I only run faster.
I expect to run into some guards, but they all must be back in the room where I left Liesel. Hopefully, the guards are all burning in the fire.
I can’t believe Liesel found a way not to kill me. She found a way to save us all. When I started running, I saw Maxwell coming out of the room we were held in and told him to get Liesel out safely. I don’t know where her father went, but I’m sure he’s running from the fire and carnage. He’s a coward. He won’t go back to fight his daughter. He’s long gone.
Right now, the only fight we have is against the bomb that might explode, the fire inside, and any of the remaining guards.
We won’t fail.
We can’t.
We’ve come this far. We are all going to get out of here alive, and then we are going to live happily ever after together on my island away from all of this.
I don’t know if I believe in the powers of manifestation, but I’m willing to try anything.
Run—faster.
Somehow, my body picks up speed, and I see the exit door at the far side still intact, but I don’t see Corbin or Declan.
Shit, where are they?
Suddenly, a hand sticks out into the hallway from what seems like a wall, and I come to an abrupt stop. A panel in the wall fully opens, and Corbin appears, a boy I assume is Declan behind him.
“The door is…boobytrapped,” I say, breathing hard, barely able to get the words out.
“We know; that’s why we are hiding here,” Corbin says.
I let out a big breath. “We have to get Declan out of here. The building is on fire, and Liesel’s father took off.”
Corbin nods. “Know of any other exits? Or do we need to deactivate the bomb?”
“Run!” I hear Liesel yelling from behind me.
“Shit,” I say when I see guards running behind her and Maxwell, followed by flames.
It seems our decision is made for us. We don’t have time to deactivate the bomb. I look at Declan.
“Do you know a safe way out of here?” I ask him.
“Why should I tell you?” Declan puffs his chest out.
“You’re going to die if you don’t.”
“I’m not afraid of death.”
“I believe that, but I have a secret. I know who your brother and sister are, and they’d very much like to meet you.”
“I don’t have any siblings.”
“Their names are Rose and Atlas. You can meet them if you show us how to get out of here.”
Declan considers. “This way.” He slips past Corbin and me and starts running away from the flames.
Liesel and Maxwell are catching up, but they are still a good thirty seconds behind us. “Run!” Liesel shouts.
I want to stay with Liesel, but we need to get Declan out. That has to be the priority, and he’s already taken off through another hidden panel in the wall that leads to a tunnel.
“Here,” Corbin says, tossing me a gun.
I catch it as we continue to chase after Declan. The tunnel is dark, but it doesn’t stop Declan from running full speed ahead. The boy isn’t afraid of anything; I’ll give him that.
I hear footsteps behind us, and I know Liesel and Maxwell have made it to the entrance of the tunnel; thank god.
Then Declan is at a door at the end of the tunnel.
“Wait!” I yell.
Declan stops.
“Step back, Declan. Let me see if it’s got explosives rigged to it,” Corbin says as he’s closer to the door.
Declan doesn’t move, so I yank him back as Corbin inspects the door carefully. “It’s clear. Let’s go.”
Corbin pushes open the door, and streetlights shine on us. I grab Declan just as bullets start raining down on us from outside.
I turn him around, so my body shields him from the gunfire. Corbin and I start returning fire out the door.
The gunshots are limited, which means only one, maybe two, people are shooting at us.
“There’s an SUV parked to the left,” Corbin says as he tosses me some car keys.
I have to get Declan out of here, then come back for the rest of them.
“Go, I’ll cover you,” Corbin says as I inch toward the exit.
We both pop out onto the street at the same time. Corbin fires, and I run with Declan in my arms to the car.
The block is nearly a block away, but Corbin’s fire is enough to get us there safely. I unlock the car with the key fob, hop in, and gently toss Declan into the