The room wasn’t empty, though.There was a row of cages along the far wall, and in them were the kids they were looking for.Archie recognized Finn instantly.The boy’s eyes were wide as he pressed himself against the back of his cage, trying to put as much distance as he could between himself and the group of people who’d just barged into the room.One of the kids in another cage didn’t even move.He was slumped on the ground, apparently unconscious.
Archie heard the hunter behind him mutter something.He didn’t ask what the man was saying.He moved forward, more than ready to take the kids out of the cages.
Of course, that was when all hell broke loose.
* * * *
JASPER WASN’T SURPRISEDwhen another door slammed open, and a bunch of guards rushed in.He would’ve been more surprised if no one had tried to stop them.He had no idea what was happening in the main room, but from the sound of it, he was sure that everyone was aware of their presence now.
The guards didn’t waste time.They threw themselves at Jasper and the others.
Kerry was closest to the door.She dropped low, sweeping the first guard’s legs out from under him before he could reach for his weapon.Corey caught the second one with a punch to the jaw that sent the man stumbling backward into the men following him.
Jasper didn’t think.He just moved.
The guard coming at him was bigger, armed with a stick that he seemed familiar with.Jasper ducked under the first swing, felt the air move above his head, and came up close to the guard.His fist connected with the man’s ribs—harder than he’d intended—and the guard wheezed, doubling over.
Something was different.Jasper felt it in his bones, in his muscles, in the way his body responded.The monster part of him was rising to the surface when he needed it most, or at least, he hoped that was what this was.He wasn’t sure what he’d do if it was something different.Scream, probably.
For the first time since finding out what he was, Jasper didn’t fight it.He was a monster.He should use that to win this fight.
“Jasper, left!”
Archie’s shout snapped Jasper’s attention to another guard charging him.Jasper spun, catching the man’s arm mid-swing and using his momentum to throw him into the wall.The impact was satisfying, and the guard slid down to the floor.
Braith was fighting two guards at once, his size and strength letting him hold them off while Martinez took down a third with practiced precision.He moved like someone who’d been doing this his whole life, and he had, just like Jasper.
“We need to get to the kids!”Kerry yelled over the chaos while blocking a hit aimed at her head.
The kids.Right.That was why they were here.
Jasper caught another guard by the collar of his jacket and threw him aside.He cleared a path toward the cages lining the far wall, where wide, terrified eyes were watching the fighting.
Archie was at his side immediately, stopping a guard who tried to follow.Behind them, the others held back the remaining guards while Jasper worked at the lock on the cage.
His hands shook as he fumbled with it.It was a simple padlock, but his fingers felt too big, and he didn’t have a key.“Come on, come on—” Did one of the guards have the key?How could Jasper find it?
“Here,” a small voice said.One of the children, a girl who couldn’t have been more than fourteen, pushed something through the bars.When Jasper peered at it, he recognized a bent paperclip.“It’s all I could find.I was trying to—”
“Thank you.”Jasper took it, meeting her eyes.She was terrified, bruised, but alive.They were all alive.He had to keep them that way.
The lock gave way with a click, and Jasper yanked the cage door open.“Come on, let’s get you out of here.”
The girl scrambled out, followed by two younger boys.They clung to each other, looking around at the fighting with terror.There were more kids than Jasper had expected.
“Stay behind us,” Jasper told them, already moving to the next cage.“We’re getting you out.All of you.”
Kerry appeared at his side, working on another lock while Corey and Braith kept the guards at bay.Some of the kids moved quickly, while others limped, and one was carried by an older boy who looked barely strong enough to walk himself.
“Finn?”Jasper called out, searching the faces.“Finn Henderson?”
“Here!”A teenage boy with dark hair and haunted eyes stumbled out of a cage.Bruises covered his arms, and a cut above his eyebrow looked infected, even though he hadn’t been here long.“I’m Finn.”
“Your parents sent us.”Jasper moved to help him when the boy swayed.“Can you walk?”
“I can try.”
“Good.”Jasper passed him off to Kerry.“Get them to the exit.We’ll finish here.”
