LAIKA I knew everything going on around me, but I could not even lift a limb. Madam Theresa and Erika carried me into a place I do not know, but it looked like some kind of temple. Joy could not even reply to me anymore because she was so weak, and it was only a matter of time before she sto

She quickly hid in the shadows, thinking of what to do. Erika did not stop her incantations; she spoke louder, screaming her incantations. A sudden, heavy wind began to blow in the room, tossing things around. Karim was tossed away; his sword was yanked out of his hands, but he held on to a pillar.

LAIKA "Take charge of your destiny," I muttered, looking around me. Erika was walking ahead of us and was not paying attention to what was happening. I shut my eyes and tried to convince myself that I was strong and could wield my powers. Erika was still enchanting, and I still felt weak, b

ALPHA KARIM Morpheus and I were getting tired of fighting Erika's army of the dead. They were pouring out in thousands and would not stop unless Erika was dead. We were outnumbered, but Morpheus and I kept fighting our way toward Laika. We had wounds on us now—stabs and cuts from the army—but

ALPHA KARIM The battle was over. Once Erika was killed, all of her armies faded away with her. I lifted Laika’s unconscious body. We needed to get her someone to treat her; she has lost enough blood— she has lost enough of everything. “I can help nurse her back to life,” Morpheus offered. “I t