26
White-hot light blasted through my mind. Every single barrier ever constructed was being torn down: the ones I was aware of between my demon, angelic, and the cold space, and ones I didn’t know about. Barriers that kept people away and made me safe. The mental blocks that I erected as a child to deal with the horrors and challenges of my life manifested with a physical pain inside my skull when they came crashing down. I gripped my temples and doubled over.
I screamed and screamed as my mind purged every single defense I ever constructed. I thought my head would explode. Then—silence. I opened my eyes slowly and saw the world around me frozen. Each participant in the grotesque scene stopped, even the ocean waves paused.
I looked around and the air shimmered. With each tilt of my head
