Touching Fire (Touch Saga) Read Online Free PDF Page B

stronger than anything I’d ever seen.
    I had yet to determine how I felt about that and I was given no chance to dwell on it when I heard the snarl and scuffle from somewhere just on the other side of the street . I thought at first it was those spindly creatures returning with backup. I took a step closer. Then I was running.
    My feet were moving even before my brain could analyze what I was seeing. The stupid flats the saleslady had assured me looked adorable with the stupid dress slipped off my feet. I left them, uncaring of the carpet of glass separating me from where Isaiah stood, knee deep in concrete, surrounded by creatures I’d never seen in my life.
    They were sharp bones wrapped in a thin layer of flesh the color of red clay that was stretched tight over their naked, hairless bodies. Their faces were shapeless, just oval bulbs resting on long necks. Their spider-like arms and legs were tangled around Isaiah, anchoring him even as he fought to throw them off. The concrete beneath them bubbled as though it was melting and they were sinking into it like quicksand, taking Isaiah with them.
    “ Get off him!”
    B lue eyes shot up to mine, dark with anger. A punch of overwhelming relief slammed into my chest and I knew it was his, not mine. Just as quickly, it was replaced by terror. I saw his mouth moving, forming words, something like get out of here! But like hell was I going to listen.
    It was a mystery where the iron pipe came from, probably from one of the many destroyed cars, but it was in my hand and there was blood roaring in my ears. I was on them then. Clawed fingers that looked nothing like mine tore into mutilated bodies, tearing strips of flesh as I sunk them into one of the writhing forms. It was like stabbing soft clay with knives. The creature shrieked, throwing back a hairless head, revealing pointy teeth from a gaping maw with no lips. Unnaturally big, black eyes rounded on me and I didn’t hesitate. I sunk my jagged nails into its throat, tearing it out in a single sweep. Hot, black goo spewed in all direction, splattered on me, but I was already on the second one. I slammed the pipe into it and watched it pierce through the bony cavity of its chest. The thing roared, clutching at the foreign object jutting from its body even as it crumpled to the ground.
    “Hey!”
    My attention was momentarily redirected at the unfamiliar shout. My head whipped around just as a white blur slashed past my face, inches from my nose. It spiked through the skull of one of the creatures sneaking up behind me. The thing slumped over mid lunge. Without missing a beat, I tore the sleek sliver of ivory from the spider-creature and used it to impale the last one still wrapped around Isaiah, freeing him from being swallowed by the earth.
    He crawled out just as the ground began to solidif y, but not before it sucked the dead creatures back into its folds the way the staff from the coffee shop had vanished. The pavement patched over as if nothing had ever happened there. But I still hopped over the spot to get to Isaiah.
    His arms came around me, yanking me into the hard contours of his chest.
    “ Fallon.” His fingers threaded through my hair to cradle the back of my skull. My face was mashed into his shoulder. “I saw the building go up and…” He pressed his lips to the top of my head. “I thought I lost you.” His grip on me tightened.
    I felt my bones crack. I almost squeaked. Instead, I slipped my arms around his ribs, squishing my face into the front of his shirt.
    “I wasn’t in side.”
    His sharp exhale ruffled the damp curls at my temple . “I’ve never been so happy you didn’t listen to me.”
    I laughed. “Remember that next time.”
    He drew back to peer into my face. His gaze roamed hungrily over me. He bunched the hem of his tattered and bloodstained shirt and used it to wipe at my face and neck.
    “I look horrible, eh?”
    His eyes met mine, his expression tender. “Never. But your skin is