Chapter 20 #4
I lie there, stunned, my face lying sideways in about an inch of water.
I blinked, trying to see, but all I thought was I'd temporarily lost my vision.
All I could make out was lights popping, like fireworks.
For a moment, I thought I was actually okay, and I blinked a little harder and rolled over on my back.
That was when the urge to throw up slammed into my stomach and I gagged, and every part of my body started to scream in pain.
From the stairs, I heard the others come storming down, and I knew the moment they’d found me by their excited shouts. I felt someone reach down and grasp a handful of my shirt, pulling me up. I opened my eyes again, able to see a little clearer, but I was staring into that faceless mask.
Instead of saying anything, all he did was hold up a finger and slowly wave it back and forth in front of my face, like I was a naughty child.
It was then that Hunter finally caught up, his mask pushed up to the top of his head, looking furious that I managed to get the better of him, and stormed over, snatching me from the creep wagging his finger at me.
“C’mon, let’s move out before-”
A strangled shout rang down the hallway, fast approaching footsteps echoing in my head like a stampede.
Though I was still disoriented, I shakily looked over just as I saw Shaw literally jump into the air, his curved karambit knife in hand, and tackle one of the masked fuckers.
He swung, the blade easily tearing through the veil hiding his face, and though the guy started to scream, it was quickly cut off with a sickening gurgle when he managed to slice it deep in his throat.
From behind him, Lee and Vail appeared, surrounded by other members of Vendetta, and they dived in.
Lee headed straight to the biggest masked guy, and I saw the shine of a pair of gold knuckles on his fisted hands.
With one swing, he managed to get the guy right in his face, sending him flying back into a locker with a loud crash.
And then there was Vail, who strolled over, his hazel eyes shadowed and dark, and I knew he was seconds away from losing all control.
He swung a bat in one hand, the flow of it beautiful as he spun it round and round like he was about to play a game of ball.
.. until I spotted the nails he’d hammered through the end.
The one Faceless member, Keegan, was shouting at his guys to kill them, raising his glock to shoot Lee, who had his back turned as he pummeled the guy he’d just sent flying.
Vail calmly stepped in, lifting the bat up in both hands, and swung, bringing it sideways into Keegan’s wrist. He screamed as the nails sank in, and he tried to pull away.
He fell to his knees, his arm suspended by the crude weapon of Vail’s, who, in turn, casually lowered the bat to the ground and stepped on Keegan’s hand, ripping it free again.
“You fucking little prick! Oh my God! Fuck! Fuck!” Keegan screamed, his hand dangling from his shattered wrist.
Vail, however, didn't react at all to him. Instead, he lifted the bat again, admiring the blood and bit of flesh dangling from the screws and nails, before he grinned down at the screaming man and swung once more. This time, he connected it with the side of his neck. Keegan’s screaming gurgled, yet the man still tried to push the bat away.
Vail helped, ripping it free before he struck him in the chest. He fell back onto the floor as Shaw appeared, blood spatter decorating his pale face, and he looked around wildly while Vail brought the bat down onto the mask, crushing him right in the faceless black shroud.
Lee grabbed one of the Jackals, a bigger guy, and actually lifted him, holding him up in the air before he threw him like a goddamn rag doll into a trash can halfway up the hall.
Shaw turned to a member of the Faceless, his mask having gotten lost in the scuffle, and slashed his blade, managing to slice into one side of the man’s face.
A stream of blood flew out, hitting Shaw in the face, but he was completely undeterred.
His blue eyes were focused, deranged, and I knew all that was going through his mind was to protect his own.
“Vail!” I screamed as Hunter made a break for it with the leftover Jackals, dragging me with them.
Vail whipped around, his breathing hard and heavy, and started to follow, when one of the remaining Faceless blocked his path, rifle in hand, raised and ready.
“NOOOOO! Vail!” I yelled as we rounded the corner, heading away from the smoke and flames blocking the school’s main entrance.
We descended the stairs that lead into the basement, Hunter now absolutely crushing me to himself, my arms pinned at my sides by his.
From above, I heard the blast of the gun, and I screamed in horror.
No one followed us.
The Jackals took me down the dark hall, past the gymnasium and weight rooms, locker rooms, to the very back of the school. I was still disoriented from the fall, hurting, and I felt like I was going to throw up.
“Hunter,” I moaned, “How could you? How…” My voice trailed off as another wave of nausea washed over me.
“It’s all about survival, Casey,” he muttered as he ran, panting heavily.
“Not like this… not like this…” I went limp, too dizzy, and in too much pain to keep fighting.
I was exhausted. I kept thinking of Haldon, of Shaw fighting like a wild animal, of Lee and his insane strength, and Vail…
Vail and his crazy side, something I hadn’t witnessed since we were kids.
And the Faceless pointing that gun at him, followed by the loud bang of the shot as it went off.
The guys burst through the emergency exit double doors, with Hunter carrying me up the steps to the back of the school.
We were between the two storage units, and the ground was covered in snow that had been darkened with ash as it fell from the burning school.
Parked off to the side, I saw several black vans waiting for us.
In the distance, the sirens were still blaring, but there was no sign of any police cars or fire trucks.
“Looks like the blockade worked,” One of them said as they made a break for the vans. “Put her in the middle one with the rest.”
“No,” Hunter said point-blank and moved us to the last one, the door sliding open by a man wearing the same cloaked, faceless veil.
The back had no seating, but they all climbed in, Hunter resting on the floor, his legs outstretched, and me sitting between them, holding me so my head was resting against his chest. I was gasping for air, feeling like I was on the verge of breaking down.
I could feel his heart pounding away as the door slid shut, immersing us in semi-darkness, and he threw the mask to the floor beside us.
The engine roared to life, and I couldn't hold on any longer.
I closed my eyes and fell into darkness.