Isekai For Hire Chapter 52: Panic

Read chapter 52 of Isekai For Hire by wk_rust on NovelPedia.

Panic Lorena returned to utter blackness. She tried to open her eyes but nothing happened. Delirants. It must be. She let loose a primal scream of rage and thrashed with her arms, but nothing happened. Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay. The Delirants. They’ve got us. I—I don’t. What’s happening? Why can’t I see? I can’t move. Lorena I need you to calm down. She thrashed against the invisible bindings but didn’t move an inch. She turned inward, focusing on the spot where Ren was. Or should be. She wasn’t there anymore. I’m right here. Everything is okay. There are no Delirants here. You’re not there. I can’t—what’s happening? There’s been a complication. Suddenly her arm moved on its own, the sensation was horrifying—like a puppet being controlled by strings. Lorena felt something poke her leg and she flinched, only she didn’t feel her body react in any way. “Lorena? Is that you?” Harkyn. That was Harkyn’s voice. “Yes,” she felt her mouth moving and heard her voice, but she didn’t speak the words. What’s happening? Yours or mine? Ren? It’s okay. I’ll explain in a minute. Lorena tried to stand but her legs didn’t respond either. “Is Naith here?” Lorena’s mouth whispered. “Here.” Naith’s voice was barely audible, but clearly close by. The panic was coming to a violent crescendo as Lorena felt an unstoppable urge to run. She tried to push off the ground but nothing happened. Ren. Yours or mine? I need to know. Mine—listen, peach. I’m… I’m in control now. Lorena lurched back, or tried to. This didn’t make sense. Nothing made sense. Why couldn’t she see? When you left I regained control. Then a few hours later I woke up here. I don’t know where we are, but it’s dark. That’s why you can’t see. Lies. This is a trick. A nasty Delirant trick just like before. She tried for her daggers but nothing happened, again. Images flashed in her mind of the years of mental attacks while in the portal. She knew her mind was fractured. She knew she wasn’t the same. But this. This wasn’t normal, even for her broken state. Light bathed the walls as a torch flickered to life above them. Lorena grasped at every image her eyes saw as they swept across the room. Iron bars, floor to ceiling. Her chest ached. A large lock to their cell. Naith and Harkyn. They looked so real. Even the highest level Delirant she had ever fought wasn’t this good at mental manipulation. In the darkness beyond their cell she heard muffled voices and shuffling. Lorena caught a glimpse of her hand as it passed in front of her face. Delicate fingers, all five on her left hand. Unflawed skin, chipped nails. Maybe this was real. Identical torches lit the rest of the room. Cells, rows and rows of them. Her stomach twisted. Scared eyes. Angry eyes. All staring at her. We need to leave! Pick the lock. Please. Please pick the lock. Give me control. I can do it. I can do it I promise. “Lorena!” A voice said in a harsh whisper, just loud enough to hear over the increasingly louder murmurs of panic. Lorena’s head turned without her control, her eyes falling on Jates. “Welcome friends, I hope the journey was not too bumpy.” A disembodied voice said. Then a familiar figure appeared, his cloak of eerie shadows fading in an instant. “Fuck.” She heard Naith and several others whisper under their breath. Lorena tried to focus on her surroundings. The sights, the sounds. Any drip of sensory data she could find. But the memories of pain lashed at her thoughts. This couldn’t be happening. She felt herself turn and look to Harkyn, feeling Ren’s desperation for an explanation. “Lord Shade only reveals himself to those he trusts, or those about to die.” Lord Shade slowly turned, his smile growing. Predator. He’s going to kill us. We’re going to fucking die Ren. Ren please. Give me control. We need to escape. It’s going to be okay. This is part of the plan, remember? This is why we did everything we did. To get here. I’m going to keep us safe. “As I’m sure you all know, I am Lord Shade. You have all been sele