“There’s a lot of debris in the way of the grate. We did a good chunk yesterday, but there’s still a lot more, and it’s too risky to bring anyone else to help.” He finally turns to look at me, his eyes hard and black as they stare into mine. “So today, I need you to stay here.”
I’m acutely aware that I told the prisoners that by the end of day today, I’d give myself up if I couldn’t figure it out. Emilio’s and Desmond’s words of warning flash through my mind and my mouth suddenly feels dry.
“Why-wha—” I don’t even know what I’m trying to say. When my voice cracks, Axle’s arms are immediately around me before I even realize the tears are falling from my eyes. For the last two days we’ve been scrambling, trying to figure how to get out of this mess, yet somehow the realization of what we’re facing is only hitting me now.
So I cry. And cry and cry some more. The entire time Axle holds me close, whispering his sweet endearments I can’t understand in my ear. My legs feel weak. I can’t seem to stop shaking and the sobs keep coming.
Eventually a gentle knock comes at our door and still Ax doesn’t let me go. Sniffling a few times, I wipe my face, taking a deep breath to ground myself before I look up into his eyes. I’m sure I’m puffy and blotchy and look like crap, but when my eyes meet his, I see them light up and the hint of a smile touch his face.
“There’s my girl,” he whispers, bringing a finger up to trail down my face. His lips come down to mine gently before he carefully untangles my body from his, straightening up before going to the door.
“Who’s there?” he says, his stern voice back. That commanding tone does things to my lady bits and I have to resist smacking myself. I’ve always handled emotion and fear in weird ways.
“It’s me,” Ethan’s voice comes through the door and finally, Ax opens it. Without stepping in, Ethan’s eyes look around the room until they land on me still sitting on the edge of the bed. I’m sure it’s clear I’ve been crying, but rather than seeing pity in his eyes, he only nods in acknowledgment.
“You ready?” he finally says, turning his attention back to Ax who says something softly to him I can’t hear. Ethan nods and steps out of the room again.
“Are you going to be okay?” Ax asks me again, and though I see concern in his eyes, it doesn’t make me feel pitiful like I expected. It makes me feel loved.
“Yes, but if you guys don’t finish—”
“Then I will come and get you and we all sneak below and hide there until we finish,” he interrupts me. His hand comes down and grips my chin tightly, forcing me to look into his eyes. “I will kill every fucker in this place if I have to. Donotdo anything stupid. Okay?”
I quickly nod. My previous indecision about doing right by the inmates has disappeared. I don’t know what the fuck I was thinking telling them I would give myself up. I’m a fucking survivor.
His face softens at my agreement and he kisses me one more time before turning.
“Get some stuff together,querida,” he says with a grin. “We’re getting the fuck out.”
After Ax leaves, I feel a bit lost and, as much as I had to admit it, afraid. Brutus doesn’t know what’s going on, but Ax said he’d get him to patrol the cells outside ours for the day. I feel a pang of guilt as I realize how many people I’ll be leaving behind here. For years after Josh died, I did my best not to make friends or close connections of any kind. Any time I stayed any place for a while, I’d always leave as soon as I felt the beginnings of any closeness with anyone.
Even though I haven’t been here long, I’ve made friends I will dearly miss. Theo, Brutus, even Luis and Emilio. I wonder if I can convince Ax to bring some of them along, at least Brutus and Theo, but I don’t think he’ll go for it. Not like I can blame him, it’s probably not a good idea. But that doesn’t mean I don’t feel guilty for leaving them in this hellhole. Maybe we can come back….
A knock at the door breaks me from my reverie and I stand to answer it before pausing, recalling all the reasons I should fear anyone on the other side of that door.
“Hello?” I say through the door, stepping up closer to it.
“It’s John,” he says through the door and my shoulders relax slightly. I almost forgot about him.
“One sec,” I say as I begin fiddling with the locks and bolts. As soon as it’s open, I take a step out closing it lightly behind me.
“What’s up?” I ask, my eyes looking behind him for Brutus. I frown when I see he’s not there.
“Doc needs to see you, said it was urgent,” he tells me, and I nod, quickly locking the door behind me and following him. I have no idea what Doc might want me for, but if someone is in trouble and needs my help, I’m there.
“Did he say what’s wrong?” I ask as I move my feet as quickly as I can without running. John shakes his head. “No.”
As we walk, my scalp begins to prickle and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I slow my steps, keeping my eyes open and scanning as we move. My sense of unease only grows as I realize many of the cells we are passing are unoccupied. Was the east wing always so empty? I don’t think so.
“What—”
Something heavy hits the side of my head and I don’t even have time to cry out before I hit the ground unconscious.
Twenty Two
Axle
“Fuck!” Ethan shouts and I turn to see him waving his hand around, still cursing as he inspects one of his fingers.