Page 22 of Volik

But I cannot.

Will not.

I inhale again.

Then I turn toward the side exit.

Something tells me to go this way.

I…

The air buzzes against my skin.

Heat crawls up my spine.

My nostrils flare.

And I close my eyes.

Chapter 12

Nix

The scent of cherries floats around me as I open the small box containing my cupcake.

Carefully, I lift the dessert free and peel back the edge of the paper circling the cake.

My eyes stay on the clock, waiting for the minute to turn over.

Every year, I wait for this moment, my actual birth time, to have my first bite of cake.

Counting down in my head, I inhale.

I tilt my head and glance down at the frosting.

Do I smell mint?

I look back up to the clock, and the time changes.

12:07

My thirtieth birthday.

I part my lips.

And a jolt of blazing heat spears through my chest.

The cupcake drops from my hand as I stumble back.

The intense feeling moves with me.

Fire consumes me.

Flames lick at my insides.

It’s so hot.

I feel so hot.