Or was it left they took me? Everything is sort of fuzzy from the drugs. I’m not going to get clarity, so I need to trust my instincts, which means going left.
I take off in that direction, wishing on the stars that I’m right. It’s a long hallway that goes on forever as I follow curve after curve. At the beginning there were a couple doors similar to the one I was behind but now there’s nothing.
I see someone walking towards me from the opposite direction. She’s about my age, taller than me at probably five eight and incredibly fit. She’s already spotted me and isn’t racing toward me with her weapon raised, so I can only hope she thinks I belong. We are both dressed in street clothes with weapons on our body, so I can see why she thinks so. It’s good to know people clearly don’t know everyone here. It’ll make things easier for me.
I walk at a brisk but hopefully not suspicious pace. The halls are completely empty of rooms for me to try but the girl had to be coming from somewhere.
Against all odds, I actually find a door at the end of the hallway.
It requires a key card to enter so hopefully my mom had access to whatever this is. I press my ear against the door but I don’t hear anything from the other side.
I take a deep breath and pull the sword free from its sheath. I swipe the card before shoving it back into my pocket. The door clicks open and I slowly push through it. It leads to another hallway with numerous doors coming off it.
What are these to?
I step inside and let the door shut behind me. I need to hurry, they probably have security cameras around this place.
I check each door but there’s nothing identifying on them. No way for me to tell which might lead to an exit. I’m afraid to start opening them in case there are people inside.
I keep going down the hallway, checking every door for some sign. If I had to guess an exit would be at the very end of the hallway, so I take my chances and run to the end.
Again, there’s no way to know but I need to take a chance. I take a deep breath, send up a prayer and open the door.
It unlatches and I’m dropped into unfamiliar territory. There are wide open plains as far as I can see.
I don’t know how I’m going to get home from here but I’m grateful to be outside for the first time in weeks. I take my first deep breath in forever and step out of the doorway completely, letting it shut behind me.
All around me hunters materialize with their weapons raised and pointed at me. They’re furious and among them are my parents. My heart drops, they’ve already found me.
They’re standing next to an older woman dressed in all black. Considering how long it takes for supernaturals to show signs of aging, she must be ancient. I’m guessing she’s an elder I keep hearing about.
She opens her mouth and declares, “Aly Jensen, you have been sentenced to death by execution for your crimes against the hunter race!”
My parents jerk their heads to the elder, clearly in shock. At least they didn’t want me dead.
“Wait!” My mom shouts but it’s like the decree was a command. The hunters surrounding me start to converge on me.
I raise my weapon, if I’m going down I’m taking at least one person with me. I send a pang of love and apology to my mates with bonds, hoping they share it with Jax and Kiran.
I wish more than anything I could see them again. Be surrounded by their love and strength. Tell them I love them, something I absolutely should have already done.
My parents jump into the fray and I think they’re coming to kill me themselves. But they turn and stand next to me, facing the mob as well.
“We are sorry Aly. We shouldn’t have brought you here,” my mom whispers before lunging and stabbing someone with her sword.
I attack as well, following her example. I’m a little sick, I don’t want to kill anyone but in this case it’s them or me. This is why Jeremy and the guys insisted on teaching me how to deliver a killing blow. Still, when I can, I deliver a sharp hit against the temple to knock my opponent out.
At first, they clearly think we will be easily overwhelmed, so most of them stay back. I’m really only facing two at a time.
I spin out away from a stomach strike and it nicks my arm instead. I’m bleeding but it’s nothing too serious. Blood drips down my arm like a sleeve.
I nail that man against the temple sending him down immediately. The woman fighting with him goes for my legs and I have to jump to avoid her slicing my Achilles tendon
I’m aiming for her temple, like I did with the man, when she moves and I slice her neck instead. Blood gurgles out as she drops to the ground, clearly dead.
Even though they’re trying to kill me, that must be the final straw against me because everyone starts to charge me at once.
I’m officially out numbered and there’s nothing I can do about it.
