Chapter 168 ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-EIGHT

Chapter 168 ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-EIGHT
Scarlett’s POV

Tragedy had happened back in the library, but it felt like everyone was desperately avoiding the harsh reality of it. It was just too hard to think of Tanner as dead. In my mind, he was just badly injured and desperately needed proper medical treatment.

Derek was such a bitter, heartless bastard.

It was a damn good thing I had thought to rub my dagger in that liquid Rachael had shown me earlier as we packed up all our important stuff.

She had mentioned it would cause the victim to suffer multiple organ failures within a few months, turning their life into an excruciatingly painful process. I hadn't asked how it came to be in her possession, but I suspected it had been given to her by her mother.

The small bottle was packed away with a few other personal items Rachael kept from her mum. Despite her mother's terrible addictions, it was obvious she cared about Rachael in her own way.

I wondered where Rachael and Stan were right now. Hopefully, they were already waiting safely at the tunnel.

Blue held my hand tightly, his long fingers interwoven with mine as we ran through the corridors. We were essentially running in circles, trying our best to shake those remaining guys off our trail before heading to the secret entrance. It would be totally detrimental to lead Derek's thugs to our only escape route.

The air was increasingly turning smoky, which was quickly becoming another major concern. The harsh smell burnt my throat, making every breath difficult. Derek had really set Bellamy on fire, just like he had planned. I could only hope that most of the innocent students had managed to find a way out or reached safety.

As we rounded a corner near the edge of the grounds, I caught sight of Orion. He was just sitting quietly in a secluded alcove like the world wasn't currently breaking loose around us, looking like he was waiting for someone.

"Where is the tunnel?" I asked breathlessly, clutching my aching side.

"Near the far side of the courtyard," Blue said, his voice clipped.

"Have we lost those guys?"

Blue slowed his pace slightly, looking back over his shoulder. "Looks like it."

He stopped us near the alcove, pulling me into the shadow of the brick wall.

I pointed toward the lone figure. "That's Orion, right? The guy that stole from your father a while back?"

Blue nodded grimly.

"Why not take him with us?" I suggested, looking at how vulnerable he looked sitting there alone.

We both stared at him for a second. Orion looked up, his eyes widening as he finally spotted us. He jumped up from the bench immediately and ran over to where we stood.

Blue instantly shifted into a guarded stance, shielding me slightly. "What were you sitting there for?"

Orion bypassed Blue's hostile question. Instead, he looked past us with wide, frantic eyes. "Where is Tanner?"

We all blinked at him, completely thrown off and weirded out by the strange question.

Jax stepped forward, his brow pulling down. "Why are you asking? Do you know him personally?"

Orion looked around, shifting uncomfortably on his feet without answering.

I took a small step forward. "Tanner is back in the library, around the encyclopedia section."

Orion’s entire face turned alarmed. "Why isn't he with you guys?!"

I just looked down at the dusty floor, shaking my head slowly. When I looked back up at Orion, his expression was aghast, horror washing over his pale features. He turned on his heel, making a move to start running off toward the main building without a single care for his own safety.

What the hell had happened between the two of them?

"If you can bring Tanner to the farther side of the courtyard," I called out quickly, stopping him in his tracks, "there is a way for you to leave Bellamy!"

Orion swallowed hard, his throat moving as if there was a painful knot stuck inside it. "But... but he is alive, right?"

"I believe so," I said somberly. "Go to the infirmary first to get something to wheel him on, or if you have some other ingenious idea."

Orion suddenly snapped, turning his glare toward Blue. "But why the fuck did you leave him?!"

Blue didn't hesitate for a second. He reached out and snatched Orion firmly by the front of his shirt, pulling him in close. "Do you think I fucking wanted to?! I couldn't get him out because we were being pursued! He sacrificed himself so I could get out safely, much to my extreme displeasure! But I'll be fucking damned if I let his sacrifice go to waste! We—"

Before he could finish his sentence, the distinct sound of rushing footsteps echoed down the adjacent hallway. Derek’s guys were still on our tail. Derek must have ordered them to keep up the relentless chase, very serious about capturing both Blue and me before the fire consumed the school.

I shivered in worry, clutching my side tightly.

Blue let out a curse word and released his grip on Orion's shirt. He looked at him, his gaze softening just a fraction. "Go to him." Blue paused, exhaling slowly. "Please save him if you can."

Orion nodded once, ducking swiftly into another hallway to start running toward the library.

Blue turned and did the same, pulling me along with him toward the courtyard. But after just a few strides, his steps noticeably faltered. He stumbled slightly against the wall.

I immediately reached out, holding him up as best as I could. I looked at his shoulder and gasped—the makeshift bandage wrapped around his shoulder was soaked through with fresh, dark blood.

I was so worried my hands were shaking, but I had no idea what to do to stop the bleeding while we were on the run.

Jax stepped up beside us, assessing Blue's pale face. "You are going dizzy from blood loss, boss. Enough with the running around in circles. Go straight to the tunnel right now. I'll hold them off."

Blue’s grey eyes widened in anger. "No! I forbid it! Let's just take one more detour and then go together!"

"I promise I will meet you down there," Jax said firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Please go there now and start making your way out of this fucking place."

Blue grounded his jaw tight, his expression tortured, as if knowing deep down that he couldn't convince Jax otherwise. He finally turned, pulling me firmly by the hand as we made a final, desperate dash toward the edge of the courtyard.

We reached a small, obscure stone structure near the outer fence. Blue shoved aside a pile of loose wooden boards, revealing a narrow, subtly covered hole in the ground. He opened the hatch and carefully helped me go down first into the darkness. He dropped down right after me, pulling the cover back into place.

We moved quickly down the damp, quiet stone passage. At the very first bend in the tunnel, a dark figure suddenly stepped out from the shadows in a defensive position, holding a handy stick.

It was Stan.

Stan let out a big sigh of relief the moment he realized it was us, lowering his weapon.

Blue leaned heavily against the damp stone wall, his breathing ragged as he looked around the quiet cavern. "Where is everyone?"