Page 20 of Warrior Unraveled

7

Virginia gave Wesley a quick shove, forcing him to release her. She’d been about thirty seconds away from climaxing, and it had taken her nearly two seconds to realize what the beeping sound meant—so dazed had she been.

“What’s going on?” Wesley asked, his eyes darting up and down the corridor, then back to her. “Virginia, what is that?”

“Self-destruct. The compound’s gonna blow.” She grabbed his arm and dragged him with her. “Run!”

“Fuck,” he cursed, and raced alongside her down the long corridor.

“We have to make it to the portal,” she said, motioning to where the corridor intersected with another. “This way!”

“Evacuate!” the computer voice repeated.

“How long do we have?” Wes asked as they charged into the next corridor.

“I don’t know. Maybe thirty seconds.” Barely enough time to get out.

Just then, the computer voice announced, “Fifteen seconds till detonation.”

“Guess it’s fifteen seconds,” she corrected herself. Even less of a chance to make it.

“And there I was worried we didn’t have enough time,” Wes responded dryly.

“Down the stairs!” Virginia yelled.

She raced ahead, Wes on her heels. When she reached the landing, she didn’t even break her stride and lunged toward the wall only ten feet away.

“Ten seconds till detonation,” the computer voice taunted her.

The only thing identifying the portal was an ancient dagger carved into the stone wall.

“Nine,” the countdown continued.

She slammed her hand onto the carved dagger and felt heat build beneath her palm.

“Eight.”

The portal recognized her, yet everything seemed to take longer than usual.

“Seven.”

She looked over her shoulder, seeing with relief that Wes had reached her.

“Six.”

Finally, the wall disappeared. The portal was open.

“Five.”

Virginia grabbed Wesley’s arm and dragged him inside with her.

“Four.”

“Whatever you do, hold onto me. Don’t let go,” she urged him.

“Not a chance.”

She willed the portal to close, but for some reason it didn’t. “Shit!”