Free The Institute (Falling Ash Chronicles #1) by Kira Lynn Farnsworth

has been noted,” the man said solemnly. His shadowed face lingered even as the rest of the office disappeared, at last slipping away like wisps of smoke. Sacrifice? What sacrifice?
    “Tell no one,” Tim whispered urgently. His gaze never lost its fevered intensity, even as his hands slipped away from me, releasing me. Blood was starting to fall from his eyes, leaving a trail like tears. “Prepare … yourself,” he gasped out. “Falling…. Ash….” His eyes rolled to the back of his head as he slipped from his chair, crashing to the ground.
    Everything zoomed back into focus. Someone screamed; I was startled to realize it was me. Arms wrapped around me from behind, jerking me back and away from the table, sending my chair toppling. The Bruiser stopped mid rush, looking bemused to find his quarry lying still on the floor. The Neutralizer knelt next to him, pressing two fingers to his neck. I already knew what he would find, even before he looked up and solemnly shook his head.
    Tim was dead.

Chapter 8
    “What the hell just happened?” Erik shouted.
    I could have said something, anything. Instead I stared numbly at Tim’s hand, lying palm up on the ground. It was all I could see from where I stood. Erik still held on to me, his body twisted so that he was between me and Tim. It was an oddly protective gesture, one I might have appreciated under different circumstances. As it was, I knew it didn’t make a difference. Tim wasn’t a danger to anyone anymore.
    “It all happened in a flash. When did he get free of his cuffs?” the Bruiser asked. The door burst open, Meredith and Ezekiel filling the entrance. They both stopped, looking at the body lying on the floor. Meredith pursed her lips, quickly taking charge.
    “Get her out of here. Move the body, use the back halls. We need to contain this before rumors start spreading. As far as anyone knows he attempted to attack one of you and we had to take extreme measures. Move!” she barked. Erik dragged me towards the door, practically having to lift me off my feet to get me moving. I forced my legs into a scissoring motion, shaking off the strange buzzing in my head. Tim was dead. He came here to die.
    Erik propped me up on one of the chairs inside the mission hall, kneeling in front of me and rubbing my hands between his. I felt him, saw him, but couldn’t draw myself to acknowledge him. I couldn’t process everything I’d seen, everything I’d heard.
    What was the truth? The foundation of everything I knew, thought I knew, had just been shaken. Was it true, any of it? Or had it been made up as a ruse to manipulate me? He was, had been, an Illusionist. That’s what those with his power did, distort reality and twist it until their victim was left vulnerable.
    “Be careful who you trust.” The Soothsayer's words came back to me. Was this what he meant? Not to trust Tim? But it had felt like the truth. It felt like memories, reshaped into a message for me. I clenched my fists, feeling shivers wracking my body.
    “Ells,” Erik said, firmly enough I knew it hadn’t been for the first time. I lifted my eyes to his, forcing myself to focus. “Ells, I need you to tell me what he did to you. Did he hurt you?” Erik asked.
    “No,” I croaked, clearing my throat before trying again. “No. He didn’t. He’s dead, isn’t he,” I whispered.
    “Yes,” Erik said, looking angry. “He’s dead. If he wasn’t, I swear…..” He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “You were under my protection and I failed you,” he said.
    “It’s not your fault,” I said, staring down at his bent head. I was baffled by his reaction. He always seemed so distant, like he held himself separate. To see him like this, I didn’t know how to handle it.
    The door opened, Meredith exiting. Erik came to his feet, his usual implacable expression back in place. Meredith barely spared him a glance, her attention on me.
    “That was quite an ordeal. No one quite seems to know what