“What about the plans for the INL? What are you going to tell Jezzie?”
“It doesn’t matter; she’ll know that I’ve defected as soon as I leave. That’s why we have to hurry. She’ll order my unit to begin as soon as possible. I need to figure out a way to contact Michael, have him bring my legion here to counterattack—”
“Wait, did you say your legion?”
Jace nodded. “As soon as we leave, I’m taking you home.”
“But—”
“I need you to check on your family. Make sure that they’re safe. And I need my sword. Once I drop you off, I’ll search the field or anywhere else I can think of while you check on your family. Once you know that they and Kayla are safe, convince them to stay home. I don’t care what you have to do, just make sure that they don’t go anywhere, okay?”
Laura nodded.
“Then I need you to talk to Reece. If I can’t find my sword, I need you to see if he will tell you anything, okay?”
She nodded, her stomach tight with nerves, and they left the room, with Unland following them.
Laura stood on her tiptoes and peeked inside the window to where Matt was being held. The room looked different now, Matt and John were chained to the wall. Laura gawked when she saw them. They were so… muscular. Matt was grumbling and pulling on his chains. Laura looked for Dr. Eppinger. His back was turned and he was arguing over his shoulder with Matt.
Laura waved in the window and Matt looked at her. His eyes grew wide and he shook his head, scowling at Laura. “Go away,” he mouthed.
Laura shook her head and put her finger to her lips, motioning for him to be quiet. She turned towards Jace and Unland. “Dr. Eppinger is in the left corner, Matt and John are in the right corner, chained to the wall.”
Jace nodded. “Laura, you hold back and watch the door, just like last time, but without going in.”
She frowned and Jace scowled. “If anyone walks by, we don’t want them thinking anything is going on.”
“But—”
“And if anyone tries to come in, you’ll have to figure out a way to dissuade them. Do you think you can do that?”
“Why can’t Unland do that?”
Jace folded his arms. “Because you can’t break them out of the chains holding them.”
“Oh.” Laura felt very small. Literally.
Jace cupped her chin. “Just trust me, baby. I’ll make sure they’re safe, okay.” He brushed his lips against hers.
Laura’s knees felt like jelly and she nodded. She stepped aside, checking the empty hallway. “Okay.”
Jace peeked through the door and motioned again for Matt to keep quiet. Then he opened the door and he and Unland slid inside. Laura forced herself to look forward, pretending to keep guard at the door. There was a loud banging noise and she jumped. She wanted to look through the window so badly, but she maintained her position. It sucked being the weakest of the group.
Jace opened the door and grabbed her arm. “We need you.”
Laura slipped through the door. Dr. Eppinger was face down on the table with a purple needle sticking out of his back. “What happened?”
Jace shrugged. “We had to incapacitate him, and decided to give him a taste of his own medicine.”
Dr. Eppinger groaned and slid to the floor. He made sucking noises. “It’s not him that we need help with.” Jace turned her to face Matt and John. “Matt won’t let us release him.”
Matt’s face was white as he stared at the scientist. “What’s going on here? What is this place? What are you?”
Laura went to him. “Matt. It’s time to go. They’re here to help you get out.”
He stared at her and pointed to Jace. “Is that the guy that came out of the fire?”
She nodded. “It is.” She reached for his hand but he pulled away from her. “Why are you with him?”
“It’s a long story.” Laura tried to reach for him again, but when he pulled away she stood awkwardly by his side. “Look, I know that this has been hard on you, but we need to leave. Now. I can explain everything later.”
The chains next to her rattled. “I’ll leave. I’ve gotta get out of here.” John held his hands forward. “Please.” The pleading in his eyes melted Laura’s heart. “I can’t be here anymore. I don’t know what he’s done to us. I can’t be here anymore. I just want to go home.”
Laura nodded and Unland stepped forward. He squeezed the cuff around John’s wrist and it crumbled into pieces. John’s mouth dropped. “What are you?”
Unland didn’t answer, but crushed the other cuff. John fell forward and Laura tried to catch him. He was really heavy. “Jace?”
Jace pulled him up and gave him to Unland, who put John’s arm around his shoulders. “We gotta go.”
Matt shifted. “Where are you taking him?”
Unland grimaced. “Don’t you see? We’re trying to get you out of here.”
Matt’s eyes hardened. “But where will you take us next? Somewhere worse?”
Laura stepped in, urgency in her voice. “Matt, they’re the good guys. They’re just here to help you get out. But we have to get going now before they’re discovered. They could be killed for helping you escape.”
There was a moan from the floor and Dr. Eppinger rubbed his head. “Ouch, you idiots. That hurt. I’m so getting you chained up for this. You’ll be my next experiment.”
Jace grabbed a pan from the cupboards and hit him in the head. The scientist slumped back onto the floor.
Matt pushed himself against the wall. “I’m not leaving with him.”
Jace rolled his eyes at Matt. “I can see why you two didn’t work out. You’re both stubborn.”
“Hush, Jace.” Laura suppressed a grin. She grabbed Matt’s hand. “Matt, please.” She looked deep into his eyes. “Don’t you trust me?”
He closed his eyes and pulled her forward, leaning his head on hers. “Of course I trust you.”
Laura closed her eyes and suddenly, she was back in time. She was standing with Matt and he’d leaned his head on hers, just like now. “Laura.” His voice was soft, pleading. “You have to move out. You can’t keep living at home.” He touched the bruise on her cheek and she grabbed his hand, and held it to her chest.
It had taken all her strength to utter her next words. “I have to stay.”
Matt pulled her chin up, forcing her to look into his eyes. “Don’t you trust me?”
Except she’d answered differently. “I can’t.”
A loud crack reverberated in the room and Laura opened her eyes. Jace had pulled Matt’s chains out of the wall. “We can’t wait for him to make up his mind.”
“Jace, stop.”
“Look, it’s not just about how insanely jealous I am right now. There are people who will die if we don’t get out of here, and fast.”
Laura nodded and faced Matt again. “Matt, you have to trust me. Trust me like you wished I’d trusted you.”
He hesitated.
“Because you were right.” It pained her to say it, but she knew she had to admit to it. It was the only way to get him to trust them. “I should’ve left.”
Matt closed his eyes again, but this time he turned his face away from her, and nodded his head. Unland grabbed his cuff and it crumbled in his hands. Matt opened his eyes again, and Laura felt a shock to see the anger and pain that radiated from them. “But it’s too late for that now.” He looked at Jace. “You found someone else that you could trust more than me.”
Laura took a step back. “It’s not what you think Matt.”
He shook his head, while Unland broke the other cuff. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“Of course it matters, Matt. You will always matter to me.”
He held his hand up, stopping her. “Stop. It’s fine, Laura.”
Laura squeezed her eyes shut, blocking his pain. “Matt,” she whispered, but he was already at the door. “Well? What are we waiting for?”
The door opened, but it wasn’t M
att. A Fallen walked into the room. He had headphones on and had his eyes closed. He was shaking his head, making air guitar gestures and was singing some song Laura didn’t recognize. “Scientist dude, can I get some of your good stuff for the battle tom—” He opened his eyes and froze, his eyes on Dr. Eppinger at the floor.
In that moment, Dr. Eppinger made a horrible scream-gagging noise. He put his arms around his stomach and screamed, louder. The other Fallen was frozen, and looked up to see all of them staring at him. “What the hell is going on here?”
Jace grabbed him by the arm and pushed him over the table and into the cupboards. Needles and vials crashed to the floor and the liquid dripped off the table and onto the scientist’s face. The Fallen slumped to the floor, unconscious. Dr. Eppinger was rubbing and screaming at the liquid on his face; it was burning his flesh.
Unland grabbed Dr. Eppinger and double-wrapped the chains around his torso, holding him. He was shaking and moaning and scraping his nails across his face, trying to get the liquid off his face.
“What do we do, sir?”
Jace pointed at the Fallen on the floor. “We inject him with the sleeping serum. That should give us enough time.” Jace’s upper lip pulled up into a sneer and he pointed at Dr. Eppinger. “I don’t care what you do with that scum.”
As quickly as the words were out of his mouth, Unland slit Dr. Eppinger’s stomach and his bowels fell out. He dropped the doctor, who fell to the floor, bleeding. “Let him get a taste of his own medicine.”
Laura, Matt and John stared at the body, their mouths open in shock. The scientist was still alive, and he reached towards Laura.
“Unland, couldn’t you have waited until they left the room?”
Unland looked up, surprised. “Oh. Sorry, sir.”
Jace reached out, trying to herd them towards the door. “Believe me you guys, you got the lucky potions. The red one is the ugly stuff. Don’t feel sorry for him.”
Unland nodded. “You wouldn’t be able to sleep if you knew what he did to my niece.” He shuddered and Laura wondered what must have happened, to make a Fallen like Unland, who just disemboweled someone like it was nothing, shudder like that.
Jace opened the door and they stumbled out. “Unland, give me John.”
John held up his hands, protesting. “It’s okay, I can walk myself.” He took a shaky step forward. “See?”
Jace shrugged. “Suit yourself.” He turned back to Unland. “Take care of this one.” He nodded towards the Fallen on the table.
“Yes, sir. But, sir?”
“Yes?”
“Shouldn’t we get Seaman too?”
Jace sighed and nodded. “I’ll take care of them, you get Seaman.”
Unland nodded. “Go, then.”
❦
They silently climbed up the path to the exit of the cave.
Laura glanced back. “Will they make it?”
Jace looked at her. “Who?”
“Unland and Seaman. What if something happens to them?”
“No one is tracking them. As long as Unland can sneak his way into the prison, they’ll be fine. And he isn’t one of my ghosts for nothing.”
“What about them?” She nodded towards John and Matt. “Now they know about you. What are you going to do with them?”
Jace frowned. “We’ll worry about them later.”
“How are you going to get so many of us home quickly? We’ll just weigh you down. Once you get us to the entrance of the cave, you should just leave us. We can find our way back.”
Jace stopped. “Are you serious?”
Laura stopped, surprised. “Of course. It’ll be faster that way. You can go on ahead—”
Jace jerked her towards him, their face was inches apart. “What in heaven or on earth makes you think that I’m leaving you here?”
Laura’s heart fluttered but she struggled to make her case. “Not until after we leave the cave. Jace, there’s three of us and those guys,” she pointed towards Matt and John, “well, they’re pretty big now. Unnaturally big, and I don’t know how you can—”
Jace’s lips were on hers now, kissing her roughly and Laura was speechless. She closed her eyes, her passion overcoming her urgency to leave the cave, and she threw her arms around him, kissing him fervidly. He pulled back, his eyes fiercely intent on hers. “I’m not leaving you, okay? Not until you’re safe at your house.”
She nodded, her eyes boring into his, and he grasped her close. “After this is over, I’m never leaving you. Unless you want me to. Okay?”
She leaned back, confused. “I would never want you to leave me.”
“Guys?”
Laura and Jace turned and Matt was staring at him. Even in the darkness of the cave, Laura could see the hurt on his face. She looked down, angry at herself for showing that affection in front of Matt. She had never deserved him, and he was entitled to some respect.
“Aren’t we in a hurry?” Matt was holding onto John’s shoulder, who looked like he would pass out any second.
Jace raced forward and took John from Matt. “You’re right, I’m sorry. Let’s go.”
He led the way, with Laura trailing as far behind them as she could without holding them back. She was ashamed of the way she acted in front of Matt and couldn’t look him in the eyes. There was a shimmering light ahead and Jace stopped.
“We’re far enough out that, from here on, every second counts. It’s still too narrow to fly in here, so we’re going to need to run. As soon as we hit the exit, I’m going to need John to hang on to my back. Do you think you can do that John?”
He nodded weakly.
“And Laura and Matt, I’ll carry you in each arm, okay?” Laura choked and Matt looked away, but Jace continued. “I know it’ll be awkward, but you’ll need to close your eyes so you don’t get sick. The ride will be short, believe me.”
They both nodded and Jace pulled John into his arms. “Okay, now.”
They all sprinted for the exit with Jace leading the way. As soon as Laura and Matt reached it, John was already on his back and Jace’s wings were spread out. Matt stopped, gawking at their enormity.
Voices from the tunnel could be heard. Laura grabbed Matt’s arm. “Come on, they’ll be here soon.”
Jace grabbed them both and, tucking them in each arm, bent his knees and shot in the air. Laura forgot to close her eyes and began to get dizzy. She squeezed her eyes shut and felt the cool air whip against her face. She grinned; it felt so amazing. She would have to get Jace to take her up more often. She was tempted to look out over the landscape and spread her arms wide, but she resisted.
Jace sped over the landscape. His spirits lifted, he felt agile and buoyant. It had been too long since he’d flown. He turned and sped towards Laura’s house.
❦
Laura raced into her house. “Reece! Reece!”
Her mom was at the kitchen sink, scrubbing it. As soon as she saw Laura, she dropped the bristle and rushed towards Laura.
“Laura! You’re home. Where’ve you been? We’ve been worried sick about you. With you and Matt missing, we thought something had happened. What are you wearing?”
“I’m fine, mom. Is everyone here? Where’s Reece?”
Her dad stumbled into the room, a beer can in one of his hands. “Laura. You come home, missing for days, and then you rush around like you can’t be bothered with your mom’s anxiety. She’s been worried sick. We’ve all been out looking for you. We got the police involved and everything. How dare you make your mom worry so much.”
Anger boiled up in Laura’s chest. She could see that her mom had a bruise on her eye. That was something new; he’d never hit her before. “Are you drinking already? This early in the morning? And now that I’m not here to push around, you’re hitting mom now?” She clenched her fists at her side, trying not to punch his face.
Her dad stumbled up to her; he reeked of alcohol. “Young lady, you will not speak to me like that in this house, under my roof. You apologize
to me right now, and then you will apologize to your mother for making her worry.”
She folded her arms across her chest. “I’m sorry.”
Her dad nodded and then pointed to her mom. “And to your mother.”
But she wouldn’t, couldn’t, look away from him. “I’m sorry I let you take all your anger out on me, year after year. I’m sorry I never stood up to you, or called the police on you. Or left with Matt. Or went to school with Kayla. I’m sorry that mom lets you talk to her like she’s trash.”
“Laura,” her dad warned.
“I’m sorry you can’t deal with life and I’m sorry that you killed Allie.”
The room was silent, except for the gasp from her mom. Her dad whipped his hand out, smacking Laura in the face. Laura put her hand to her face, and stumbled backwards in shock. Then she clinched her hands, ready to pounce, and punched him in the face.
“Why you…” He pushed her back against the wall and wrapped his hands around her neck, choking her. “You were always an ungrateful little bitch. Even when you were little. Always whining, whining, and crying about your sister. About how much you missed her. And I can’t take it anymore.”
Laura grappled with his hands, too much in shock to really do anything. Laura’s mom grasped his shoulders, trying to pull him off of her, but he kicked Laura’s mom and she fell to the floor helpless.
His face, red and bloated as he screamed, “I can’t look at you anymore, can’t look at the way you look at me, knowing how much you hate me. And every time I close my eyes at night I see her. Blood spreading through her chest and your face, in shock and horror. I can’t look at you anymore, I can’t take it.”
Laura’s face was turning blue and she managed to get some air through her windpipe. “Dad,” she rasped, trying to kick him.
He leaned in and her airway was completely blocked. “I wished you never came back so I wouldn’t have to remember what I did to your sister.”
Suddenly he was on the floor and Jace was on top of him, breathing heavily and trying really hard not to pummel the hell out of him.
Broken: (Ignite, Book 2) Page 13
