Chapter 122 Chapter 122

Chapter 122 Chapter 122
The snowcat lurched across the ice. The engine was making a cracking sound. The wind howled outside. The windows were frosted over. Jax could barely see. He was trying his best to stay alive. Caiman's shirt was used to hold the bleeding spot but it was soaked now. His hand was pressed against his chest. Blood seeped through his fingers. His vision was blurry. His breathing was shallow.

Elena sat next to him. Her hand was on his arm. Her grip was tight. Her fingers were digging into him.

"Stay with me Jax," she said. Her voice was shaking.

"Elena, I'm trying." He said slowly.

"Try harder." Her voice was firm. She bit her fingernails.

He almost smiled. His lips barely moved. His eyes were half closed.

Rina was driving. Her hands were tight on the wheel. Her eyes were fixed on the white nothing ahead. She hadn't blinked in minutes.

Caiman was in the back. Marcus was next to him. The man was barely still alive. His eyes were closed. His chest was moving slowly. Too slowly.

Evelyn was next to Marcus. Her hands were shaking. Her face was pale. She kept looking at Marcus. Then at the window. Then back at Marcus.

The snowcat coughed again.

Rina hit the dashboard. Her palm slammed against the plastic. "Come on. Come on. Come on."

The engine made cracking sounds again. Then it died.

The snowcat rolled to a stop.

Rina tried the ignition but it didn't respond. She tried again. Nothing. She tried a third time. The starter clicked but the engine didn't turn.

"The engine is dead," she said. Her voice was flat. Empty.

Elena looked around. She pressed her face against the frosted window. "How far is the bunker?"

"Too far. We'll freeze before we get there. Jax can't even stand."

Caiman moved to the front. His boots were heavy on the floor. "We have to keep moving."

"On foot?"

"Yes."

Jax tried to sit up. His body screamed. He fell back.

“I am so sorry you have to go through all this,” Evelyn said with a sad voice. “I did all I could do to stop her.”

Elena pushed Jax down. “It's okay. It's not your fault.” Her hand was firm on his chest. "Don't move."

"I'm fine," Jax said.

"You're not fine. Caiman, help me here."

“Alright,” Caiman said. Let's quickly check the engine to see what's up. Caiman opened the door. The wind hit him like a wall. It pushed him back. He stepped out. His boots sank into the snow. His coat flapped in the wind. He walked to the front of the snowcat. He lifted the hood. Ice. Snow. Frost. Metal. He stared at the engine. His breath came out in clouds.

He was still there when the lights appeared.

It was from headlights and it was moving toward them.

Caiman stepped back. His hand went to his knife.

The vehicle stopped. A snowcat. Dark and unmarked. The engine was quiet. The door opened.

Helena stepped out.

She was wearing a heavy coat. Her hair was white with frost. Her face was pale. Her eyes were red. Her hands were shaking.

She walked toward them.

Caiman moved to block her. His arm was out. "Stop. You really want us to grant you a death wish.”

Helena didn't stop. She kept walking.

"I'm not here to fight," she said.

"Then what are you here for?"

She walked past him. Toward the snowcat. Toward Jax.

Elena stepped out. Her hand was on her knife. Her face was hard. "Stay away from him." Her voice came out hard. Her eyes were teary.

Helena stopped. She looked at Elena. Then at Jax.

"Everything is over," she said. Her voice was quiet. "The facility is gone. Anya is dead. Marcus Cain is dying. Will be dead soon."

"And? What do you want from us then?"

"I want to see it end. I want to finish this up."

Elena shook her head. "You want to finish it?”

Helena didn't answer.

She walked to the snowcat. She opened the back door. She looked at Marcus. At his pale face. At his closed eyes.

"He's still alive," she said.

"Barely."

Helena looked at Evelyn. Her eyes were wet.

Evelyn looked back. Her face was hard. Her jaw was tight.

"Mother."

"Evelyn."

"You don't have to do this."

"Yes. I do."

She reached into her coat. She pulled out a gun and shot Jax.

The shot rang out.

“NOOO!” Rina and Elena screamed. Evelyn opened her mouth in shock.

Jax felt the impact. His chest. His body. His everything.

He fell back.

Caiman moved quickly. He didn't see Caiman move. He didn't see the knife leave his hand. He didn't see it hit Helena in the neck.

But he heard it.

The sound of her choking. The sound of her falling.

The snow was cold. The sky was white.

He felt Elena's hands on his face. Her voice was distant.

"Jax! Jax! Noo!"

He tried to answer.

Evelyn ran to her mother. Her neck was gushing out blood like a tap with running water and immense force. “Mother! Nooo! You shouldn't have come here. Jax already promised to let you go! Why did you come here?” Tears ran down her cheeks. She couldn't stop them. Her voice was waving.

The snowcat was silent.

The wind howled. The cold crept in.

Rina sat in the driver's seat. Her hands were still on the wheel. She was staring ahead.

Elena was on her knees next to Jax. Her hands were pressed against his chest. His blood was on her fingers. His blood was on her coat. His blood was on the floor.

"Stay with me," she said. Her voice was cracking.

His eyes were open. He was looking at her. But he wasn't seeing her.

"Jax."

He blinked. His lips moved.

"I'm here," he said. His voice was barely a whisper.

Evelyn was still kneeling beside her mother. Her hand went to her mother's face.

"Mother," she said.

Helena didn't answer.

Evelyn closed her eyes. She sat back on her heels. Her hands were in her lap.

Caiman walked to her. He put his hand on her shoulder. "She made her choice."

Evelyn nodded. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

Caiman turned to the snowcat. He looked at Jax.

"We need to move," he said.

Elena looked up. Her face was wet. "He can't walk."

"Then we carry him."

Rina got out. She walked to the back. She opened the door.

"I'll take the wheel," she said.

Caiman lifted Jax. His arms were shaking. But he lifted him. He carried him to the snowcat. He laid him on the seat.

Elena climbed in. She sat next to him. She held his hand.

Rina started the engine. It came in.

They drove.

The snowcat moved across the ice.

The wind howled outside. The cold crept in through the cracks.

Jax lay on the seat. His eyes were closed. His breathing was shallow. Hi
s face was pale.

Elena held his hand. Her fingers were tight.

"Stay with me," she whispered.

He didn't answer.

Caiman sat in the back. He was looking at Marcus. “I think we lost him too.”