Wings of the Walker - CoraLee June Page 0,129

down at Josiah with a look of pity in his eyes. I clutched at the note in my palm and nonchalantly turned my back to the camera, ensuring that my hands were hidden from its sight. Taking a deep breath, I opened my hand and smoothed out the crumpled note before reading it.

We’re coming for you. Unscrew the vent in your room. Tell Maverick to hack the central air unit and turn off the main fan. One hour.

I nearly dropped the note, then checked the clock. I couldn’t leave within the hour. Josiah wasn’t up for travel. I made my way over to Maverick and tentatively put a hand on his shoulder, which caused him to jump. I casually eyed the camera which made Maverick squint his eyes in curiosity and stand up. I wrapped my arms around him and nuzzled into his chest so that no one could hear me or read my lips.

“Tallis is coming for us. He needs you to hack the central air unit and turn off the main fan,” I whispered. Maverick tensed, and for a brief moment, I wondered if he heard me.

“Okay,” he said before letting me go to return to his computer.

I made my way towards the far wall where the giant vent was located and propped up a chair behind me to inconspicuously hide what I was doing. Then, I used the tips of my nails to unscrew the small metal screws from the vent face to the wall. My nails bled, but I continued working on unscrewing the vent, only stopping to wipe my hands on my dress.

“Josiah doesn’t seem to be doing well,” Maverick said loudly, and I stopped my work to turn quickly and check on Josiah. He wasn’t doing well, but his condition hadn’t worsened. “I think he’ll need to stay here and rest under observation for at least a week; I hope they don’t move him,” Maverick added, and I immediately understood what he was trying to say. Josiah couldn’t come with us. Once Tallis got here, Maverick and I would have to leave without him.

I wriggled the last screw loose, then went over to Josiah. I had about fifteen minutes left before Tallis would be here, according to his note. I placed my hand on Josiah’s forehead and sighed. I spent a lifetime worrying, loving, and caring for this man. There was so much pain. So much dysfunction and unanswered questions still. Did he kill his Father ?

Despite all of this, my heart broke at the unknown. I knew that this could very well be my last moment with Josiah. I knew that the odds of him surviving were slim, and it felt like a boulder was breaking through my numb barriers and making me feel an onslaught of fear and grief.

I leaned down and whispered into Josiah’s unconscious ear. “Josiah, nothing about this is right,” I began. “I’m not sure what hurts more; the pain of all that's happened between us, or the ache of what never will be,” I choked out as a single tear danced down my cheek. I reached out and grabbed his clammy hand. “All my life, I admired you, Jo, and I think admiration is as close to love as we ever got. Please get better.”

I didn’t say goodbye to Josiah, but I felt him squeeze my hand. It was our last unrequited conversation. The last one-sided piece of affection I’d ever give him.

The minutes of the clock clicked by as Maverick’s exhausted fingers typed away tirelessly. “I shut it off, they should be here any second,” Maverick whispered. I expected a huge commotion or war to erupt, but instead, to my surprise, Jules slinked through the opening of the vent wearing an all-black, leather suit that looked identical to Mia’s usual get up.

She waltzed through like she owned the place, and I frantically waved and pointed at the camera flashing in the corner.

“Oh, don’t worry, we interrupted the feed ages ago, Lackley is mighty cocky, this was easy,” Jules said while slumping down in a chair and picking her nails as if she made it a habit climbing through the Emperor’s vents on rescue missions. But there was a slight tremor in her voice, and her eyes shifted around the room. Josiah grunted, and she peered at him with diluted concern.

“He looks like shit.” She scrunched up her face in disgust. “You all ready to go? We have about ten minutes till guard shift change,” she said nonchalantly.

Maverick