by Cheree Alsop
Her attempts at courage made Alex’s eyes sting with tears. “I’m so sorry,” he breathed. “Nobody should have done this to you. This is wrong.” He blinked quickly, keeping the tears at bay. “I’m with Jaze Carso’s pack. We didn’t know anyone was here or we would have gotten you out more quickly. We’re fighting to stop the General.”
Siale’s gray gaze darkened with subtle shades of blue. “Stop the General,” she forced out.
Alex nodded. “We will. I promise you that.”
Her gaze flickered, as if the light was trying to go out. Alex pressed his hand more firmly against her side. “Don’t you leave me,” he said, keeping his eyes locked on hers. “Don’t stop fighting. Never stop fighting.”
The words that escaped him sent a wave of memories rushing through his mind, something he had forgotten.
“Jet told me the same thing before he left us at Two.” Depth appeared in Siale’s eyes, chasing away the flicker. Alex took it as a good sign. “Jet was my brother. He saved my twin sister Cassie and me the day our parents were killed. He took us to Two, one of Jaze’s safe houses. I begged him not to leave us. I was eight years old and terrified that we were about to lose the last member of our family.”
Alex remembered Jet kneeling on the ground so that he was eye level. Jet had just seen their parents slain, had done all that he could to save other werewolves from the genocide, and had lost countless friends. Alex knew his brother had so much more left to do, yet Jet took the time to kneel on the ground; his knees sent up a small puff of the red rock dust of Two.
“No matter what happens, keep fighting,” the Alpha told him.
Alex nodded, but couldn’t hide the fear he felt at Jet leaving them.
Jet put his hands on Alex’s shoulders. Alex could still remember the comfort that flooded through him at his brother’s touch. Jet never reached out to anyone if he didn’t have to, the result, Alex now knew, of his violent upbringing. Such moments were rare, yet Jet took the time.
“You’ll never be alone,” Jet said quietly, his dark blue eyes passionate and voice soft. “Whatever you do, don’t stop fighting. Never stop fighting.”
Alex’s words choked off as he looked down at Siale. Tears he hadn’t known escaped burned down his cheeks. He wiped his face on his shoulder. “I guess I’ve been a fighter ever since.”
Siale smiled, then gasped at some unknown pain. She curled inward, clutching her chest, tearing the bandages out of Alex’s hands.
Alex fought down a rush of panic. “Siale, you’re going to bleed out. I need to keep pressure on that wound,” he said. “If you don’t let me help you, you’ll die.” His throat tightened. “Don’t you dare leave me here alone.”
He put his hands softly but firmly on her side. After a moment, her muscles loosened and she rolled to face him. Her face was pale with pain and tears streaked her cheeks, but she kept silent as he repositioned the bandages. He moved so that she could rest her head on his knee to keep it out of the grime beneath her. Her hair swept across her face. She would have to move her arm past his bandages to push it back.
Alex caught her hair gently with his fingers and brushed it behind her ear. The strands were dark brown and soft. The gentle curve of her cheek against the back of his fingers felt so out of place in the tunnel of horror where they found themselves.
Alex searched his mind for anything to tell her. His gaze focused on the cuts on her arms that were bleeding through his bandages.
“I remember walking with Jet down the road one night.” A small smile crossed his face. “He hated being inside, so whatever chance he got, he left and I usually tagged along with him. He never acted like me following him around was a problem. I realize now that he liked the company, he just didn’t know how to say it.”
Alex studied his hands; Siale’s blood coated them in red that was beginning to darken and harden. “We passed a man living out of a shopping cart on the side of the street. Jet was usually so careful to go out of his way to avoid strangers, but he walked right up to this man even though I was sure they didn’t know each other.”
Alex could hear the rustle of the breeze that pushed against the cans the old man had tied to his cart. A tattered sleeping bag tied with a bandana sat in the place where little kids usually rode. The inside of the cart was filled with odds and ends the old man had gathered along with a few dented cans of soup and a worn out teddy bear.
The old man stood when Jet reached him. They studied each other for a moment, but instead of Jet’s alert stance, his knees bent, his hands open and closing as he decided what to do, Alex remembered Jet giving the man a rare, small smile.
“Scars like yours are survived,” the man said.
Jet nodded, the haunted depths to his eyes giving no reason to explain.
“Welcome back. I’m glad you made it,” the man concluded with a knowing nod.
He and Jet shook hands, another rare thing for the werewolf, and they continued on their way.
“He constantly surprised me,” Alex told Siale. Her face was away from him, so he couldn’t tell if she was still awake. The thought of being alone in the body-filled tunnel was too much to consider. He paused, waiting for her to make some sign that she was with him. “Are you still here?” he barely dared to ask.
It took her a moment to respond. When she did, the “Yes,” left her like a sigh.
Alex held onto her voice like a lifeline. “They’ll come for us,” he said, promising her with words he knew better than to hope for with the amount of debris above them. “Somehow,” the word was spoken in a whisper.
He turned off the little light from his gun. It was easier that way. Even though his wolven eyesight allowed him to see in the dark, the lack of all light made it impossible to see more than mere forms; lumps and insubstantial shapes became their seat instead of the horror he really knew was there.
He ran a hand down her hair. It was the only part of her he dared to touch for fear of hurting her. His grip on the bandage that kept the blood seeping from her side was tight. He worried about the pain he was causing, but the blood loss was far worse. Whenever he quit talking, the silence pressed in around him with a palpable weight. It choked his throat and made it hard to breathe because in the silence, fear became real, and the fear of staying in the hole forever was too terrifying to consider.
“I never thought I’d find myself in a position like this,” Alex admitted. “Cassie always told me I was going to get myself killed. She says I’m reckless, but it wasn’t recklessness that made me climb down this hole.” He thought about it for a moment. “It was the thought that someone below who had suffered at the General’s hand could survive. I’ve seen so many horrible things that he’s done to werewolves, and while Jaze’s team is able to free some, most are long gone when we find them.” He had to remember not to clench his hands into fists. “I’m sick of what he does to werewolves. He has to be stopped.”
His words fell away, echoing quietly to the point of nothingness.
The silence began to press in again when Siale’s voice pushed it away. “You’re going to stop him.” The words were faint, but they were sure.
Alex’s brow furrowed. “I’m going to try,” he replied, smoothing her hair. “I will do everything in my power to make sure the General and Drogan are stopped for good.”
It felt like the slight sigh that left her in return was her answer.
Alex could hear her heartbeat growing fainter. Her breath was shallow. It amazed him that she was still responsive.
“We’re going to get out of here,” he told her. “Don’t stop fighting.”
She didn’t respond. Her heartbeat was a mere whisper.
“Siale, don’t stop fighting,” Alex said, louder this time.
She didn’t stir.
“Siale,” Alex shouted. His words echoed back to him with a force that made his ears ring. “Siale, stay with me!” He gathered her in his arms, tipping her head so he could look into her face.
Her heart ga
ve a stronger beat and her eyelashes brushed open.
“That’s it,” Alex breathed. “Don’t give up. You’re a fighter, otherwise you wouldn’t still be alive. Don’t make all that fighting be for nothing.”
Her mouth opened slightly. He had to lean close to hear her whisper, “It hurts.”
“Pain means you’re alive,” Alex told her. “Stay alive for me. Fight for me. Can you do that?”
He took the slight tip of her head for a nod. “Good,” he said. He leaned against the filthy wall and held her close to him. “Because I’ll fight for you whenever you stop fighting.”
Her lips moved. It might have been a smile. It may have been a grimace of pain. Alex smiled back regardless and tipped his head against the wall. Weariness filled his limbs. A fuzzy, hollow sound rang in his ears. He didn’t know how long they had been in the hole, but between the adrenaline that had long ago faded away, and the toll of just being where they were, he could barely keep his eyes open.
“You’re going to be okay,” he told Siale.
She gave a slight sound in return, but her eyes didn’t open.
Despite his efforts, Alex’s eyes slowly shut.
Chapter Fourteen
Shouts made Alex open his eyes. For a moment, he couldn’t remember where he was. A sliver of light lit the tunnel around him. The horror he saw made him avert his gaze. He glanced down at the form in his arms. Siale’s head rested against his chest. He couldn’t hear her breath or her heartbeat.
“Siale,” he whispered, afraid. When she didn’t respond, he repeated her name. He still held the bandage tight against her side. Her head lolled back when he moved. Fear pierced his heart.
“Siale,” he shouted. He jostled her and his hand tightened on her side.
A breathy moan escaped her lips.
“Oh, thank goodness,” Alex said. He held her against him, willing her to heal.
It was then that he realized he couldn’t hear her heartbeat because other sounds were louder. Scraping, banging, and screeching noises came down from above their heads. Alex peered up, realizing that the small beam of light came from where the ceiling had collapsed on top of the hole.
“Alex!”
Jaze’s voice made his heart skip a beat.
“Down here.” Alex had meant to shout, but his voice came out cracked and brittle from his dry throat. He swallowed and tried again. “Down here,” he said a bit louder.
“I heard him!”
The relief in Jaze’s words reflected Alex’s feelings about hearing his dean’s voice.
“You hear that?” he said to Siale. “They’ve come for us just like I said they would.”
She didn’t move. He chose to let her rest.
The light from above grew bigger as debris was cleared away. Pieces fell down, hitting the mass around them with sickening thuds.
“Be careful,” Alex heard Dray said. “This whole thing could come down on him.”
“Take your time,” Jaze told them. “Let’s do this right.”
A few minutes later, a grinding noise was followed by the debris over the hole being lifted away. Alex blinked at the sudden light. He kept his gaze away from what was beneath them and instead focused on the form that swung over the edge of the cylinder and was being lowered slowly down the side.
“Careful,” Chet’s voice called.
“Go slow,” Meredith said.
The sound of his mother’s voice made Alex’s heart lift. He didn’t know what to tell her. It had been a horrible night, or day and night, or however long they had been in the hole. He had no idea how much time had passed. All he wanted was to get Siale out and make sure she was okay, and then he wanted to hug Meredith and Cassie just to reassure himself that he was actually out and that they were safe.
“You okay?”
Alex nodded as Jaze’s shoes touched the mass of bodies that had become their floor. The dean grimaced, and Alex knew why. The smell of the decaying bodies was one his nose never got used to. He wondered if it would ever go away.
Jaze knelt in front of Alex.
“Hey, you alright?” he asked, his voice gentle.
Alex nodded again. The dean looked in his eyes and touched the cut on his forehead. Alex had forgotten about the blood. He wondered dazedly if he looked worse than his fight with pack Torin.
“Is she alive?” Jaze asked, checking Siale’s pulse.
“Barely,” Alex told him. He showed Jaze the bandage on her side. “If I move it, she bleeds really bad.”
“There must be silver in the wound keeping it from healing.” Jaze checked over the rest of the wounds quickly. “It’s a wonder she’s alive.” He said the last part softly. He looked up, realizing he had said the words aloud. “You did a good job. Let’s get you both out of here.”
“Siale first,” Alex insisted.
“Meredith and Cassie will kill me,” Jaze replied, but at the determination on Alex’s face, he nodded. “Siale first.”
Jaze took off his harness and worked it carefully over Siale’s legs. Alex held pressure to the wound in her ribs while Jaze tightened the harness around her waist.
“What about this?” Alex asked. She had lost so much blood that he was worried even the amount of time it took to hoist her up the tunnel could mean the difference between life and death. He hadn’t had enough shirt to tie it, and if he moved his hand, fresh blood welled up. He hoped it was a good sign that she could still bleed.
Jaze took off his own shirt and tore it carefully along the bottom in a long, thin strip, winding his way up the fabric in one continuous length. He tore it free when it reached the arms.
“This should do it,” the dean said.
“Next time, remind me to wear two shirts,” Alex commented.
The dean’s eyes creased in humor as he wrapped the cloth securely around Siale’s ribs. He tied it tight directly over Alex’s bandages to continue the pressure.
“What do you think” Jaze asked.
Alex nodded. “It’s good. It should hold.”
Jaze nodded in return. He stood, carefully maneuvering Siale in the harness.
“Bring her up slowly,” Jaze called.
The harness tightened and Siale began to lift into the air. Her back arched and her limbs hung down. Alex had to keep telling himself that she was alive, that she was going to be alright, and that he had done everything he could. Sitting on the pile of bodies trying to keep her alive had been one of the hardest moments of his life. Now that she was out of his grasp, he felt lost. His knees sagged.
“Easy now,” Jaze said, catching him.
“It’s been a little rough,” Alex told the dean. He took a deep breath, willing his legs to hold.
“I can imagine,” Jaze replied. He kept his arm around Alex’s shoulders, giving him something to lean against that wasn’t coated in body-related filth. “Take it easy. We’ll get you out of here.”
Alex fought to keep his mind alert. “How did you find me?”
“Cassie ran back in right after the explosions stopped. She refused to move, saying that we had to clear everything away to get you out.” Jaze gave him a small smile. “She was determined that you were okay. No matter what anyone said, she refused to believe otherwise.”
“She’s a bit stubborn,” Alex admitted.
Jaze chuckled. “You both are, and I’m grateful for that.” He looked around the small enclosure. “I don’t think many others could have made it through this, let alone save someone else’s life.”
Siale’s body was lifted out of sight. A few seconds later, the harness was lowered back down.
“Your turn,” Jaze said. He held the harness and helped Alex step into the leg loops. When Alex’s hands refused to cooperate with the straps, the dean tightened them and double-checked everything to make sure the student was secure.
“Take him up,” Jaze called.
It was a surreal experience, being lifted through the air with the bodies below. Alex knew with the shock and stress of all that ha
d happened that he wasn’t thinking clearly. He felt like he was floating, flying away from the horrible trap he had fallen into. He wondered vaguely if he had died, and hoped that floating upward was a good sign, although it was quite hot and that didn’t bode well.
“Oh, Alex!”
Cassie’s voice brought Alex back to the present as he was lifted over the edge of the pit. A dozen hands reached out, helping him to safety. Someone gently removed his harness. The second he was free, Cassie’s arms wrapped around him with the strength of a bear.
“I told them you were okay,” she said with tears in her eyes. “I told them you’d be waiting and we had to hurry. You’re always a fighter, Alex. You’d never give up. You promised me you’d always come back,” she sobbed with her head on his shoulder.
Alex was about to hug her back when a glance at his hands made him realize that they were coated in filth.
“You smell,” Cassie said with a half-chuckle, half-sob. She stepped back.
Meredith set a soft blanket around Alex’s shoulders. “We’ll get you cleaned up and feeling like yourself again,” she promised.
A pair of gray eyes filled with pain surfaced in Alex’s muddled mind.
“Where’s Siale?” he asked. His words stumbled over each other.
Luckily, Cassie knew him well enough to understand. “She’s on her way to one of Jaze’s hospitals. Lyra went with her and Nikki is going to meet them there. She’ll be okay.”
The need to know that she was alright for sure pressed against Alex with a force that stole his breath. He tried to make the words clear. “I need to know.”
Meredith nodded. “We’re going there, too. You need to get looked at to make sure you’re okay.”
Alex followed his mom and Cassie numbly across the cement floor. It took Alex a few minutes to realize that there was no building above his head. The explosions had brought the entire place down. He had perhaps found the only possible way to survive. He tried to feel grateful for the hole. He could only manage to feel gratitude that Siale had gotten out.
