Chapter 33
Clay
The room smells like antiseptic and fear.
Hannah barely holds herself upright against the wall, wrists raw beneath broken chains while Stephen slumps beside her breathing shallow and uneven.
Both alive.
That’s what matters.
“Hey.” I move toward them fast. “We’ve got you.”
Hannah’s head lifts weakly.
Her eyes struggle to focus.
“Olivia…?”
The question barely makes it out.
“We got her out,” I tell her immediately.
Relief crashes across her face so hard her knees almost give out.
“Good…” she whispers. “Thank God…”
Lucas shoots the remaining lock off Stephen’s restraints.
Metal snaps loose.
Stephen pitches forward instantly.
I catch him before he hits the floor.
Too light.
Everybody tonight feels too damn light.
“Easy,” I mutter.
Stephen grimaces hard trying to stand.
Fails immediately.
Of course.
Nothing comes easy tonight.
“Can you walk?” Lucas asks.
Stephen shakes his head weakly. “Not… fast…”
Gunfire cracks again somewhere down the corridor.
Closer this time.
“They know exactly where we are now,” Lucas mutters.
“No kidding.”
I glance toward the doorway where the rescued kids stand huddled together watching all of this with wide terrified eyes.
Too much for them.
Way too much.
“Lucas,” I say quietly. “Kids first.”
He nods immediately.
“Stay with me,” he tells them gently.
The little girl grabs his hand this time without hesitation.
Good.
Trust’s finally starting.
I shift Hannah’s arm carefully over my shoulder.
She winces sharply.
“Sorry.”
“Not… your fault…”
Stephen tries to stand again beside us.
Fails harder this time.
Damn it.
Lucas glances back toward the hallway. “Movement coming fast.”
I make the decision instantly.
“Take the kids and mothers. Get them to exfil.”
Lucas’s eyes snap toward me. “And you?”
“I’ll bring them.”
He doesn’t like it.
I can see that immediately.
Neither do I.
But somebody has to get these people out.
And Lucas moves faster with the civilians than he does dragging wounded doctors through a collapsing compound.
“Go,” I snap.
He hesitates half a second too long.
Then finally nods and moves, pulling the children and mothers back into the corridor.
I wait until they disappear around the corner.
Then I look down at Hannah and Stephen.
Both exhausted.
Barely standing.
Still trying.
“Alright,” I mutter, tightening my grip on them both. “Let’s get you out of here before this whole damn place comes down.”