“T-The bodies?”
Cole steps forward, welcoming the new threat. “Head down into the crypt. There’s a tunnel. Go in and find Rowan, and I’ll be right behind you.”
That flicker of cowardice again.
The words tremble on my lips, but despite my mind screaming at me not to leave his side, I nod and say, “O-Okay. I’ll find him. Just please…”
My brother, tense and ready to fight the men who captured him, merely says, “I’ll be fine. Run, Dove. Run and don’t look back.”
And so I do.
I run behind the buildings, my heart pounding so hard in my chest I worry I might collapse. I keep to the shadows, following the huge church bells that stick out to the sky.
The idea of showing myself to Rowan’s soldiers comes to mind, but would they even believe that Cole is on our side? Would they come to his rescue, or would they take me away before I can save my brother’s life? If they went to him, I worry they might shoot him on sight, and I can’t take that chance. So I keep running, whimpering, as I reach the church and pull the heavy door open with my unwounded arm. The place is empty, just like Cole said, and I slide across the thick stone pillars, turning to the sign that points to the crypt.
Please be here. Please.
My heart calls out for Rowan, conjuring up images in my mind of when I’ll run into his arms and he’ll hold me. And God, I need that so badly. I need his strength, and his soothing voice, and the possessive grip of his arms around me, silencing my worries and the chaos in my mind.
I climb down the spiral staircase, where the air gets cooler and the light slowly fades away. I’m so scared. My entire body feels as if it’s hooked to a socket, bolts of electricity coursing through my veins. It makes me reactive and hyper aware, but not in a way that feels safe.
I halt, a stack of bodies blocking my way down to the bottom of the staircase. I recognize some of them from when I was locked up in that basement cell. Their eyes are wide open but empty of any sign of life. The abhorrent stench comes with my next inhalation, drawing out a groan through the length of my throat.
Jesus Christ.
Reluctantly, but knowing I have little time, I dig my fingers into their clothes, hauling myself up. Their bodies are still warm beneath my hands. Vomit looms in the back of my throat, but I hold my breath and make it to the other side and down, down into the cold, dark crypt.
I narrow my eyes, trying to adjust them to the lack of light. It looks like a dead end, but Cole made it clear that there was a tunnel somewhere around. The ghosts of the crypt breathe with me as I see the smallest red light flashing softly at the height of my head, behind an arch. I follow it, my vision finally adjusting enough to see the black metal door in front of me. It’s unlocked and I pull it open easily, gasping when I see the tunnel spreading in front of me—so long that it doesn’t seem to have an end in sight.
Swallowing, I step inside and make it to a crossroads, where every atom of my body comes to a halt.
“R-Rowan…” I whimper, pressing a hand to my mouth. “What have you done?”
Blood runs down from the ceiling and from the walls, leaking in soft, quiet drops into a bigger puddle. There are body parts… everywhere. And it reeks of death in ways no human should be aware of. I walk slowly through the remains, following his trail as if I’m chasing down a monster who hunts for sport. An insatiable one.
My body trembles with fear, even if I know in my right mind that he’s doing this to save me. Still, I can’t stop the hairs on the back of my neck from standing up.
Where are you? Where are you?
fourteen
Rowan
She’s not here.
I’ve shot and opened every goddamn cage in my path. I’ve called out for her from the bottom of my lungs. And I’ve slaughtered anyone who came near and interrupted my hunt. She’s not here. And there’s only one fucking explanation for it: Mason Fletcherlied.
Motherfucker!
My team has alerted me that a total massacre is happening above ground. The EFW knows we’re here now. I can only assume they’re already taking Dove away from this town. My heartbeat grows quicker, and a sharp pain bolts through my chest. I crouch down for just a second, breathing heavily through the skull mask. A sheer layer of sweat covers my skin, and for the first time in twenty-something years, panic whips against my body, leaving deep marks.
Everything stops. The tunnel ahead starts spinning. My mind is a vacuum of nothingness and… and this pain I’m feeling… it’s unlike anything else I’ve felt before.
Hawke is saying something to me, his combat boots stopping nearby. I can’t hear him over the high-pitched ringing blasting through my eardrums. I blink fast, forcing myself to come back, but the panic keeps pressing down on me. And I feel like I’m going to lose my fucking mind.
Where are you? Where are you? Where are you?
“Sir.” Hawke touches my shoulder. I snap toward him like a rabid dog.
