A zombie rushed toward my dad from the left, but he was occupied with the one on his right. Leaping into action, I crisscrossed my arms—nailed a jugular—parted my arms, swung—nailed another. My body arced forward and back, my feet constantly moving me through the swarming masses. But even if I’d lacked skill, I would have dominated. These zombies were weaker than any I’d fought.
I lost sight of my dad. From the corner of my eye, I spied Cole, fighting just as fiercely as I was. He was covered in black gunk, riddled with scratches, but still he fought. For me. To save me. To kill those who would destroy us all. Haun was behind him, but he wasn’t on his feet. He was lying flat on his back and unmoving as my dad—no, no, no—burrowed inside his body, vanishing, then rising and moving on, black goo on his chin. Trina fought in front of Haun in a desperate bid to save him, even as zombies chewed at her legs.
I battled my way toward them. Someone hit me from behind, knocking me down. My forehead banged into something—a body. At least it cushioned my fall. A second later, teeth were in my leg and more fire was winding through me. I kicked with my other leg, dislodging whoever it was.
Cole was there a second later, sword ending that particular clash.
“You’re good,” he said, already engaging another foe.
“Yeah.” No way I’d confess otherwise. I went low, double-teaming the zombie with a blade slicked over the backs of his ankles, dropping him to his knees.
I turned to my next target and caught sight of my father again. He rushed toward Cole, teeth bared. The two engaged. I watched, horrified as my father tried again and again to bite him.
“Stop,” I screamed, but I didn’t believe they would.
Cole dodged my dad’s chomping teeth while swiping out with his sword. I dropped my blades. My father might want to save me, but he would never have that kind of control with others. Eventually he would act as Pops had. He would hit me, try to harm me. He would destroy everyone I’d come to love.
I couldn’t let that happen.
I had less than a second to make a decision, and so I made it. I looked down at my hands. “You will light up,” I said, and they instantly obeyed. From fingertips to shoulders, I glowed.
With tears leaking down my cheeks, I reached out. My arm shook. Lord, give me the strength.
“Daddy,” I said.
He whipped around to face me.
“I’m sorry.” No other way. Has to be done.
“Ali,” he said.
Contact.
He disappeared in a burst of ash. I think…I think he’d been smiling.
Just like that, my dad was gone.
Dead forever.
Because of me.
Cole had been in the process of swinging his sword, a blow my dad’s body should have absorbed. Only, my dad wasn’t there anymore. I was.
Metal sliced through my belly.
At first, I felt nothing. A few seconds later, I felt everything, a pain far worse than anything I’d ever before encountered sweeping through me.
Horror bathed Cole’s expression. A shout of denial rose from him. Cruz and Frosty were suddenly there, helping me ease to the ground. Black dots winked in front of me.
“Ali!”
I tried to reply but coughed instead, feeling the blood ride up my chest, pool in my mouth.
“I’m sorry, so very sorry,” Cole said, and I knew he was hovering over me.
This was the vision we’d had, I realized. What do you know? It had come to pass quickly.
He gathered me in his arms. “Do not die. You will not die, do you hear me?”
After everything I’d endured to get here? “Wouldn’t…dream…” Another cough halted the rest of my words. Something tugged me up…up…up into a never-ending expanse of white.
18
Alice’s Happy Beginning
I had no idea where I was. Clouds, so many white clouds, surrounded me, hazing my line of vision until— Emma walked through the fluff, no longer wearing her pretty pink tutu. Now a gleaming white robe draped her, flowing to her feet. Her hair was down, long and sleek and so beautifully dark. Her eyes were as bright a gold as ever, a mix of differing emotions.
“Am I dead?” I asked, at peace with the thought.
“Not for long,” she replied. “You killed him, you know.”
The memories flooded me. My dad, a zombie. My dad, about to hurt Cole. My dad, dead—because of me.
“I’m sorry,” I croaked. “I’m so sorry.”
“I know,” was her sad reply. “I wish I could tell you that was the end of the zombies, but I can’t. I wish I could tell you that was the end of Anima Industries, but I can’t. I wish I could tell you all will be well between you and your Cole, but I can’t do that, either.”
No. I refused to worry about any of that. I had faith, and if I had faith I couldn’t have worry. “Everything will be better, you’ll see.”
“You had so much toxin in your system, Ali. Do you really think they could neutralize it all? And the humans are so angry. They’re angry and they want—”
“Ali,” a voice called.
Cole’s voice.
Emma’s image began to fade.
“Don’t go,” I cried, reaching for her. “Please.”
“I’m not the one leaving, Ali. You are.” Such a heartbreaking smile…the clouds enveloping her…until she was gone, no hint of her remaining.
“Ali.”