Page 95 of Misted

“She was hit in the mission,” I lie.

“Giver her.” Another guard, tall and dark-skinned holds out his hands.

I hug her so tight to my chest, I’m afraid I’ll hurt her. No way in fucking hell will I let them have her.

The first one who spoke points a gun at my head. I glare back. Hades might let the guards discipline us, but no one is allowed to kill us. We’re his prized Team Zero after all.

He attempts to hit me with the rifle’s back. I duck, with Mist still in my arms, and kick him in the diaphragm.

He yells out some profanity, but before I can regain my composure and make sure Mist is fine, I’m hit at the back of my neck. Pain explodes in my nape. I stagger. Someone yanks Mist away from my arms.

I turn berserker and punch the one on my right. Then the one on my left. I’m hit thrice as hard, but I don’t stop. I need to save her. I need –

“Hawk…” She calls from the dark-skinned guard’s arms. She’s so frail and pale, blood soaks her face and drips onto his arms. Her panicked hazel eyes are looking at me with horror. “Stop.”

No. They’re taking her away from me, and I can’t even save her. I can’t fucking do anything for her.

I keep punching and kicking. My face is bloodied. One of my ribs must be cracked. My lower lip explodes with blood and my knuckles are busted open.

I don’t stop.

We have to get out of here. I promised I’ll take her the fuck out of here.

“Stop… p-please…” she sobs, the sound so haunted and wretched, it hurts more than punches and kicks.

I meet those hazel eyes that brightened my life, and it breaks my fucking heart that they’re filled with tears. They run as rivulets, creating a path down her bloody cheeks.

“Not now…” she shakes her head. “Please…”

I freeze. I just do. I let the guards bind me and drag me away. All I keep looking at is how she’s thrown into a van and I’m thrown into the back of another van.

Not now.

Our time isn’t now, but it’ll come.

We’ll escape.