Can’t Win Me Back

Jasper felt a pain unlike any he had ever known.

It wasn't a physical agony like having flesh torn away, but a slow, excruciating torture akin to being slowly sliced by a blunt blade.

It was a hundred times worse than dying instantly.

His mind raced through a chaotic sequence of images, like a black- and-white movie playing backward.

He saw people retreating and leaving —Javier, Anne, Newton, Landon, Lauren, Jonah, Axel...

He reached out desperately, trying to grasp any of them, but they were slipping away, one by one.

Finally, the image settled on Alyssa's radiant face.

"Lyse...

Don't go..." Tears streaming down his face, he lunged forward, wrapping his arms around her.

But she dissolved into golden dust, vanishing into the frigid air.

"No! iy A beep sounded in his ear as if everything had been reset.

enveloped him, and he fell

there was

stood motionless, staring at the

he was dead, but deep down,

footsteps approaching

turned to see Remy emerging

an emotionless look on his face, Remy

even a glance at Jameson, Remy's voice dripped with barely concealed

is leaving you

you have

motionless, his

impeccably dressed, he looked like a man who had been thoroughly

of all his worth—now thrown

the statue of the goddess closed

laughing at himself

Schmidt, your life has been a big

finish, the deafening roar of a

its shadow over the glass

was a thunderous crash, and with that, the seemingly indestructible glass

cutting Jameson's neck, cheeks, and