I keep my gun raised but move them behind me to protect them from whomever might come up after them. I take a step forward, peering around the wall to a door wide open that leads down to a basement.
“Sh-she’s down there,” Monroe stutters with a haunted look in her eyes.
“Is she hurt?” She nods in response. “Is he down there with her?”
“Yes, but he’s not able to harm anyone now,” the other girl murmurs with relief.
“Antonio, get these two out of here, I’m going down,” I order. Before giving him a chance to protest, I push forward, taking one step at a time slowly.
Each step down into the pits of hell screeches at my weight. My body begins to tremble as if it’s preparing to see the worst. What if she’s dead? What if she sacrificed herself to get them out.
“Celeste!” I call out but there’s no response.
This can’t be our end. I refuse to believe it. It’s eerily quiet which causes the hair on the back of my neck to stand up. Once I hit the bottom step, I notice Celeste is standing right in front of me.
There’s a dead body lying on the floor right in front of her with multiple stab wounds. My eyes travel back to her and she’s wearing the same white gown as the others but there’s blood all up the front of it.
She has a knife in one hand, holding it for dear life and her chest heaves up and down. She’s staring down at him as if she’s waiting for him to make another move.
“Celeste,” I call for her again, inching my way closer to her, trying to avoid any sudden movements that’ll spook her.
Her eyes finally lift from the torn-up body and meet mine. Relief cascades throughout her body. The knife drops to the floor and her legs give out causing her to crash onto the floor.
I rush to her, wrapping her up in my arms. She stares up at me as I feel her body go limp. Her eyes look like they’re clouding over and she shuts those beautiful lids.
“Stay with me, baby girl. You’re safe. Please stay with me,” I plea as I lift her body up in my arms before standing up.
Her body is so fragile, weak, and flushed of her natural glow. I try to hold her carefully, avoiding touching her back where the jagged cuts are. My heart sinks deeper and deeper with how limp her body is pressed against me. I can feel her chest rise and fall, which gives me some reassurance knowing I haven’t lost her.
Emerging from the house, the rain beats down soaking us within seconds. I move her face closer into me, trying to shield her as much as possible. Antonio spots us, leaving the other two inside the SUV and sprints forward in a panic.
“She’s alright. We need to get her to the hospital though.” He tries to take her from me but I grip her harder, unwilling to hand her over.
Sirens blare down the tree tunnel announcing their arrival. One by one, police and SWAT cars come out of the clearing along with an ambulance right behind. They wrap around the house as others swing around surrounding us. Jumping out of their cars, guns are pointed at us like we’re the ones who have the girls held captive. I slowly hand Celeste over to Antonio before I put my hands up.
“Get your damn guns off me. My name's Agent Alaric Solace. The suspect is inside!” I shout at them.
Another car comes up at the tail end, halting quickly at the scene in front of them. Director Stevens steps out slowly, meeting my stare.
“Weapons down, he’s one of us. Go inside and clear out the house,” he shouts. They hesitantly lower their guns, giving us another once over before heading towards the house.
Stevens walks over to us with a questioning look. I have no time to answer the million questions he’s about to drill me on. The paramedics come up behind him with stretchers headingstraight to the girls. They try to take Celeste from Antonio but he refuses just as I did and tells them to check on the other two inside the SUV.
“So, are you going to tell me how you found out about this place? Is he alive?” He begins his drilling questions with utter suspicion.
“I was given a tip and I came right away. I didn't have time to wait. You’re welcome. I need to get her to the hospital.” I turn away from him, giving him my back.
I can’t see his face but I know he’s fuming. Just another mark against me that I know I’ll pay for. I clearly went against his orders and he doesn’t take it lightly, even if I did get here first and removed them from their captive.
“I expect a full report on my desk. And Alaric?” I stop in my tracks, turning my head to the side to look over my shoulder. “You’re suspended. You went against my orders.”
A laugh bubbles up in my throat. He’s so predictable. His tone shifts as if I’m a child disobeying his father. Like it’s supposed to hurt. At this moment, I realize that I don’t care. I would give up anything for her.
“Yeah, I figured. I really don’t care. They're safe and that’s the only thing that matters at this point. I’ll have your report on your desk with my badge and gun.” I continue forward and slip into the back seat.
I move her body flush against mine and hold her like my life depends on it while Antonio turns the car around, leaving this place as if it’s a distinct memory.
The sounds of the monitor cascade throughout the room. She hasn’t woken up since we brought her here from the abandoned house. The doctors said that she’ll be fine. Her cuts on her back were cleaned and ointment applied to help them heal. She luckily doesn’t have any infections. She took a deep stab on the arm, I assume she got from fighting him off. It looks too fresh to be one of his tortures. She has no major injuries but is severely dehydrated.
