Chapter Eleven
Warner
W e were idiots. But I blamed myself more than the others. I had spent months in that camp, ever since the first day of fires. And I knew they wouldn’t just let us go. They had probably been searching for us, specifically Alessia, since the moment we crossed those gates.
Four bodies were slumped against the walls of the bed of a truck, still dozing from whatever they had shot us with. Considering I was a head taller than even Rainer, I wasn’t surprised the dosage hadn’t been strong enough to keep me down for long.
We hadn’t been expecting them. The others too busy sharing stories of their lives before. I hadn’t participated. I didn’t have anything to share about the shit that was my life before all this.
They had been stealthy in their approach. And since we had been drinking, all the guns were left inside. No one needed a misfire. What a stupid fucking idea. Getting drunk when we were constantly in danger.
The gates of the camp came closer, people milling about in the early morning sun. Guards were stationed at the front like before, but their numbers had doubled. I couldn’t help but smirk at that. Guess my little badass had shaken them.
Not that she was mine. In fact, I was pretty positive about why she and Murphy had been gone from the fire for so long. Although, no one else had seemed to notice. Except maybe Rainer, given the way he had been frowning toward the tree line.
But when I had her in my arms, she felt like mine. When she was reckless and stupid, running into the building where she was tortured, I couldn’t help but follow her bravery, wanting to drink in the vibrancy that surrounded her.
Rainer and Aiden jostled awake, blinking the haze from their minds. Although, the haze from the alcohol still dizzied my brain. Hopefully, that would fade soon. We needed to be prepared for whatever awaited us.
“Where are we?” Rainer ground out, groaning as he pressed his hands against his temples.
Aiden searched around, his eyes landing on the gates. “Fuck.”
“My thoughts exactly,” I said, slouching against the side of the truck.
There was no use in trying to escape now. They would chase us down in this truck, and I knew they were armed. I may be willing to follow Alessia’s reckless ideas, but that didn’t mean I had a death sentence.
“Where are Murphy and Alessia?” Rainer asked, glancing at Mina and Sasha, who were still slouched together.
Shrugging, I responded, “Probably left behind.”
“And how did they find us?” Aiden asked, and I simply arched a brow. He was an intelligent man, surely he could piece it together.
“Fuck,” he said again. “He sold us out, didn’t he?”
Again, I shrugged. That was the most logical explanation. He had been shifty since we arrived at the cottage. And he had been gone all day yesterday. I should have said something. Called the old man out. But I wasn’t one for action, I enjoyed watching.
Unfortunately, I had been watching for too long. Waiting for the moment when I could catch him doing something shady. Again, I blamed myself.
The truck came to a stop, jostling Mina and Sasha, whom Aiden steadied. The masked men that had intruded on an otherwise happy night rounded the back, not in the least bit shocked to see us awake.
“Out. Now,” the man in the front instructed, opening the latch of the truck.
I stepped out first, holding out my arms for a still passed out Sasha. Aiden stepped down next, Rainer placing Mina in his arms before jumping down.
“What should we expect?” Rainer whispered to me as we followed the guards, his hand ghosting over his waistband, searching for the gun that was no longer there.
“Probably some warm tea, maybe a five course meal.”
Rainer sneered at me, huffing before stomping ahead to walk beside Aiden. His gruff attitude didn’t bother me. What did he expect me to say? I had no clue what to expect, but it wasn’t about to be good. He knew that.
The guards at the front gate opened the door, and I counted their numbers. Not only doubled, but tripled, there were now six standing post. Each had a hand on their holstered gun, a flat look on each of their faces.
Stepping into the camp, not much had changed. The tents still lined the expanse of the area. The large building still sat in the middle. Although at least a dozen guards now swarmed the area.
The only change was the burned patch of grass, empty of the tents that had been burned by Alessia’s fire. Another smirk graced my lips at the reminder of the damage we had done.
We were led to the main building, Sasha and Mina finally rousing as we set them on their feet. The guards parted as we approached, revealing a stout, bearded man with a manic grin.
I knew the man. I had watched him from the beginning. The way he barked orders. The way his eyes searched out the threats inside. And I knew he was the man that had mutilated Alessia’s legs. The man who had almost killed her.
Anger had my skin flushing, the heat traveling to my clenched fists. His eyes scanned our group, his smile faltering when he didn’t see her. That had my anger dissipating a bit. Too bad for you, asshole.
“Welcome,” he said, spreading his arms wide. He looked between Aiden and me. “Or should I say welcome back?” He laughed at his own joke, not caring about the glares we aimed his way.
“My name is Vex and I am in charge of the refugee camp here.”
“Death camp more like it,” Rainer muttered under his breath and I nudged him slightly.
He was going to get himself killed if he didn’t shut up. And although I didn’t care, I knew Alessia would. And I had no clue why I cared that she cared. I’d blame it on the whole the world is ending thing.
“Usually, our refugees would stay in the tents. But,” his grin widened, “I like to consider you five special guests. Which means you’ll be receiving board inside.”
He waved toward the large building and I saw the fear in everyone’s gazes. Alessia and Aiden didn’t talk about it, but we all knew what happened in that building. And they knew that the five course meal I craved wasn’t waiting for us inside.
They were being strategic. We had escaped once, who was to say we couldn’t do it again? Our chances were lower if we were locked inside.
“Come, come.” Vex ushered us inside and none of us had a choice but to follow.
Dozens of people sat inside, the same image as the last time I was in here, typing away at computers. Their focus never wavered. I caught glimpses of the screens, some dotted with tracking devices, others with maps.
My mind wandered to Alessia’s idea. The information we needed, a map to the bunkers possibly, could be on those computers. But what were the chances I could get the information? And what would it matter if I was stuck inside this building?
Vex trampled down the stairs, all of us following in a single file line, like a parade to our execution. Finally, he stopped by a door, the guard out front unlocking it.
“I hope you enjoy your time here. I know I did.” His smile was cruel as we shuffled inside, the clang of the door echoing.
The room was empty, not a single piece of furniture inside. The only thing notable was the dark streaks on the floor, the obvious remnants of dried blood.
And as Mina gasped a pained sound, I knew we all realized what this room was. Now we only had to hope we all wouldn’t succumb to the same treatment as Alessia. At least, not before we found a way out.
Leaning against the wall, I closed my eyes, thinking of the woman with unruly dark hair, darker eyes, and a spirit that wasn’t broken by that fucker in this room. I wasn’t a man that needed saving. I had provided for myself for more years than I hadn’t.
But if my knight in shining armor was a beautiful woman who I couldn’t ignore, then I’d gladly wait in this locked dungeon, waiting for her to save me.