Beckett stands and turns toward me. “She’ll be fine.”
“Like I said,” Ellie grumbles.
We ignore her.
Zane expertly flips his knife in the air as he glances in both directions. “So, do you guys have any idea where to look for Reece? I wouldn’t expect him to be such a nimble, slippery little fucker.”
“Maybe he’s already dead,” Beckett whispers, his tone tight.
“Or maybe he’s right behind you,” a rough voice declares.
Ellie jumps, a startled squeak escaping her. Zane simply throws his knife with expert efficiency at the intruder.
Reece Whipers ducks at the last second, and the blade burrows into the wall behind him.
“Oops. Missed,” Zane deadpans.
Reece shakily climbs to his feet, his gaunt frame looking sickly pale in the scarce lighting of the hallway. Bruises mar his cheeks, and one of his eyes appears to be completely swollen shut.
Guilt barrages me, though I have no idea why.
Logically, I know it’s not my fault he ended up in this mess, but I can’t help but feel we should’ve done more to save him. To save them all.
Ellie has always been our priority, and still is, but after she was spirited away, we should’ve gone back and burned this entire organization to the ground. Yes, I understand why we couldn’t, but it doesn’t negate the twisting sensation in my chest, like thousands of snakes have been set loose and are now writhing and hissing.
“What are you doing here?” Reece practically breathes the words, his face drawn tight in horror. “You shouldn’t be here. You shouldn’t…” He shakes his head.
Ellie steps forward. “We’re here to save you. To get you out of here.”
“But you’re just children,” Reece points out.
Zane snorts at that, and Beckett rolls his eyes.
“Children. Serial killers. Psychopaths.” Zane waves a flippant hand in the air. “We’ve been called them all.”
“I’m not a psychopath,” Beckett insists haughtily.
Zane gives our friend a look. “Surrre you’re not.”
“I’m not.”
“So you wouldn’t murder any man who puts a finger on Ellie?” Zane arches an eyebrow with a distinct “I got you” twinkle in his eyes.
Beckett opens his mouth, closes it, then opens it yet again. After a moment, he scowls and folds his arms over his chest. “Fuck all the way off,” he grumbles.
Zane beams.
“Put this on.” I toss the spare robe and mask toward Reece, and he barely manages to catch it, staggering slightly. He truly has lost a shit ton of weight. He’s nothing but skin and bones.
“You four should leave.” Reece stares forlornly at the stolen clothes. “There’s no escape for me.”
Come the fuck on.
Enough with his damn pity party.
We need to leave. Now.
Ellie doesn’t share my irritation. Instead, her expression warms, and she takes a tentative step forward.
