Chapter 1678

"Argh!" he screamed in pain. Unlike the soundproofed room where he'd been held, the open air amplified his howl. "Gahhh! Argh!" His eyes burned, feeling as if they were bulging, adding to the throbbing headache. Austin tried to cradle his head, but one arm remained trapped in the grille. He could only hammer his head with one hand while frantically working his other.

Either his pain fueled his strength, or the grille finally weakened. With a loud clang, the metal framework detached from the wall. The grille remained stubbornly attached to his arm. In a fit of near-madness, Austin continued to thrash, the metallic clang echoing loudly. Dominic hurried from the house, looking up. "You brat, what the hell are you doing? You—"

He stopped, his eyes widening as Austin, after a few more frantic swings, suddenly leaped from the window.

"How dare you—" A swoosh and a thud interrupted him.

Dominic paled, instinctively stepping back. Austin lay still before him. His lips trembled as he called tentatively, "A-Austin? Aus...tin..." Silence.

"Austin? Austin?! Don't try to scare me. I won't fall for your trick. Aus..."

He leaned closer, about to touch Austin, when the boy sprang to his feet, moving oddly, his face contorted with ferocity. "Argh... It hurts..."

He clutched his head, a flicker of consciousness remaining. Red-rimmed eyes met his granduncle's. He held out a hand. "H-Help me, Uncle Dom. H-Help me."

He lurched forward, then stopped, as if afraid of hurting Dominic. "Uncle Dom, go... Get away from me..." He waved him away, then turned and ran unsteadily.

"Austin? Austin!" Dominic could only watch as his grandnephew crashed into a pile of rocks. A crash, and the rocks tumbled. Austin fell to his knees, then stilled. Dominic rushed over, cautiously reaching out to pat his shoulder. "Austin?"

No response.

"Austin?" He touched him. The kneeling figure toppled, raising a small dust cloud. Austin lay motionless.