Trapped (The Condemned Series #1) - Alison Aimes Page 0,68

for control, thundered overhead. Close enough that the heat of the engines singed their skin and its roar deafened their ears. It bowled into the hard rocky ground, debris spewing everywhere as it tore forward several metrals into the planet’s surface, its wheels digging for traction. Then it spun to the side, smacked into the cliff, and shuddered to a halt.

Alarms whirred. Sparks flew from one engine. But the shuttle was intact. Hope poured through Bella. Caine had really and truly done it. Against all odds, he’d saved the people on that shuttle.

Floodlights flashed on, lighting up the valley.

In the next heartbeat, the shuttle door lowered. Grey gun barrels poked through the entrance, followed by big men in familiar Council soldier uniforms. They fanned out and started marching in their direction.

Help had arrived.

“Thank God,” whispered Winthrop. “And thank Caine.”

Bella had to agree. He’d done it. He’d saved them all.

She turned back the way they’d come. Pogue and the other soldiers were already sprinting toward the rescuers, calling out the identification codes that would prove them survivors of the crash.

A hand clasped her arm. “Where are you going?” Winthrop’s troubled gaze met hers.

“I’m going to find Caine. I can’t leave him here.” The screeches were so loud and frequent now, they were a constant feral hum. “We’ll hide in the caves until the prisoners leave.”

“You’ll never make it back up the hill before those prisoners arrive.”

“I have to try.”

Winthrop’s eyes sunk shut. When they opened, they were filled with determination—and sorrow. “I’m sorry, Bella.”

“What’s wrong?” She didn’t like the look on Winthrop’s face.

“He made me promise.” Before she could make sense of Winthrop’s words, her already sore stomach took a hit as his shoulder plowed into her and her world turned upside down.

“No!” She struggled to right herself.

Not as strong as Caine or Pogue, Winthrop staggered under her assault, but he managed to stay upright. “He made me swear I’d get you to safety.” His voice was laced with strain. “Said I could make things right if I get you on that shuttle, no matter what.”

Didn’t Caine understand that there would be no making it right for her if he wasn’t there?

“No. He has to come, too.” Slamming her palms into the vulnerable area just over Winthrop’s kidney, she dropped back to her feet as he doubled-over with a howl. “Sorry, Winthrop.” She scrambled backwards. “You left me no choice.” Pivoting, she screamed toward the hills. “Caine, I’m not leaving here without you.” She had no idea if he could hear her over 225’s pack. Still, she had to try. “You promised!”

“He’s a survivor, Bella.” Winthrop called out to her as she moved farther away. “He’ll be okay. We can send someone back for him later.”

“It will be too late,” she shouted back. “The pack will know he’s the one who helped us. They’ll destroy him. Stall as best you can.” He’d saved her. She would save him, too. “I’ll be back with him as soon as possible.”

“Freeze,” barked an unfamiliar voice. “Identify yourself.”

A lean guy in a Council uniform stood behind Winthrop, the latest in Council weaponry, something that looked like a cross between a gun and a computer in his hand. He looked decidedly uneasy.

She froze. “I need to go.”

The soldier in Council uniform hitched his gun higher.

“You’re not going anywhere.” Pogue and the other soldiers closed in around her.

“Thank you for coming.” Ignoring her, Winthrop approached the soldier from the rescue shuttle. He was talking fast as he held out his wrist for the scan. “All accounted for. Let’s move out.”

The lean guy’s scanner beeped, but he didn’t relax. “Her, too?”

“Her, too.”

Fury whipped through her. She wanted to run, but she was afraid the soldier would shoot her. The instant he was distracted, however,….

“We were told there were thirty-seven crewmembers on board the last shuttle.” Disbelief laced the soldier’s voice. “Are you saying you’re all that’s left?”

“No,” she protested, “there are critical personnel missing.”

“Don’t listen to her,” snapped Pogue. “Dragath25 prisoners are closing in fast. We need to get out of here.”

“What the hell is that?” Eyes wide, the rescue soldier pointed behind her.

She swiveled back around, horror rising in the back of her throat. She’d missed her chance.

Like locusts, hundreds of shrieking prisoners swarmed over the cliff, pouring into the clearing as if unleashed from the bowels of the planet. Dirty, wild, most in little more than rags. Some carried spears, some twisted wreckage. In the flickering light of the shuttle flood lamps, all had the wild,