Chapter 43 False Salvation

Chapter 43 False Salvation
The people looked like salvation, after hours of moving through mountain darkness,walking around roots and stones while every second behind us felt like pursuit, the sight of warm yellow light through the trees almost made me cry.

The structure sat low against the slope, thick logs of wood, shutters and thin smoke into the freezing night. No visible road from where we stood, no neighbors or houses around and no signs that anyone followed us. Just a quiet cabin in the mountains. 

It was too perfect, the woman had promised a safe house. Food, heat, medical supplies.

” A place where Helix would never think to search.” The woman said.

Ruby stood beside me with exhausted relief. “Please tell me that’s real.” she said.

Garrett said nothing, he stood tall with one hand pressed to his ribs, freedom has not yet healed several years of damage.

Zane remained really quiet. His eyes glowed in the dark, but stayed fixed on the cabin.

“What is it?” I asked quietly. 

He inhaled again, then again. “Something is wrong.”

Ruby groaned. “Can one place in this world just be normal?” she asked.

“No, not for us.” Garrett replied.

I studied the cabin. The windows glowed warmly, lights moved inside. No movement in the yard, no guards, no traps.

“What do you smell?” I asked Zane.

Zane’s jaw tightened. “I smell something funny.”

That was alarming.

Ruby’s relief disappeared immediately. “So we leave.”

“We need to know first.” I said.  Ruby snapped. “Are you sure, I’m tired of running?”

I ignored her and looked at the woman. “Where is this?”

She knew exactly what I was asking. The pain in my abdomen had become stronger in the last hour. But it didn't stop me from moving, but enough to remind her she was carrying more than herself now. Zane looked at my stomach, then back at the cabin. “I go first.”

I looked around and I noticed several boot prints, one set heavy and the others lighter. Zane crouched beside them, he brushed the edge with his finger.

“This is less than five hours ago.” He said. 

Garrett gave him a calm look. “You become a detective now?”

Zane moved towards a door and opened it but it was unlocked. That alone made everyone tense. He then pushed the door open. Warm air filled the air but something chemical smelled beneath it.

The cabin interior looked staged, a fire was already burning, the table was already set with water and fruits, blankets were folded on the couch. Medical cases were neatly set by the wall.

“That’s creepy.” Ruby snapped.

I stepped in slowly. Nothing in my life had ever looked this ready to receive me which meant someone had prepared for our arrival. “Check everything.” I said. 

We moved room by room. We checked the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and storage. We found no one. No cameras, no obvious weapons.

Garrett sat on the chair. He was tired.almost like his bones have given up. Ruby grabbed a bottle of water and drank half of it in one opening. “I don't care if it's haunted, I'm staying a few minutes.” She said,

Zane didn't relax. He walked around twice with narrowed eyes.

I opened one of the medical kits. 

“Leave that.” The woman frowned.

She ignored me. Then I saw sterile, painkillers and injections. “This isn't random.” I whispered. 

“What?” Ruby asked.

“This was packed by a professional.” I said.

Garrett glanced up. “Who do you think?”

Everywhere went silent.

Zane came to stand beside me. “Dont touch anything else. I need to examine the medicine and you need to sit.”

“I'm not sick, I'm just pregnant.” I said to Zane.

“I know.” Zane replied with a soft voice. “Thats why you don't know when to stop.” He furthered.

The words landed hard because they were true and I hated that but I sat anyway.

Then Garrett stared at the fire, “when I was first taken,they used places like this.” He said suddenly. 

All of us looked at him.

“safe cabins and human kindness disguised as shelter.” He furthered.

“That's a terrible story to tell right now.” Ruby slowly set down the bottle of water she opened.

“But it is a useful one.” Garrett said.

My pulse began to jump not from fear but from the bond.Zane felt it instantly. “You're in pain.”

“It's manageable.” I replied.

“That wasn't the question.” Zane said.

I pressed my fingers against my stomach. “Just cramping.”

Ruby ran to my side immediately. “How long?” 

“On and off since the tunnel.” I replied.

“Why didn't you say anything?” Ruby asked again.

“Because we were busy climbing mountains.” I answered.

Ruby checked my eyes and wrist. “You are overheated and stressed. You are changing!.”

I froze.

“The shift?” Zane asked.

Ruby nodded. “Maybe another phase.”

Garrett whispered.

Something sounded inside the room. Everything went still. Zane's head snapped. “What was that?”

Another sound, then a hiss.

Thin white vapor filled the room. It began pouring from the narrow vent along the ceiling.

Ruby screamed first. “Gas! Move..”

Zane lunged for me. Garrett overturned the table. I covered my mouth but the chemical smell hit instantly strong and heavy. Zane ripped out one vent from the wall with his bare hands but three more opened.

The gas came in fast. Ruby staggered against the door and collapsed against the couch. Garrett made two steps before dropping to one knee. My vision blurred “Run.” I coughed.

Zane reached me, carried me into his arms, and kicked the front door open so hard that it slipped into two. Cold air rushed in but he made it outside.

The first dart hit his shoulder. He roared. The second one hit his chest and the third by his neck. He removed one but his knees eventually gave in.

Figures moved through the trees with tight securities. It was Helix recovery team.

I slid from Zane’s arms into the snow. “No.”

I crawled towards him. Another dart hit the ground inches from me. Then boots entered unto the field.polished precise and cold.

Dr. Simone?

Her blonde hair was tied back neatly. Her white glove highlighted her black jumpsuit.

“Welcome back.” Simone clapped.

I tried to grab her but my body failed.

Simone watched with curiosity. “You're really strong, I must say.” 

“You!” I coughed. “How could you do this?” 

Behind her soldiers restrained Garrett with cuffs. 

Simone turned back to me. “You think you can go just like that. Watching you was fun all along.” 

My instincts directed my hands to my stomach. Simone noticed and smiled. “There it is, the real asset.” she said.

I spat at her and it landed on her sleeve and for the first time she got angry. Then she said “sedate Dr. Vance carefully remember she is pregnant.”

Two guards lifted me. I fought very weakly and my fury got stronger than my strength. “Zane!” I shouted. And he answered with a roar so violent that it shook the trees but another dart hit him and he dropped. They loaded us into separate armored vehicles. Inside the vehicle, a doctor came in and checked my pulse while he avoided eye contact. “Coward.” I said with anger.

The door slammed shut and the engine started. As the vehicle moved, I turned my head enough to look through the tiny glass in the rear back of the vehicle. Soon it blurred.Trees vanished behind us, then through the darkness I saw it.

The mountain led to the room, descending toward helix back underground. Tears rolled down my eyes. I thought we had escaped the cage only to be delivered back into it. And somewhere ahead, waiting was Owen Graves.