Chapter 88

VANCE

"Left, right, right, left..." I muttered the turns that led to Orion's cries in my head like a mantra.

I would get out of here, and I would rescue him.

Day three. Plates of untouched food lay at a corner of the cell. The water was safe to drink. I would know if it wasn't. But I hadn't taken a bite of the food. I would rather starve to death than let Viper poison me. There were worse things than death, I reminded myself for like the hundredth time. And I would rather die than let Viper control me into betraying my pack.

"At this rate you're going to die anyway," Agnus whispered, an edge of resignation in his voice.

I hugged my knees. I hadn't realized that I said that out loud. My back was pressed against the cold wall.

My hands were no longer bound behind my back, but Kyle had held me in place while the men chained my right hand to the bars of the cell, limiting my movement. A small mercy, I thought. Now the silver only burned one of my wrists.

"Yeah," I grunted, lifting my head. "When I pictured dying in battle, it wasn't exactly a battle of wills in my mind."

"Still haven't eaten?" Agnus or my cell mate asked.

I wondered if the exhaustion was evident in my voice. It should have been day three by now. At least, I hadn't started hallucinating yet. But I kept on counting numbers in my head and thinking of Eria. I could feel her, closer than ever. It might have been my imagination. Small things that kept me from going insane.

Angus's voice dropped to a whisper. "Vance, listen. You have about two hours before the guards make their rounds. There's a thin piece of wire that Paul slipped under your cell while you were asleep..."

I jerked upright. Under the dim light, my eyes scanned the floor and true enough, there was a glint of wire in perfect camouflage, slipped under my cell. "Paul did that?" I asked, more in shock than anything else as I picked out the wire.

"He told me a way to pick the locks," Agnus continued, ignoring my question. He sounded like a messenger, his tone bleak, merely conveying information.

I rose to my feet, and for once, the hunger pangs died out. I no longer felt totally doomed. The cold wire in my palms felt like freedom.

Agnus called out instructions as I bent over the lock. The clinking of the metal against the bars made more noise than I would have thought. It was nearly impossible, with the dimmest mockery of light that cast more shadows than the light itself.

But I didn't have to see. I closed my eyes, feeling for the pins.

"It's a simple mechanism," Agnus was saying, but I knew he couldn't see me, didn't know if I was doing it right. And then with one final click, the lock gave way, falling to the ground. I stepped out, breathing in relief.

Next I worked on the cuffs around my wrist, ignoring the pain that shot up my arm. Soon, that also fell to the ground. Free, I thought. But not entirely.

I stumbled and cursed, wishing I had a flashlight. I made my way to Agnus's cell. I could make out his features, dirty and unkept from months, maybe years of being down here.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"Getting you out," I replied, fumbling for the lock.

"Don't be stupid," he hissed, his tone sharp. "You barely have time and I'll only weigh you down. Besides, there are wrongs that I cannot atone for." I met his eyes, and saw in them, a look of a man that had resigned himself to his fate. My hands dropped from the bars.

"But I can't just leave you here to die," I said weakly.

He reached behind him. I saw the glint of a blade as he pressed it through the bars. "Paul wanted you to have it," he said.

"But why?" I took the dagger, wondering why Paul, a man that had betrayed me would suddenly be interested in my escape.

"I don't have all the answers. But the men were talking while you slept. The prophecy kid is going to be moved tonight. Then he's gone forever. You don't have much time. Follow the left wing. Go, now!"

I took one last look at Angus. He gave me a decisive nod. "I'll come back for you," I swore under my breath.

I sprinted down the halls.

Left wing, I thought, making my way up the spiralling stairs. Left, right, right...

By the time I got to the end of the next left turn, I was already panting. I hoped for their sake that there was a sort of elevator around. Light lined the corridors, illuminating the paths. It was silent, save for the sound of my own breathing. I wouldn't have been sure where I was, if it wasn't for the small marking that I put on the wall the last time.

I walked down the corridor, straining my ears to hear something, anything. And then I heard voices. I slowed down. I could pick up two of them. Guards, I thought. And I had reason to believe they were Orion's guards. I couldn't sneak up on them, but I could take them by surprise.

With a yell I charged at them, still too weak to shift but turned in the air, bringing the dagger fast on the first one. And suddenly, it was a blur of movements. I stabbed the first in his ribs, blood spattering everywhere. Then the second drew out his weapon but I was faster, kicking him below the belt. Then alarms were blaring everywhere. I grabbed one of their guns, then rushed for the room. To my surprise, it opened. Inside was a woman, pale faced and clutching Orion, a feeding bottle in her hand.

I stopped dead. "Hand him over." Everything in the room was white. There was a crib, a bathroom, and playing area. I wasn't sure what I expected. Maybe tubes suspending Orion in the air and scientists in blue overalls.

"I was paid, I don't know anything," the woman cried in fear.

I took Orion from her. The infant's cries filled the air. I stepped out of the room but guards had begun to arrive, pulling out their weapons.

"This way," Paul came running from the other side of the corridor, his eyes urgent.

I hesitated, my eyes burning with hatred. "Why should I trust you?" I clutched Orion protectively in my arms, but I couldn't fight like this.

Paul's eyes met mine. "You don't have much choice. Please."

"Freeze!" the guards yelled, their weapons aiming at me.

"Fuck," I cursed. I had better chance with a traitor than a legion.

Without thinking, I darted after Paul and I had never been so grateful for a turn in the labyrinth-like facility as gun shots echoed behind us.

I ran blindly, following Paul. But he seemed to know what he was doing, navigating through the corridors, leading us out of the Order... or straight to Viper.

"Activating full lockdown," a voice sounded around us, followed with unmistakably grating sounds as every door that could possibly lead out shut down.

"Why are you helping me?" I asked, just as we darted into a large hall.

"You probably won't believe it, Vance, if I say that I'm sorry for betraying you. But there are things I would like to make up for."

"Your people are here," he informed me.

I stared at him in confusion, and then I felt her. Eria... It couldn't be.

Eria rushed towards me, throwing her hands around my neck, tears running down her cheeks. "Vance! I thought you were gone, I thought...."

"Don't say anything," I whispered, longing to kiss her, to feel her against me. "How did you find me?" I asked instead.

I could make her out clearly. Her red hair in a pony tail, a leather jacket over her shoulders, with black pants and a dagger peeking through her belt. An arrow, which I suspected was silver, slung over her back.

"I could feel you," she breathed. She took Orion from me. The infant's cries had died down.

"Let's just say it's like this epic game of hot and cold," Maya smirked, stepping into view.

That's when I saw Lukas and Jared too. My brother smiled at me, but our reunion was cut short. The footsteps were nearer now. We would soon be caught.

"Down the hallway," Paul said. "There's a single room there. Use the window, over the gate. Then you can portal out. Fast."

Eria grabbed my hand.

"Jonah," Lukas's face paled, like he suddenly remembered something. "Viper has him."

"Jonah is here?" My eyes widened. The rest of them gave me a look that said long story.

"I'll get him," Paul said running off.

I darted after him without a second thought. "Vance!" Eria yelled, but my thoughts were on Jonah. I couldn't leave him behind.