She was determined to make sure everyone on this island was dead, but she was so tired of the violence and death. Charlie tore her attention away from the bodies when Jack rested his hand on her arm. “I’m ready to leave this place,” she said.
“So am I,” he murmured.
Releasing her arm, he took her hand, and they walked down the beach. They all went through the caves she and Mal knew and searched for others. In three of the caves they investigated, they found two remaining hunters and three security personnel.
As they destroyed the survivors, Jack couldn’t deny he took more enjoyment in killing them than ever before. For years, he resented the role of predator handed to him when he was turned. But, for the first time, he relished the blood as he and the others delivered it to those who had anything to do with this island, Doug’s death, and Charlie and Dylan’s capture.
Having had enough of the carnage, Charlie retreated to the mouth of the caves to keep watch with Mal who seemed to have also hit his limit. She wouldn’t leave this island until she was sure there weren’t any survivors left, but she hated this place.
The sun was sinking in the sky when they finished searching the last cave. Now, only the tunnels remained.
“This is one of the main entrances,” Mal said as they stood outside the tunnel entrance by what remained of the lighthouse. They’d spent the past hour clearing debris away to expose it. “And the other is the pit entrance. At the center of the tunnel system is the main cavern where we spent most of our time. All the tunnels are booby-trapped.”
“We should split into two groups to go inside,” Liam said. “That way, if there are any Savages within, we can trap them in the middle.”
“There are side tunnels that lead out too and others dead end,” Charlie said.
“You and Mal know all these tunnels and the traps?” Brian asked.
“Yes,” she said.
“Okay, so the two of you will each take an entrance, and the mates will split up,” Liam said. He held up a hand to end the protests that followed. “The mates can communicate with each other so we’ll know when to enter the tunnel, when the side tunnels are cleared, and how close each group is to the cavern so we can enter it at the same time. And we have to split up more than just one couple in case something happens to one of the mates.”
Everyone shifted uncomfortably at that possibility.
“Should we split up more so some of us can enter through the side tunnels too?” Ian asked.
“How many tunnels are there in total?” Liam asked Mal.
“There were three main tunnels and ten side ones that exited out, but the ocean-view tunnel collapsed. During that collapse, three of the side ones were also blocked off, so there are nine tunnels left,” Mal said.
“That’s too many. We’re spreading ourselves too thin if we separate to enter all of them,” Aiden said.
“We’ll divide for the two main tunnels and search the side ones as we make our way toward the center,” Liam said.
“Let’s get this over with,” Ethan ordered.
When the sides were divided, Charlie led her group to the pit entrance while Jack remained behind with Mal at the lighthouse. She could feel Jack’s displeasure over this arrangement, but it was necessary. And the sooner it was finished, the sooner they could all go home.
Covered by debris and with no landmarks to guide her, it took Charlie more time than she anticipated to uncover the pit entrance, and if it weren’t for her enhanced instincts, she never would have discovered it. It took them a few minutes to remove the rubble covering it, which told Charlie if anyone was inside, they’d entered through one of the side tunnels.
Charlie jumped into the pit and waited for the others to join her. She alerted Jack they’d entered before clicking on the flashlight she brought from the boat.
“Stay behind me,” she told them as she led the way.
It was weird being in the tunnels while knowing they would never be her home again. An air of abandonment hung over the dirt walls as the beam played over them, and for the first time, she felt claustrophobic.
Smoke still choked the air as they swept through the main and side tunnels. They discovered a couple of dead Savages who were taken out by Mal’s traps, but they didn’t find anyone alive until they arrived at the cavern. Before they entered, the murmur of voices and the crackle of a fire alerted Charlie it wasn’t empty.
She clicked off her flashlight as they approached. She wasn’t concerned that whoever was ahead might have seen the beam as the tunnel curved around before going straight again. That bend would hide her beam from anyone in the cavern.
Standing at the edge of the tunnel, Charlie surveyed the eight Savages gathered in the center. None of them had guns, but three of them wore the security coats. They were huddled around a small fire as they discussed how to escape. Charlie almost laughed bitterly as she recalled the numerous times she’d sat around a fire with her friends, trying to figure out the same thing.
Soot covered most of the Savages, and burn holes marred their clothes, but they were otherwise unharmed. Leaning back, Charlie leaned against the wall as she waited for Jack’s group to arrive at the other tunnel entrance. She communicated what she’d discovered in the cavern and waited for him to reply.
“We’re almost there. Don’t go in until we get there.”
“Okay,”Charlie told him.
