“Downstairs.”That’s Caleb, his low tones easy to recognise.“Upstairs is empty.There might be people in the private rooms on the ground floor, but nobody up here.”
“Not anymore, anyway.”Mathew sounds amused.
“Story for another time, not now.Let’s keep moving, people.”Derrick deserves a real long break after tonight, especially since I don’t think me going inside will be the only deviation from the plans tonight.“Luca, you want to be here when the younger kids get out?”
“Yes.Let me know when they’re ready to break the downstairs doors.”There’s not much use for me waiting around in the basement before then.
“Will do.”
Vera takes my hand, rubbing her thumbs over the top of my hand.“Are you going to follow us first, or do you have other plans?”
“I’ll stay with you two for now.If my being there helps some of the kids feel less scared, then that’s what I want to do.”
“Okay.Let’s continue our route, then.”Riley reaches past us and pushes open another one of the hidden doors.We’re now in one of the hallways with ‘private’ rooms.“Check every room.We want everyone out of here.”
Dead or alive.
She doesn’t say the words, though her tone implies them.
While it’s scary and I’m still not sure me going inside was the best idea, actively doing things in here, no matter how dangerous, feels much better than waiting out there in safety.
Every timeI see a familiar face, I feel relief and dread in equal measures.Relief knowing they’re still alive, dread knowing that it means they’ve been going through hell even when I wasn’t here.
“We’re about to break the doors to get the younger kids out.”Derrick’s voice comes through the earpiece.
“I’m on my way.”I look around, trying to figure out the fastest way to the basement doors.
“We’ve got trouble,” one of the lookouts speaks up.“There are multiple vans heading in our direction, west side.”
My heart races.Are the Hearts sending reinforcements?
Things did feel a little too easy, but it’s also weird that they’d wait long enough for us to basically empty out this place before they sent reinforcements.It feels off.
“I can see them on the cameras.”Timothy sounds focused.“I count eight vans.None of their plates are recognised by our systems.There might be more coming, but I can only see eight for now.Stay alert.”
“Hearts.”Riley’s voice comes out in a growl.
“Probably.”Vera starts pushing me in the direction of the hidden hallway.“Go to the basement.Get the kids out.”
“What are you going to do?”I grab her arm, not letting her go.
“I’m going to make sure that the kids get to safety.That we all get out of here alive.”She kisses my hand.Vera and Riley got rid of their masks a while ago, the flower pheromones are no longer being pumped around, so the mask was only a bother to them.
Then Vera pulls her arm loose, before she darts down the hallway, in the direction of the front room.
“Get them out as quickly as possible.”Riley gives me a tight hug, kissing my forehead.“I’ll make sure nothing happens to Vera.”And she’s after our Omega, leaving me alone in the doorway.
Fuck.
Well, it’s not like I can do anything there anyway.I don’t carry any weapons.I’d just be a sitting duck if I followed them.
After a couple of deep breaths, trying to overcome the panic building inside me, I dash into the hidden hallway and make my way to the basement door that they’re planning to use to get the younger kids out.
There are still sounds all around, though not that many as before, and there’s a definite bang-bang-bang sound as they’re trying to get through the thick basement door.
I reach Derrick and the others as the door starts to creak.
Derrick notices me, gives me a curt nod, and then returns to staring at the door that’s being broken down.
