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Forty Three
Axle
I’m struck silent for several seconds before my mouth manages to work. I’m painfully aware of how pathetic I sound when I rasp out his name.
“Crow?”
The man himself grins, pushing off from the tree he’s leaning on. He’s wearing the strangest clothes, some kind of suit with a long tail with a purple shirt beneath. They look to be of good quality though quite worn and though his hair is long and scraggly, he appears clean and healthy.
“Nice to see you again, old friend,” Crow bolsters, taking a step towards me. Once he gets closer my senses come back to me and I raise the blade in my hand to point at him.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I ask glowering. Seemingly not worried about the blade pointed at his face, Crow merely smiles wider.
“Is this really the guy?” Ethan asks as he steps up beside me, the others behind him just watch warily. I nod but don’t respond.
“I came to help, obviously,” Crow replies, the smile never leaving his face.
Over the years I’ve heard bits of rumors of Crow, who he really was and is on the outside world. If the whispers are true, I should be thankful he’s here. But if the rumors are true, it also makes me question why he would come back.
“You saved my life once, friend,” Crow continues, his eyes never leaving mine, “a few extra supplies over the years don’t equal a life. And I believe in repaying my debts.”
An alarm bell sounds from the prison breaking all of our attention. I don’t trust Crow for shit, his answer does nothing to alleviate my suspicion. But we’re out of time.
“Sounds like the plan is working,” Crow comments and my eyes flash in warning.
“How do you know what our plan is?” Ethan asks and I can tell he doesn’t trust Crow any more than me.
“Ahh, and you must be the second. Ethan, is it?”
With a surge of speed, I reach forward and grab Crow’s collar pulling him towards me, the blade pressing into the soft flesh of his neck. That damn smile stays, and he lets out a chuckle.
“Sargent Hinkley isn’t the only one with ears to the ground,” he answers, “I wondered if you’d ever try to use the same exit and kept an eye on things from afar. When I heard your woman was taken, I knew it was only a matter of time.”
The alarm continues to sound, and I can now hear distant shouts. They’re going to go into the prison soon. We need to move.
“If you’re here to help, we do this my way,” I tell him, my eyes boring into his. His smile drops to more of a smirk as he bows deeply.
“At your service.”
Forty Four
Ana
I’m not quite awake or asleep when I hear the distant alarm bells go off in the prison. I begin to sit up, groaning as I peel my face off the ground which is stuck with dried blood. I wonder if the alarm is because of the smoke I saw or something else.
Rubbing my eyes, I frown as sounds closer start to register. Within the building there are a few shouts, a distant thump, and then silence. I strain to hear over the alarm which is making my ears ring. My fists clench beside me and I really wish I still had that blade, though I’m in no shape for a hand to hand fight.
Despite the pain, I manage to push myself to a standing position. Part of my training is to never give up, to fight through the pain. I may have no chance, but I’llnevertake it lying down. My eyes stay on the door as my heartbeat thrums in my ears.
A moment later the jingle of keys outside the cell door has my heart pounding even faster as the door opens and a familiar figure steps into the room.
It takes me a moment to register his face. My heart does a flip, settling somewhere in my throat. My mouth hangs open as I gawk, probably looking ridiculous. A smirk builds on his face.
“Y-you came for me,” I manage to sputter and take a few steps to close the gap between us.
Ax steps forward until we’re only about a foot away. Keeping his distance, he raises his hand hovering it above my cheek for a moment. His eyes scan my face, noting the bruises and blood. His brows draw together, and I hear his heavy breathing out of his nose, clearly trying to contain whatever he is feeling at seeing me like this. I gaze back at him, hoping my eyes show even an ounce of the love I am feeling for him.
Whatever he sees when he looks into my eyes is all the affirmation he must need because he closes the gap, brushing my skin softly despite the bruises.
