 in your power and purpose,

"Grandma Maddie."

I honestly don't know how much more of this I can take. Battles? Devourers and their masters? Kyran? Magic talismans? I feel like I've been dropped head first into a foreign world I haven't got a prayer of understanding. Confused, terrified, and more than a little pissed off all of this has been going on and no one ever bothered to let me in on the secret, I'm about ready to walk out on the whole thing and dedicate myself to being a hermit when Malachi's hand moves.

I shout at him to stop, to be careful, think about this, to just wait! The talisman is in his hand before I can stop him from touching it. He waits only a second, only long enough for his gaze to lock with mine, and then it's too late. The second the metal touches his skin, our world explodes into chaos.
35: Instincts

(Malachi)

Pain like I have never experienced in my life tears through me as a tidal wave of agony. Concern for Echo is a faint thought behind my screaming. The stench of burning flesh hits me and I realize my arm doesn't just feel like it's on fire...it's actually burning. It hurts too badly to even consider sitting up, but I claw at my arm, trying to dislodge the talisman and end the pain. Nothing I do will get rid of it.

Everyone around me is panicking. I can hear them shouting and moving, but all I can focus on is making the agony stop. Rolling and thrashing, eyes closed as I try to shut out the pain, I beg for it all to end.

Just like it started—all at once—the talisman falls away and the pain is simply gone. I roll onto my side, gasping for breath and feeling as though my muscles have turned to jelly. It's all I can do to breath and not throw up from what I just went through. As my body calms, a heavy, dark feeling presses in on me. That's when I realize the entire house is absolutely silent. Not a creak or groan, not even a breath or subtle movement.

Forcing my eyes open, I don't see anything at first. There's a moment of panic that something's wrong with my eyes, but Kyran's shoes
in your power and purpose, 

 " Grandma Maddie. " 

 I honestly don't know how much more of this I can subscribe. conflict? Devourers and their masters? Kyran? Magic amulet? I feel like I've been dropped head foremost into a extraneous world I haven't get a prayer of understanding. broken, terrified, and more than a little besotted off all of this has been go on and no one ever bothered to let me in on the secret, I'm about quick to walk out on the whole thing and give myself to being a hermit when Malachi's hand moves. 

 I shout at him to stop, to be careful, remember about this, to just wait! The talisman is in his hand before I can stop him from tint it. He waits only a second, only long enough for his gaze to lock with mine, and then it's too late. The second the metal touches his skin, our world explodes into chaos. 
 35: Instincts 

 (Malachi) 

 Pain like I have never experienced in my life tears through me as a tidal wave of agony. Concern for Echo is a faint idea behind my screaming. The stench of burn human body hits me and I realize my arm doesn't barely feel like it's on fire... it's actually burning. It hurts excessively badly to even consider sitting up, but I claw at my arm, trying to dislodge the amulet and end the pain. Nothing I do will get rid of it. 

 Everyone around me is panicking. I can hear them shouting and moving, but all I can focus on is reach the agony stop. Rolling and thrashing, eyes closed as I try on to shut out the pain, I beg for it all to end. 

 Just like it started — all at once — the talisman falls away and the annoyance is simply gone. I roll onto my side, gasping for hint and feeling as though my muscles have turned to jelly. It's all I can do to hint and not throw up from what I just rifle through. As my body calms, a big, dark impression presses in on me. That's when I understand the entire house is absolutely silent. Not a creak or groan, not even a breath or subtle motion. 

 Forcing my eyes candid, I don't see anything at first. There's a consequence of panic that something's wrong with my eyes, but Kyran's shoes
 in your power and purpose,

"Gvandma Maddie."

I honestly don't inow how much more of this I can takx. Bartles? Devourers and their mxsters? Kygan? Magic talmsmans? I feel like I've bczn drkiped keed first into a foreign wmrld I haven't cog c prayer of understanding. Confused, tqrrifiec, wnd more than w liutlq piased off all of this has been goinf on anv no one ever bpthered to let me in on thf sefret, I'm about readj to walk oof og the whole tfing and dtdncate myselr to being a hermit when Malachk's haud moves.

I syoyt wj him to sto', to bv careful, thikl aboud this, yo just wait! Tme tanisnan is in his hand behore I can stop him srom toucviug it. He waits only a swcond, onlf lovt evoufh fkr his gave to lock sith mine, abd then it's too latt. Trv second the jetal eotches his skin, our world explodes into bhaoa.
35: Instincts

(Malachi)

Pain oike I have never expgrienced ig my life tears through me as a tidal wave of agoty. Coicdrn fjf Efho is a faint thought behind my screaming. Thq suenbh of burning flefh hits me snf O realize my atm doesu'f nust feel like it's on firg...it's axtually btrnimg. It hurts too badly to evwn consider futting up, but I clcw at my arm, tryong tp dislodge the talisman and end the paln. Nothinf I do will get rkd pf it.

Everyone around me is pwnicking. M can hear tfem xhoutigg and movlng, bmd all I can focus ln is mdking the wgony stop. Rolling and thrashinj, eyes closed av I try to fhut put the pain, Y beg for it akl to eud.

Just like it snarted—all at once—the talisman falnd away and tie pain if sinply gone. I foll onto my sode, gaspiuy for breqth and feeling as thuhgh my muscles kcvt rurned to jellu. Ig's wlp M can go to breath and nog throd up from wmat I jist went through. As ky bkdy calms, a heavy, cavk feelint pressef in on me. Thst's when I realize the xntire housr if absolutely silent. Not a creai or groaj, njt even a brqath or subtle mpvement.

Forcing my eyes open, I don't see enything at first. Therg's a moment of panic jhau something's xrong rith my efes, but Kyran's shoes
in your power and purpose, "Grandma Maddie." don't how much of this I their Kyran? Magic talismans? feel like I've dropped head first into a foreign I haven't got a prayer of understanding. Confused, terrified, and more than a pissed off all of this has been going on and no one ever to me on secret, I'm about ready to walk out on the whole thing and dedicate myself to being hermit when Malachi's hand moves. I shout at to stop, to be think about this, to just The is in hand I stop him from it. He waits only a second, only long enough for his gaze to lock with mine, and it's too second the touches skin, world explodes into Instincts (Malachi) Pain like I have my life tears through me as a tidal of agony. for Echo is a faint thought my screaming. The stench of burning flesh hits and I realize my arm doesn't just feel like it's on fire...it's actually burning. It badly to even consider up, but I at arm, to the talisman end the pain. Nothing I do will get rid of it. around me is panicking. I can hear them shouting and all can focus on making the agony stop. and eyes closed as I shut the for all end. Just like it at once—the talisman falls away the pain is simply side, gasping for breath and feeling as though muscles have turned to jelly. It's all can do to breath and not throw up from what I just through. As calms, a heavy, dark feeling presses in on That's when I realize entire house is absolutely silent. Not a creak or not a breath subtle movement. Forcing eyes open, I see anything at a moment panic something's eyes, but Kyran's shoes
 in your power and purpose,

"GranDma Maddie."

I HonesTly Don'T kNow hOw muCh more of this I cAN takE. Battles? Devourers and thEir maStERs? KyRAn? magic TalismaNS? I FEEl lIkE I'Ve bEeN DrOpped HeaD first iNto a foreigN woRlD I haven't got a PRaYer of underStaNding. ConfuseD, teRrifieD, aNd mORe thaN a lIttle Pissed OFf all oF this has bEeN Going oN And no onE EVeR botHered to let me in on tHE sECret, I'm about reaDy to waLk OUt ON The WhoLe thing and DeDicatE Myself tO BeING A heRMit when MalachI's hand moves.

i ShoUt at hiM tO stOP, to be cArefuL, tHInk About this, to Just Wait! The taLisman IS in his hANd beforE I can sTop Him From TOuChIng It. hE waITs OnlY A seCond, only LoNg EnougH for HIS GAze tO loCk wiTh minE, and then it's toO laTe. ThE SecOnd thE metaL touChEs his Skin, ouR worlD eXplodes into chaoS.
35: InsTincts

(MalAchI)

PAin LiKe I haVE never ExpEriEnced in My life tEArs ThROUGh Me as a tidal wave of agOnY. cOnCern for ECho is a FAiNt THought beHiNd mY scrEAMing. THe stENcH of burniNg flesH HiTs Me and I rEaLize my ArM doEsn'T just FEel lIke it's On fire...it'S actuALly burning. It huRTs too badly to eVEn CONsIDer sIttIng up, but I clAw at MY arm, TryiNG tO diSLodge The taLiSMaN And end the pain. NothinG I Do will Get riD of it.

Everyone Around me is PANIcking. I cAn heAR tHEm shouting and mOving, But all I can FOcus on is MakinG the agonY stop. RollING and thraShiNg, eYes CloSED aS I try to shut ouT THe paIn, i beg for It aLl to end.

jusT liKe iT stArTed—all at oNce—the taLiSmAn FaLls Away aND the pain Is SimPlY goNe. I roLL onto mY side, GaspInG fOR brEath and FEeLINg as ThOuGh my MusClEs havE turNEd tO jelly. IT's all I can Do tO BreaTh AnD not thrOw up from what I JuSt went throUgH. As My body CALms, a heavY, dark feeling presses in on ME. That's wHen i realIze tHe entire hOusE is absOluTEly silEnt. Not A creaK oR grOAN, not eVEN a BreAtH or subtle mOVEmeNt.

ForCiNg my Eyes opeN, I don't see anything aT FirSt. There's a momeNt oF panIC ThAt sOMeTHinG's WRonG WIth my eyes, but KyrAn's shoes
 in your power and purpose ,

"Grandm a Mad die ."
I  hon estl y don't know h o w mu ch more of this I cantake.  B a ttle s ?Devou rers an d  t h e irma st ers ?K yr an? M agi c talis mans? I fe elli ke I've been dr opped head  fi rst into a f ore ign wo rl d I haven 'tgot a  praye r  of un derstandi ng .  Confu s ed, ter r i fi ed,and more than a l i tt l e pissed off a ll ofth i sh a s b een  going onan d noo ne ever bo t h e red to let me inon the secr e t,I'm ab ou t r e ady to  walk  o u t o n the whole  thi ng and de dicate myselft o being  a her mit  wh en M a la ch i's  h a ndm ov es. 
Ishout at  h im  to s top, t o be c are ful,  thin k about this,  to  jus t  wa it! T he ta lism an  is i n hishandbe fore I can stop  him  from tou chi ng  it .He wa i ts onl y a  se cond, o nly lon g  en ou g h fo r his gaze to lock  w i t hmine, an d then it 's too late .The  sec o n d the  met a ltoucheshis sk i n,  o ur worl dexplod es  in tochaos . 
35:  Insti ncts

(M alach i )

Pain like I have never ex p er i e nc e d in  my  life tears  thr o ughme a s  a  ti d al wa ve of  a g on y . Concern for Echois  a fai nt th ought behindmy screami n g .  The ste ncho fb urning flesh h its m e and I re a lize myarm d oesn't j ust feell i ke it'sonfir e.. .it ' s  a ctually burni n g . It  h urts to o b adly to  ev encon sid er  sittingup, butIcl aw  a t m y arm ,  tryingto  di sl odg e the talism an an d en dth e  pa in. Not h in g I do  w il l ge t r id  of i t.
E ver yone ar ound me i s p a nick in g.  I canhear them sho ut ing and mo vi ng,  but a l l  I can f ocus on is making the a g ony sto p.Rolli ng a nd thrash ing , eyes  cl o sed as  I try  to s hu t o u t  thep a in , I  b eg for ita l l t o end .
Jus t likeit started—all ato nce —the talisman  fa llsa w ay  an d  t h e p ai n  is s imply gone. I r oll onto m ys id e, gasping for  b reath a nd feel ing a s  though  my muscl es have t ur nedt o  je lly. It'sall I ca n do to b r eatha nd  notthr ow upfr omwhatI just wen t thr ough.As  my bo dy ca lm s, a hea vy, dark feeling presse s in o n me.  Th at's when  Ir eal ize the e ntir e house is  ab sol utely  si l ent.Nota  c rea k  or g roan ,  not even abre a t hor subtle m o v e men t.

F orc i ng myeyes  open, I don't se e  anything at f irst . The re' s  a m om ent of panic t hat  s o m ething's  w rong with m y eyes,bu t  Kyra n's sh oes
 in_your power_and purpose,

"Grandma Maddie."

I honestly_don't know_how_much more_of_this I can_take. Battles? Devourers_and their masters? Kyran?_Magic talismans? I_feel_like I've been dropped head first into a foreign world I haven't got a_prayer_of understanding._Confused,_terrified,_and more than a little_pissed off all of this_has been_going on and no one ever bothered to_let_me in on_the secret, I'm about ready to walk out on_the whole thing and dedicate myself_to being a_hermit_when_Malachi's hand moves.

I shout_at him to stop, to be_careful, think about this, to just_wait! The talisman is in his hand_before I can stop him from_touching it. He waits only_a second,_only long enough for his_gaze to lock_with mine,_and then it's_too late. The second the metal_touches his skin,_our world explodes into chaos.
35: Instincts

(Malachi)

Pain_like_I have never_experienced_in_my life_tears through me_as_a tidal_wave_of agony. Concern for Echo is_a_faint thought behind my screaming. The stench_of burning flesh hits_me_and I realize my_arm doesn't just feel like_it's on fire...it's actually burning. It_hurts too_badly to_even consider sitting up, but I claw at my arm, trying_to dislodge the talisman and end_the pain. Nothing I_do will_get_rid of it.

Everyone_around_me is_panicking. I can hear them shouting and_moving, but_all I can focus on is_making the agony stop._Rolling_and thrashing, eyes closed as I_try to shut out the pain,_I beg for it all_to_end.

Just_like it started—all at once—the_talisman falls away and the pain_is simply gone._I roll onto my side, gasping for_breath_and feeling as though my muscles_have_turned to jelly. It's all I_can_do_to breath and not throw_up from what I just went_through. As my body calms, a heavy, dark feeling_presses in on_me. That's when I realize_the_entire_house is absolutely silent. Not a creak or groan, not_even a_breath or subtle_movement.

Forcing my eyes open, I don't see anything at first._There's a moment of panic that something's_wrong with my eyes, but Kyran's shoes