Chapter 38 #2
My hands shake as I grip the handle of the gun.
She sits down on the ground, pulling the chain as far away from her as possible, but it’s still only a couple of inches, at best. Closing my eyes, exhaling deeply.
Before opening them, dispelling any doubts.
Aiming at the lock, pulling the trigger, before I can overthink it.
“I don’t see —” Tate starts, being silenced by the shot
Drew’s lips curl upward as she springs from the floor, launching herself at me and wrapping her arms around my neck, hugging me close.
“I love you, too.” She whispers to me, saying it so quietly that it’s a moment only between us.
“The ‘fucking Eli’ comment makes way more sense now.” Tate calls out from behind us, making us break away, giggling, as we look at her.
“What?” Drew laughs asking.
“Your brother came in muttering about fucking Eli the other night, wouldn’t tell me what was going on, but now it makes more sense.”
“Come on. We’ve got to get back to the clubhouse.”
“What!?” Drew shouts immediately, seeing her eyes widen and anger rising. “No! I have to go back. I can’t leave Low there.”
“Drew, Z will kill me… look, let me get you two safe, and I’ll come back and make sure she gets out.”
“Eli…”
“I can’t.” I shake my head. “I’m sorry.”
Tate ascends the ladder first. Turning, I motion for Drew to go before me, but there’s nothing. Turning around, I look down the dark tunnel.
“Fuck.”
“What?” Tate looks down into the hole.
Skipping multiple rungs as I move up it to her. “Drew’s gone.”
“What?” Tilting her head in confusion, she just looks at me, stunned. “Take the truck, go to the clubhouse, and head down into the panic room.”
She’s nodding her head.
Will Z kill me for this… maybe? I just hope she makes it back, less likely to end in murder that way.
Moving through the yard, still hearing her behind me as we head towards the truck.
“Aren’t you going after her?”
“Yes,” I tell her. “But I have to make sure you get in the truck first.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s the only thing that will keep Z from actually killing me.”
How can I joke in this situation? Because it isn’t a joke.
We’re at the truck and I’m walking to the passenger side, opening the backseat, pushing the seat bottom up, and pulling two guns out, making sure the chambers are loaded, reaching for the flashlight and a couple of extra clips. Before I close the case, lower the seat back down.
“The safety’s on.”
Handing her the key as she nods her head.
Leaning over, securing the gun and ankle holster.
My legs are already moving back towards the tunnel as I hear the engine pulling away on the road.
My ankles hating me again as I jump down, landing on the solid ground below and moving into the bunker.
“Where the hell did she go?”
I’m almost sure no one took her from just behind me; no, she found a fucking escape route.
“She didn’t even bother to cover her tracks.” I mumble to myself as I kneel, moving through the small, opened door.
It’s so dark. Pushing the button on the back of the tube, illuminating up the tunnel.
Spotting the door at the end of the corridor, I cautiously slow my pace. Moving to the opposite side from where the door’s opening is cracked so if someone comes through I have more time.
Moving the light into my left hand before. I grab the gun from my waistband and flip the safety off, placing my finger underneath the slide. Clicking the light off, I step lightly as I grow closer.
A glow comes through the gap, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t someone on the other side.
Reaching the door, I wrap my fingers around the wood before pulling it towards me. Peeking around it and moving gun-first through the opening.
“Sketch,” I whisper into the room, but all I’m met with is silence. “Where the fuck are you?” this time I’m just talking to myself.
The room’s dark as I click the light back on, panning around the plain gray cement walls, a bed in the corner that’s clearly been slept in recently, some personal things, of whose, I have no idea, and a large monitor. Finally, I land on the door.
It’s silent on the other side as I approach it. Exhaling before pulling the door open, just a crack so I can get a peek of where I am.
It’s at the abandoned hospital. Exactly where Billie thought.
Pointing my light back at the bed, I grab the hat sitting on top, pulling it low on my head before I’m pushing out the door.
It’s desolate as I move down the hallway; who knows if I’m going the right way. But getting an idea, I pull the comms out of my pocket, popping it into my ear.
I hear the MC as they whisper to one another.
“Just letting you guys know I’m here.” I whisper.
“What?” Z’s shouting now.
“Sh.” Quieting him for a moment.
“Why the fuck… where are they?”
“Tate took my truck and a gun back to the compound.”
“And Drew?”
“Drew bolted the second I turned my back and came back through the secret tunnel that connected Darren’s bunker and the hospital.”
“What?”
“Yeah.” I nod my head as if anyone can see me.
“Why would she… goddamnit.” He sighs.
“Low,” Him and I both say.
“Okay.” He pauses. “Where are you?”
“Not sure. It came out in someone’s room.”
“They’re living here?”
“At least one is.” I tell him.
There’s a creak from behind me. Turning around, I squint my eyes, seeing a shadow.
“Drew?” I whisper.
“Not even close.” A voice responds.