One glance at the chaos that’s happening inside tells me otherwise. Cove’s quick to hand me a gun, and I don’t look where I’m shooting, only targeting the intruders.
My eyes skim through the crowd; the smell of gunpowder, blood, and terror hits my senses. All I can think about is whether Blair and Aria are safe, and the fact that I can’t see themmakes me too fucking anxious.
Cove runs to the left, and I don’t pay much attention to him afterwards. My feet carry me further into the room, one of the bullets grazing my shoulder. I hiss in pain, then turn my attention to him. I shoot him between his eyes, not caring about the screams around me any longer.
“Blair!” I yell out, but to no luck.
The passage between the warehouse and Freya’s quarters is almost too empty. Without missing a beat, I start running through the narrow hallway until I’m outside. Freya’s botanic garden is right ahead, and in the snow, there are footsteps, leading me right to the front door.
The first door is wide open, and I end up putting on a protective suit quickly. Usually, I’d put on two of those, just in case, alongside a gas mask, but right now, I can’t afford to waste any time on such nonsense.
Yeah, that nonsense might just get you killed.
I ignore the voice in my head, the rational one, and stride forward. I enter the password, and the metal door swings open. Freya’s botanic garden is… gone.
My movements come to a stop as I observe the scene with the biggest frown I’ve ever had. The place where all of her herbs were is now empty ground. Her poisonous flowers are gone, seemingly plucked right out of the soil. Even the tall trees are gone. It’s such a bizarre scene to observe.
I’m returned back to reality when footsteps appear behind me, and I turn around, my gun aimed. Whoever it is, they manage to knock the gun out of my hands. A smirk tugs on my lips under the mask, and this feeling of having something fun to do has been missing for a long time.
Now that it’s back, I intend to make full use of it.
The man swings, hitting me square in the jaw. It doesn’t do much; he couldn’t even make me jolt backward, much less knockme off my feet. When I look up, he seems confused.
He’s about my age, but a brief glance tells me he isn’t a threat. The type of dog I love playing with the most — all bark, no bite.
“Such a brave little guy,” I coo mockingly, stepping forward.
He swallows, raising his gun, aiming it at my head.
I snort, rolling my eyes. In a swift movement, I reach for the gun, grabbing it out of his hand with ease. When the tables are turned, and the gun’s pointing at him, he starts panicking.
Before he can get a solid hit in, I pull the trigger, the blood splashing all over the protective gear. His body falls silently, though; I’d think it would make noise, but given how many bullets are being fired at the moment, it goes by unnoticed.
A loud, piercing scream breaks my train of thought. It comes from the part where her lab is. It sends chills down my spine, and I rush toward the scene.
This wasn’t how I planned on this night going.
Cove picked me up, and on the way, I bought some flowers for Blair. I even thought of a piano piece I’d play for her, because I know how much it calms her down. It’s something that’s only ours, a little piece of paradise that we can always share.
Yet, the moment I stepped into the base, all Hell broke loose.
No trace of Blair, Aria, or even Freya. She’s always within the base, and even though she owns a condo, she prefers staying here. The fact that her garden has completely vanished worries me. It’s the thing she treasures the most, and she’d never do it willingly.
With a deep breath, I rush toward the spot where I heard the scream, breaking the door down.
Aria’s in the corner, holding one man by the throat, her gun tucked under his jaw, and she looks ready to shoot. Blair’s being held hostage by another man, keeping her tightly with hisfilthy hands, a knife on her throat.
Four other men are inside the room, and Freya…
Freya’s on her knees, holding one of her eyes. My own widen in shock when she moves her hand, and all I see is blood dripping out of the socket. It’s a gruesome sight and definitely a fucking bullet hole.
“Arlo,” Blair croaks, something akin to relief on her face.
I step forward, but the man holding her tightens his grip on her, firmly holding her against him.
“One move and she dies.”
I immediately halt. “Let her go before I make you let her go, and then you’ll all fucking regret the day you were born.”
