Page 58 of Fate of the Fallen
I glanced down at my wrist, checking the time. The minutes were disappearing quicker than I cared to admit, and we all knew what would happen at midnight.
“Way I see it, there are only two ways to get them out here. One is for Sebastian to command it. The other is if weforcethem out,” I explained. “Considering our deadline, I’m going with option B.”
The next sound to be heard was that of bullets blasting out windows. I’d completely destroyed an entire floor of a hospital before stopping myself. The only reason I came to my senses was the realization that Evangeline and Beth could have been somewhere inside. Had it not been for that, I would have reloaded and fired until someone came out to play.
However, my soundcheck seemed to have finally gotten the attention of a few, because, all of a sudden, this was no longer a dress rehearsal … the show was getting ready to begin.
“Stay out of trouble and stick to the plan,” I said as a final warning to the team before we fanned out. And with a short whistle, our entire clan poured out into the open.
Sebastian brought this war on himself, and he was about to find out how hard I, and the others, were willing to fight for our queen.
I was either coming out of thiswithher … or I wasn’t coming out at all.
***
Evie
Something was going on out there. Not only could Beth and Ihearit, but bright bursts of light, explosions, could also be seen from our small, barred window.
She stood on the tips of her toes to get a better look while I lie on the mattress. I’d learned to cope with the slight pain that lingered after last night’s spike. I guessed it hadn’t left completely because my stomach continued to grow while I got what little sleep I could. It still wasn’t completely distended, but had rounded significantly.
So much so, Beth could now see the difference from the day before.
With the change, I was also aware that I no longer had the ability to shift, and probably wouldn’t again until after the child was born. Speaking of … there was something else that suddenly made this experience more real … movement. I actuallyfeltthe baby now, which was way sooner than I imagined most women did. He or she bumped around in there every so often, surprising me every time.
I glanced around at the walls, wondering how, or evenifI’d ever get out of here. This whole time, I’d been so afraid to embrace the idea of motherhood. The chaos we existed in had stolen that from me. And now, as I lie there staring down at the evidence of a love so powerful not eventimecould erase it … I wanted nothing more than to enjoy the experience. I had to hold on to the hope that, one day soon, I might get that chance—an opportunity to share this all with Liam.
My eyes shifted toward the window again as another loud blast just outside it rocked the entire building. I had to believe that was him, he’d come for me and … I don’t know … maybe it was safe to start hoping now.
Maybe.
Beth moved away from the window and began to pace. She’d been so levelheaded this entire time, only now did I see her ironclad bravery beginning to waver. It had never been our intent for her to fill the role as myKeeper, but based on what I’d been told about them, she fit the role to a tee. She was a warrior, one who’d dedicated herself to protecting me while I was unable to protect myself.
We were locked in here like animals and, with things quickly falling apart outside, it wouldn’t take long for them to get worse in here, too.
“We need to move,” she panted. In a fit of desperation, she rushed toward the door and slammed it with her foot, backing up to do the same again and again.
Not even a dent, but that didn’t stop her from trying another few times before giving in.
“They can’t keep us here like this,” she breathed. “Someone has to—”
The words were stolen right from her mouth when a sound at the door had both our attention. A metal tinkering in the lock maybe made her heart race just like mine. With the creak of the hinges, the door we’d stared at for more than a week … was finally open.
On the other side of it, our savior, the one who had only given us handwritten messages until now, promises we had no idea he intended to keep. A black, fitted mask covered most of his face, but his eyes … they were so familiar. With the way Beth stared, I was certain she recognized him, too, but …
“Errol …?” Her voice was shrill. It wasn’t until she said his name that I understood why he was so familiar.
During our stay at the Damascus Facility, he and Beth had gotten close, their budding interest in one another only being hindered by our abrupt extraction and return to our respective homes. Now, somehow, he was here.
Saving us.
“What are … I don’t understand,” Beth rambled, reaching for my hand while she spoke, helping me to my feet.
I followed her back to the door where she stared into the eyes of the boy she’d only let go of because she had to.
“It’s me,” he panted, handing over what looked like two dark cloaks he expected us to put on. “We have to go,” he urged, his nervous energy quickly transferring to us.
I slipped the rough material over my head without question and Beth did the same. The next second, she took his hand and mine and we were led from our cell.