, then points for some of the slighter ones to circle around the enclosure.

"Where are the other females?"

"My blood destroyed them, just like it does you. AfterI rubbed it all over them, they simply turned into a pile of dust." I almost laugh when they all back further away from me.

"How unfortunate, I had great plans for the smallest one. Others will be arriving soon and, since your blood is a danger to us all, you will be moved into a more secure location until sold."

Oneof the smaller ones holds out a staff that is glowing on the end. I don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that shiny end is going to hurt. With a heavy heart, I move forward on my own. Sad that I didn't make it out, and praying that the kids are ok.

Ican practically feel ZoD's anger and helplessness the further away from the wall I get. If they succeed in selling me, it will be like finding a needle in a haystack. I will be forever lost. I'm sure ZoD feels like the odds are against us right now. Lord knows I do, and that sucks because alien or not I was really starting to like the big guy. Well, they haven't shipped me off yet, so there is still hope. Maybe instead of me waiting to be saved. I need to find a way out of here myself.