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Well, there was Ursa Major, so I had at least stayed in the northern hemisphere.
But I had to get moving. In training, the importance of knowing my next move had been drilled into me so hard that I was still trying to figure it out. But right now I couldn’t plan. My brain was too scattered and I was taking too long to think. Besides, I didn’t know enough to come up with a good plan. So my plan, if one could call it that, would be simple. I had to get out of there.
According to the stars, I was facing west. It was as good a direction as any and I began running, dodging trees, trying to make out any kind of a trail but there was nothing.
At least that meant I wouldn’t inadvertently run into any of my captors. I hoped.
I needed to look for a road, something that would direct me to civilization. I needed to find people who weren’t connected to those I’d just escaped.
I pushed nagging fears away and just ran. Thoughts were the enemy right now, since I’d already come up with my very basic plan. If I did begin to think, my thoughts had nowhere to go but to wander back the path I had just come. Back to that room where I’d been tied to a chair.
I had to focus on my breath, on putting each foot in front of the other.
And then with nowhere else to turn to as I ran, I prayed. God and I had been tight once upon a time, but I’d relied on myself in recent days. Silly me, thinking I could do this thing called life all on my own. I knew better now. No matter how strong I felt alone, inviting God in would only make me stronger.
Just as I finished my prayer, the most beautiful sound reached my ears. An engine. I paused long enough to look around and noticed faint but steady light. Streetlights. I’d made it to a road. Now what?
FIVE
shai
The muffledsound of Charity prying open rusty doors, careful now not to attract the cops’ attention by kicking them down, was the only accompaniment to my footsteps as I dashed to the other end of the tunnel. I had to get there before the cops stopped us. It’s not that I didn’t trust the police officers to do their job—in fact, I trusted these particular officers with my own life—but it was Aria’s freedom and maybe life on the line. I couldn’t just leave it up to them when there was something I could be doing. If we didn’t find a clue in these tunnels, we were at a dead end. I couldn’t count on Brittany to get me insider info again. That wouldn’t be fair to her or to Colt.
Moments into my mad dash, I saw what I was looking for: a set of stairs identical to the first set we’d come down just minutes before.
My eyes swept from the ground to the ceiling of the dingy tunnel, searching for anything that could help in our search, any direction it could give, but so far I had nothing.
I could still hear the soft scrape of doors being opened behind me, so I knew Ella and Nadia were successfully delaying the officers. I had known I could count on them to give us as much time as they could.
My ears strained for any kind of call for help from any of my team, but I heard nothing so I kept on my path, taking the stairs two at a time.
The tunnel started to brighten, as if wherever I was going was letting in some light. Where would this tunnel open?
I really hoped I’d encounter a person. I’d take a gang of men wanting to kill me over no one. I just wanted a chance to find Aria. My stomach ached at the idea that right now we had nothing.
The sounds of Charity’s movements came to a stop and voices drifted to my ears.
Crap. They were in. I glanced back to make sure Charity was okay just as I ran into something solid.
“Oomph,” the voice attached to the chest said.
Even without hearing him I would have known that chest.
“Officer Jordan,” I said as he gripped my arms to keep me from falling back down the stairs.
He didn’t need to. My balance wouldn’t have allowed me to fall, but I didn’t say anything, nor did I move. I liked Colt’s touch too much. And I was an idiot for enjoying it. He was merely keeping me from injury. He didn’t know my reflexes would have saved me.
Then again, Colt had seen me train. He’d seen me practice walking across metal bars not even an inch thick.
Maybe he wanted to hold me? My heart rate spiked.
I shook off his hands, feeling foolish that I could be considering anything close to romance when my teammate had been captured.
“Why am I not surprised to see you?” Colt eyed me suspiciously. “How did you know to come here?” He took a step back and allowed me into the small landing above the stairs.
I shrugged. Maybe he knew Brittany had snooped, and maybe he didn’t. Just in case it was the latter, I was going to keep my mouth shut. No way I’d rat out my best friend. Even if Colt’s eyes locked on me had me ready to spill all my secrets.
I’d been taught to withstand torture. I could totally resist his warm blue gaze.
