With a growl, I tell him, “Youdo not even get to say her name ever again. If she sees you, I’ll not be responsible for what she does in her vengeful state.”
“Ididn’t even hurt her,” he shouts. “Taylor did, and he’s dead. I only made her watch while I hurt someone else. I wasn’t gonnadoanything. Bel wasfunandfiery. Andso fucking pretty. I enjoyed our time together. If it had played out differently, I was gonna keep her, take care of her, ya know? She was never in any danger from me. The gun I pointed at her wasn’t evenloaded.” He sulks like a child whose favorite toy is being taken away, nothing like the tough fighter he’s been play-acting as.
“But you made the orderstoharm her,” I remind him.What the fuck is wrong with this man?“Do you think it will make a difference to her? That it makes a difference to me? Do you believe that I should spare you because you have some fucking insane, misplaced feelings for my girl? That makes me want to kill you even more.”
With a foot stomp, he shouts, “Fine. I’m gone. You assholes won’t see me again.” He begins to leave before turning around and coming close enough to leave one final message, “If Isla lives, tell her I’m sorry. She wasn’t supposed to be here. It wasn’t malicious. She’s just—”
“Collateral damage in your escape plan?” I finish. “Do you think that will help your case?”
“No, but perhaps this will.” He quickly uses a key to unlock one of my shackles, then places it in my hand, backing away without taking his eyes off me. “When the time comes— and it will— just remember who helped you in the end.”
He drops all his gear and runs toward a door hidden in the opposite corner from the one the group of hunters left through a few minutes ago. While I finish unlocking myself, I can’t help but think that it seems too easy. All this time, we feared him so much, and when it came down to it, he was just a scared, albeit insane, man fighting to survive a world he didn’t choose.
I suppose getting rid of him was only the beginning. There’s still half an army between Belissenda and me. One with very strict orders to shoot on sight. While I haven’t heard any gunfire yet, I know it’s only a matter of time before it begins. The sudden lack of all sound has become deafening, as if I’m just waiting for more madness to begin.
I try and fail to rise up out of my seat, barely able to move after all the pain I’ve endured. Even unlocked, all I can do is wait for them to come get me while counting the moments until I’m reunited with my girl again.
Too many moments.
Where are they?
Teeth
Fritz
Less than five minutes after they leave, my phone starts ringing. With a groan, I dare a glance down, already knowing what I’ll find.
“Oh hey-”
“What the fuck is going on?” Eamon’s gruff voice strains my ears.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” I insist.
I can picture the way he’s seething and pacing in my mind, and I wonder if I really fucked up this time. “Why the fuck did I just get a picture of your girl and Isla in front of the one place I told you not to let her go?”
“Oh, I thought they were just having a girls day. I umm-”
“What did I fucking tell you I would do to you if you got her involved, Fritz?” he shouts again.
“I don’t think you were particularly specific, you just said-”
“Cut the shit.” His patience runs out, and he grunts in frustration, “I’m on my way.” Then, the line goes silent.
Moments later, I hear what can only be an explosion coming from the direction the girls went. The acrid scent of smoke hits my nostrils just before it starts to color the blue sky gray and black.
Jesus Christ.
Well, there’s the signal.
Stay outside, they said.
No matter how much I feel the need to go running in there, I promised I wouldn’t. I told the girls I’d stay put and only go inside once Eamon arrives. But if he sees me, I’m probably a dead man.
But I need to get a little closer. Need to make sure that fucking place doesn’t come down on top of them. I exit the vehicle and creep closer, just close enough to see if it starts to look wobbly or something. The smoke is going to draw so much attention; no way the fire department and police officers won’t get a call within the next 30 seconds. If they haven’t already.
Maybe I should start putting the fires out.Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.I keep my eyes peeled, watching for any hunters or even just people who seem out of place.
When I get close enough to the fire to see how massive they are, my heart stops beating. There’s no way for Bel and Isla to get back out safely. They’ve basically barricaded themselves inside with fire.
