sound of footsteps tapped the dirt, slowing when they reached the tunnel. Silhouettes of four guards stepped into the passageway adorned with guns, whips, and knives.
“Where did they go?” One grunted, his boot crackling gravel under his heel, the noise snapping at my psyche. “They couldn’t have gotten far.”
“We can’t lose them,” a female guard said, her legs moving faster through the tunnel than the rest. “Everyone else, but not them.”
Two others quickened their pace, rushing with her until the first one stopped. Warwick tensed next to me. Panic jackhammered my pulse as I froze, a knot lodging in my throat, my legs quivering under me.
The guard sniffed the air, his nose going up as if he were trying to pick up on our scents. He took a step closer to us, inhaling in quick puffs.
Fuckfuckfuck.
Terror slammed my heart against my ribs, pounding in my ears. Afraid he would be able to hear it, I bit down on my lip, trying to control my breaths.
Every sense seemed heightened. I was more aware of my surroundings than usual.
Of him.
Warwick’s hand slid over my thigh, strangely calming me and adding to the frenzy in my chest. Without knowing how, I could feel him, feel his reassurance that if this guard found us, we would take him out.
Together.
The guard sniffed a few more times, a growl humming in his throat before a gunshot echoed down the way. Jolting forward, the guard hunted down the location of the shooting, exiting the tunnel.
A relieved exhale dropped my shoulders. Far too close.
“Come on—” Warwick started to stand when an explosion tore through the prison, rippling the earth underfoot.
Booooom!
The ground shivered, and more rubble poured down on us. Warwick dove for me, his body covering mine as the cave crumbled around us. His warmth and weight pressed into me as his scent filled my nose, devouring me, tingling every nerve and lighting me to life. A combo of sweat, dirt, and a deep woodsy smell ignited a hunger in me. It was irrational to feel this desire in the middle of escaping, but I couldn’t seem to fight it. The sensation grew more intense when he tucked me tightly against him until the underground building quieted, our heads popping up. We coughed at the film in the air.
“Shit,” he grumbled. “They’re early, or we’re late.” He peered down at me, our eyes connecting for a moment, his intense regard burning into me. He felt familiar. Like I had known him forever. A piece I didn’t know I was looking for. The feeling scraped at my mind and chest.
His eyebrow tipped up. “You okay?” Gruff and almost angry, he peeled off me, standing up. Clearly not at all feeling the odd link I did. Only able to nod, I stood next to him, shaking my head, trying to clear it.
“Fuck.” Warwick ran his hand through his dusty hair, his knuckles curling angrily into his scalp, his attention on the now blocked tunnel exit. Pacing for a second, he hit his fists against his legs before stomping past me. “There went plan A. We’ll have to get there another way.” Warwick nudged me to move, traveling back the way we came, muttering under his breath.
“Plan A?” My gaze shot to his. “Another way?”
He didn’t answer, slinking us up another set of stairs and down a vacant hallway. The stillness after the last explosion was melting away to gunfire and screams of death, icing my chest with fear.
Winding us up a spiral staircase so narrow his shoulders brushed the walls, we came to a landing. I had no idea where we were going, but to me up meant freedom. The notion coated my tongue, making my mouth water with hope.
“Farkas…” A voice came out of the murky shadows causing me to jump, a figure stepping in front of us, blocking our way. Disappointment gripped my stomach like a vise. We were so close; I could feel it. To be caught now? “You are late.” The voice set me back on my heels. I recognized it.
“Baszd meg.” Fuck off, Warwick snarled.
“You have her?”
“Yes.”
I squinted, taking a step forward, his face becoming clearer through the shadows. What the ever-loving hell?
“Zander?”
He smiled at me. “So glad you are all right.”
“What’s going on?” I shook my head in confusion.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Gunshots recoiled down the corridor.
“No time,” Zander replied, waving us forward to a door, unlocking it. “Hurry!”
“Is everything set?” Warwick paused at the door, addressing Zander as a begrudging ally.