Chapter 52
Party Time
Olivia
Theo and I are relaxing on the sofa, with a crackling fire and Harlow sleeping in front of it.
It’s been two days since my wonderful date with Theo and I’m still riding the high.
It feels like a dream. Every time I look at him, I feel giddy, and I know I have a stupid smile on my face.
Thankfully, no one’s called me out on it, not even Rachel.
Mostly because she’s been busy helping Andy recover from the infection and coma.
“What’s taking them so long?” I ask, frowning at the door to the living room. “Rhys did say he and Alex were meeting us here for lunch, right?”
“They did. I’m sure they’ve just been dragged into yet another thing that needs doing,” Theo says. He tightens his arm around my shoulders and pulls me harder against his side. “They’ll be here.”
I hope so. With everyone so busy preparing Haven for the attack, it’s been difficult for the four of us to spend time with one another.
Theo’s date gave me the idea for us to spend our lunches together away from everyone else.
Mostly to limit the chances of the guys being roped into yet another thing that could easily be done without them.
I lean into Theo with a sigh. “If they don’t appear in the next ten minutes, I’m going to drag them back here.”
He chuckles and presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Alright, baby.”
Unfortunately, not even five minutes later, the reason for Alex and Rhys’s absence is revealed. A bell rings in the distance, followed by the unmistakable sound of gunshots.
My breath catches and icy terror shoots down my spine.
Oh god. The attack. It’s happening.
In an instant, Theo and I are on our feet and hurrying to grab our gear. Harlow jumps up from her spot in front of the fire and presses against my legs as she follows me around. My heart hammers against my chest, and there’s a slight tremble to my hands as I put on my quiver.
Theo comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me. “We’ll get through this,” he murmurs as he kisses the back of my neck.
I suck in a shaky breath and nod, not trusting my voice. We’ve been preparing for this for nearly two weeks, and now that it’s finally happening… I’m terrified that everything we’ve done will be for nothing. That Luke, Mark and Elsa will overrun us and take everyone I love from me.
Theo whirls me around until we’re chest to chest and grasps my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “It’s okay to be afraid, but remember what I told you about bravery?”
I swallow hard as I remember that night all those weeks ago. “Yeah, I remember.”
“You’re still one of the bravest people I know, and I’m proud to have earned your love.” He leans down and captures my lips in a spine-tingling kiss. “No matter what happens, I’ll follow you until the end, and I know Alex and Rhys will do the same. The four of us are in this together.”
His words calm some of my fear, and I kiss him, silently thanking him for everything he’s done for me. He smiles against my lips and kisses me back before we part to finish getting ready.
Haven is in chaos when we step outside of our cabin.
Thick smoke billows out from somewhere beyond the wall, gunshots crack in the distance and people scream and shout.
The stench of gunpowder and death is thick in the air, causing adrenaline to surge through my system.
Theo grabs my hand and the two of us rush towards the gate with Harlow trotting beside me.
Everyone is frantic when we reach it. There’s already a line of people lying on the ground, blood pouring from various gunshot wounds as doctors and nurses tend to them.
Several people huddle in corners against buildings, eyes wide with terror as they hug themselves, their weapons lying discarded on the ground beside them.
Security team members run in all directions, calling out orders and enemy movements as they race to their positions.
The watchtowers—including the ones that were built this week—are bursting with people shooting back with our limited guns and ammo.
I easily find Alex and Rhys in the chaos, both of them shouting out orders as they fight back.
A sigh whooshes out of me at the sight of them both unharmed.
Theo squeezes my hand in silent support before tugging me along towards the watchtower where Alex and Rhys are.
Harlow isn’t pleased about being left at the bottom, but there’s no way I can carry her up the ladder.
After clambering up, I’m even more relieved that I left her down there because the small platform is packed with security members, all of them wielding various guns.
Half of them are against the front wall, shooting down at the attackers while the others wait their turn.
It’s so tight in here I can’t see what’s going on beyond the wall.
“What’s the situation?” I ask as I shove my way through the press of bodies to Rhys and Alex.
Rhys is wearing his usual dark clothing with his rifle out and his pistol on his hip. Slung over his back is a massive pump-action shotgun I’ve never seen before, as well as several knives strapped to his belt. The guy looks like he’s ready for war.
“They have double the numbers and weapons we were expecting them to have,” Rhys answers grimly.
“Half of those weapons are probably ours,” Theo grumbles behind me.
Alex moves over to me and presses a kiss to the top of my head. He’s dressed similarly to Rhys, only without the shotgun, rifle and fewer knives. “You okay, sweetheart?” he asks softly.
I nod and pat his chest. “I will be once this is over.”
There’s a strangled curse from someone towards the front of the watchtower and a man staggers back. Blood drips onto the wooden floor, and he turns, a hand pressed against the wound on his shoulder. His ashen face contorts with pain as he stumbles towards us.
Theo rushes towards him. “That doesn’t look pleasant,” he says as he peels the man’s hand away to inspect the wound. Blood pours out from the bullet hole, and Theo hastily puts the man’s hand back. “Best you go see the doc.”
The man nods in a daze and, with the help of Alex, climbs down the ladder to get treated.
Another man takes his place in front and shoots back at the enemies below.
But the longer I’m here, the more apparent it becomes that we’re in the middle of a losing battle.
Men keep getting shot and injured, our numbers are being whittled down, and to make matters worse, some people are running out of ammo.
Finally, it’s our turn to take the front line and fight back, and when I do…
God, it’s worse than I thought.
There’s a sea of men in front of the wall, using trees, bushes and cars that they must have brought with them as cover.
One car is even on fire, black smoke billowing out and choking the air with its acrid stench.
While not every attacker has a gun, there’s enough that no matter how many arrows I send flying or how many bullets the guys put in them, there’s always a person to take the dead man’s place.
I’m down to half my arrows when Rhys curses beside me. I snap my gaze to him, and there’s a grim, knowing look on his face as he comes to the same conclusion I have.
We can’t sustain this, and if we try, we’ll lose. The only reason our enemies haven’t tried getting over or through the wall is because we’re keeping them back. Once we stop firing on them, they’ll have free rein to attack the wall however they like until it’s destroyed.
We can’t let that happen.
Reluctantly, Rhys turns and raises his voice to be heard over the din of gunshots and shouts. “Implement defensive action 2! This is now Operation: Party Time.”
I suck in a sharp breath as my stomach clenches with dread. Even though I knew the order was coming, it still punches me in the gut with fear, because Operation: Party Time? It’s a borderline suicide mission.
But, as dangerous as it is, it may be our best chance of winning this fight.
As Rhys relays his command into his radio, the men around us scramble to follow his order and take up more defensive positions while reducing the number of shots fired to preserve ammo.
Theo snorts from behind me as we hurry towards the ladder. “I still can’t believe you let me name that op.”
“I’ve been regretting it ever since, believe me.” Rhys turns to him. “Are you sure you can do this with your injuries? I can always get Anthony to come with us instead.”
Theo waves him off. “I’ll be fine. Plus, we need Anthony here. He’s the only one who knows all the contingency plans in case everything goes tits up.”
Rhys stares at him for a moment before sighing. “Alright. We should move; I want us at the hidden exit in ten. Should give Rachel and Tobias time to get their asses there.” He ushers us down the ladder.
Harlow whines and whimpers in greeting, and both me and Alex give her a quick pat before we hurry away from the gate.
I avoid looking at the longer line of patients our medical staff are treating, or the bodies covered in white sheets that are grouped together on one side.
Instead, I focus on putting one foot in front of the other as we hurry along the wall.
Tobias and Rachel are already waiting for us when we reach the hidden exit. Both of them are armed to the teeth, with Rachel holding her beloved rifle across her chest while Tobias has a shotgun slung over his back, much like Rhys does. They turn to us as we approach.
“Are we ready to get this party started?” Rachel asks, sounding far too cheerful considering all the death and destruction being dealt.
“You know it,” Theo replies just as cheerfully.
I shake my head at their antics, even as it relieves some of the anxiety swirling in my gut. Rhys ignores them as he marches straight to where the hidden exit is and starts prying the wood away. As Alex, Theo and my brother move to help open the hidden exit, Rachel moves to my side.