Leading the way, Ben carefully maneuvered through the hallway and into a portion of the building containing offices. A large room housing countless cubicles and several small private offices along the exterior wall opened in front of us. Carefully, we ducked behind the cubicle walls and journeyed across the room to another hallway on the opposite side of the space.
We heard voices from the front of the building where Sam continued to provide a distraction. The guards must have been stationed in the front, most likely making rounds to check the rest of the structure regularly.
In the hallway were a set of bathrooms, a mop closet, and a room labeled “Authorized Personnel Only.” Ben nodded toward the door and pulled the lockpick back out of his pocket. As soon as the door cracked open, a loud creaking from its hinge rang through the hallway.
My stomach dropped as my earpiece filled with more than the prolonged small talk Sam had created on the spot. A distant voice in the background became audible before the once distracted guard attempted to dismiss Sam.
Hey, I think I heard something in the back.
Sorry, sir, it’s been nice talking with you, but we are closed.
Hold on, can I use your bathroom?
No, you’ll have to go down the street to a pub or gas station.
But I don’t think I can make it.
I don’t care. Now, if you don’t mind, I have a job to do.
No, sir, wait…
Ben and I looked at each other as one of the guards’ footsteps came closer and closer. Quickly, we slipped into the room and shut the door behind us.
Behind the locked door was a small room containing a single desk, chair and shelf. Most of the room held a significant number of electronic towers, their metal structures and flashing lights gleaming as our flashlights ran over their surfaces. Immediately, Ben began searching for the piece of the system we needed.
How do you know in which piece of equipment to look?
I don’t.
Our whispers sounded like screams in the silence of the small room. I followed Ben’s lead and began running my hands along the smooth surfaces of the towers, searching for any hidden piece. Just as we thought we were clear of the guards, we heard the sound of the door unlocking.
XI.
NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK
Ben was immediately aware we had company. Having been crouched next to some equipment, he stood up and went toward the door. As he waited beside the door for our unwelcome visitors, he looked at me urgently.
Darcy, I need you to look for the piece. It should look like the small USB I showed you on the plane from New York. But it was designed to blend in. The outside of it is flat to make it appear like the surface of the equipment.
How the heck am I supposed to find something that was literally designed to not be found? I don’t know anything about computers.
You can do it, Darcy.
Just then, the door to the electronics room swung open and Ben shot into action. As the face of a guard appeared on the other side, Ben forced the door closed and knocked the guard in the head with the dense wood.
A loud thud was heard outside in the hallway as the guard doubtlessly fell to the ground. It was not long until more footsteps approached quickly. My earpiece came alive as the guard Sam was desperately trying to occupy realized there were intruders. I heard a series of grunts and scuffling before Sam’s warning resonated through our earpieces.
Ben, Darcy, they know!
Yeah, we kind of already found that out.
Frantically, I began running my fingers along the flat surfaces of the electronic towers. The door flung open and revealed two guards who both lunged straight for Ben.
As I glanced over at the brawl, flashes of Ben training at the facility filled my mind. So precise, so methodical. He dodged the advancing guards and struck one of them in the back of the head as they stumbled forward. While the first guard was picking himself up from the floor, Ben avoided the advances of his partner.
Taking my eyes from the fight, I returned to the task at hand. With the noise of both Sam and Ben struggling, it was nearly impossible to focus. Never mind the fact that I had no idea what I was doing.
Sam was extremely vocal in his battle, clearly outnumbered in the front of the building.
Hey, guys, if you could hurry. There’s like three of them here with me. Big guys. Like really big.
I’m still looking. Ben’s got his hands full at the moment.
Failing to find any hidden USB, I moved to the next piece of equipment, tracing my fingers over its cool surface. I looked over at Ben as he continued to fight off the guards. One of them was permanently disarmed, his face pressed against the ground and mouth opened wide on the carpet.
Another guard appeared at the door as Ben was disabling the second guard. He looked up at our newest arrival and glanced over at me, eyes wide in urgency.
Darcy, I’m going to need you to hurry.
I’m trying! I’m looking as fast as I can.
The third guard was now fully involved in the scuffle, striking toward Ben in a flash of movements. Giving up on the second tower, I moved on to the third piece of equipment. Near the back of the tall box, I felt a small crease in its flat surface. I followed the crease with my fingertips, a tiny square in the overwhelming amount of electronics.
I think I found it.
Sounds of an intense skirmish could be heard on the other end of the earpiece. Sam’s voice now sounded high-pitched and desperate.
Grab it and let’s go!
Sliding a knife from the inside of my boot, I opened the blade and carefully inserted its tip into the crease. Jimmying it from side to side, the piece loosened and eventually popped out of place.
Ben was right; it was identical to the one Brendan found in New York. I held it up for Ben to see in the midst of his current struggle. He looked at the piece in my hand before knocking out the last guard. Walking over, he grabbed the device, inspected it, and slid it into his pocket.
Alright, Sam, we’ve got it.
Hold on a second. I still have one giant to take down. Seriously, do they give these guys steroids or something? Maybe Miracle-Gro.
I couldn’t help but giggle at the difficulty Sam was having with the guards in the front of the building. Ben nodded toward the door and stepped over the unconscious guards as Sam affirmed his victory.
Alright, last one’s down. Meet you at the car.
Taking the same path out of the building, Ben and I escaped through the office space and out the back door. The chilly night air was a relief as tension from inside had grown quite heated. We made our way through the dark alley before crossing the street toward the car.
Somehow, Ben and I reached the car before Sam. We sat in the driver and passenger seat, looking for any sign of him exiting the building. Our heavy breathing filled the quiet interior of the vehicle as our anticipation continued to build. Finally, Sam appeared, sprinting down the sidewalk rather frantically.
Ben started the engine and pulled away from the curb, closing the gap between Sam and the car. However, Sam wasn’t alone. An enormous man ran down the street toward our car, clearly pursuing him.
As he opened the back door, Sam jumped in headfirst and landed on his side. His eyes were huge as he looked up at me and scrambled to shut the door.
The big one got up! He’s coming! Drive, drive, drive!
The tires squealed as Ben pressed on the gas, evading the approaching guard. Sam wasn’t kidding. The man towered above the car. He looked nearly big enough to pick up the sedan, his height far surpassing even Ben.
While Ben and I had already steadied our breathing, Sam continued gasping for air in the back seat. I looked back in the side mirror at the distant figure in the road before turning toward Ben and Sam.
Are you both alright?
Ben showed no signs of blood or bruises as he maneuvered around the streets. In the back seat, Sam had a small gash on his cheekbone but no other signs of injury. Both of them were gli
stening with perspiration from their battles. Sam’s eyes were wide with adrenaline, still checking through the rear window for followers.
Did you see the size of that dude? And he had two friends nearly as big.
Really, my guys were barely five foot tall.
Seriously?!?
Ben glanced in the rearview mirror at Sam, laughing at his disbelief. As soon as Sam realized Ben was joking, he laid down across the seat.
Funny.
For the next twenty minutes, Ben made countless turns, weaving in and out of traffic and down desolate alleys. I kept my attention on our surroundings, verifying that no one was following us. When Ben seemed persuaded we weren’t being followed, he asked Sam where he was staying. From the backseat, I heard Sam sit upright from the cushions, looking around at our surroundings.
Umm, let’s see. Make a right on the next street.
He instructed Ben to turn down several roads, guiding us to a small motel in a quiet neighborhood. The building was small but appeared well-maintained, housing several ground-level rooms.
Parking the car across the street from the motel, Ben turned around in his seat and offered his hand to be shaken. Sam accepted the handshake and grinned at me and Ben.
Thanks for your help, Sam. It went much smoother than I thought it would.
Yeah, maybe for you.
Well, you did carry most of the weight by handling the big guys.
I don’t think you guys understand. I’m talking jolly green giant size.
Ben flashed a smile at Sam from the driver’s seat, clearly calmed down from the adrenaline. Sam seemed to have loosened up as well as he joked with his former teacher.
Alright, well, I’m beat. Meet up for coffee tomorrow? There’s a coffee shop down the corner from here that’s pretty good. We can make plans for the next location.
I raised my eyebrows in surprise and looked between him and Ben.
You want to go with us to the next facility?
Heck, yeah. These people need taken down once and for all. And I must admit, it felt good fighting again. I hadn’t realized how much I missed it until tonight.
Wow, okay. We do need all the help we can get. Tonight would have been difficult, if not impossible, without you.
Then, it’s a plan. I’ll see you guys in the morning.
Ben and I nodded in agreement as Sam slid out of the back seat and closed the door behind him. After giving one another looks of astonishment, we watched as he walked across the street toward the first motel room door on the right. His head was bent down as he found the key and turned the knob.
Once the door was safely shut behind Sam, Ben put the car in drive and was about to pull away from the curb when a deafening sound shook the car. Fire poured from the motel room Sam had just entered. I struggled for the door handle as I watched the flames engulf the room. My hands failed repeatedly to grasp the smooth handle.
The cold air hit my face as I climbed out of the car and ran toward the middle of the street. Tears streamed down my face as I fell to my knees, my cry overwhelming every sense. All I could see was fire and all I could hear was my uncontrollable sobbing as the cool, damp street seeped through my jeans.
Then, Ben was there. He was pulling me up from the ground. I could hear his voice but couldn’t make out the words. My eyes, blurry with tears, found his face but he wasn’t crying. He was looking around at the crowd of people joining us in the street.
In my panic, his calm expression triggered something in me. I struggled as he gently pulled me up from the ground, from the middle of the street. His eyes darted around at our surroundings, aware we were not alone. I couldn’t keep my eyes from the fire, the broken glass, the black remnants of the motel room.
In that moment, I was angry. At the Society, at Warden, at myself, at Ben. Whipping my head in his direction, I pulled my arm from his grasp. Realizing my mood had changed drastically, Ben released my elbow and took a step back.
No!
Darcy, we need to go. They know where we are.
No! I’m not leaving! Sam…
Sam is gone, Darcy. We need to go.
I looked at him in shock, my mouth gaping open.
How can you be so emotionless? Sam was a friend. A friend who risked his life helping us tonight. Who lost his life because of us! And you just want to leave!
I know.
That’s all you can say? You know?
He bent his head down and looked at the wet street under his feet. When his eyes met mine once again, they were no longer guarded, only vulnerable and desperate.
We can talk about this later. But, baby, we need to go. I need to get you somewhere safe.
Suddenly very aware of my surroundings, I looked at the faces of those who had joined us in the street. They were all glancing our way. The sound of sirens in the distance came closer and closer the longer I waited to make a decision.
Ben had temporarily taken his guard down to calm me. He slowly made his way closer and offered his hand for me to take. His eyes were soft and dark, searching for any sign of rationality in the midst of my meltdown.
After a moment’s hesitation, reason returned to my mind and I placed my hand in his, taking one last glance back at the fire. Ben quickly guided me back across the street to the passenger side door, opening it for me while still assessing our surroundings.
Once the door was closed behind me, Ben ran around to the driver’s side and drove away from the fire as quickly as possible. The dam holding back my tears burst open yet again as the car traveled away from Sam’s motel room, away from my friend.
My sobbing filled the car as Ben silently maneuvered through the city. I was no longer angry, only helpless. The anxiety of everything, of the Society, of Warden, of Noah and Kate, of traveling, of hiding, it all came down like a ton of bricks on my chest.
We couldn’t do this. It was two people against a global Society. We didn’t have the resources or the manpower to stop them. In my helplessness, I turned to Ben.
His body was taut as he gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white with pressure. Brow furrowed, he glanced over at me as my sobbing quieted.
How do you do it?
How do I do what?
Hide your emotions. No matter what happens, you always hold it together.
Darcy, you know why. Margot…
Yes, but Margot didn’t raise you for the first fourteen years of your life. What about how your parents raised you?
His forehead smoothed as he thought back all those years ago, to the time before Margot’s severe upbringing.
Though they were not heartless like Margot, my parents still believed in remaining calm during disaster. Growing up, they took me on several mission trips to third world countries. By the time I was twelve, I had seen a mother begging for help with her lifeless baby in her arms and countless orphans who were abandoned by their parents because they couldn’t provide for them.
You were just a child. How could they subject you to that?
You’re looking at it wrong. They weren’t desensitizing me; they were molding me to be like them. They taught me to remain calm so I can help others in disaster. Instead of getting in my own head, I am able to perform under pressure, to rescue others who need my help.
But you just watched someone die. Because of us.
He nodded his head, swallowing hard while focusing on the road ahead. In the silence of the car, my mind filled with questions.
Hold on. If Warden knew where we were and where Sam was staying, why didn’t they stop us at the facility?
Warden is playing with us. He’s trying to send a message. He knows where we are and who we’re working with. And he won’t stop until he takes everyone who is important to me, including my allies.
We can’t do this.
What?
We can’t win. There’s no chance. It’s only the two of us. We can’t take down a Society this powerful, this massive, with only two people.
Then, in one glance, I saw utter bro
kenness. Ben’s eyes provided a portal to his soul, his broken and helpless heart. I had pushed him too far, dug too deep. The emotions he was trained to hide came to the surface. Whatever further conversation I had planned was cut short with that one look.
My eyes were swollen from countless tears and exhaustion had begun to set in. I sat in the passenger seat, defeated and without words. Ben had returned his focus to the road ahead, guiding us out of the city.
In the dark warmth of the car, my eyes became heavy. With my head resting on the window, I fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of fire and ashes.
XII.
FURLOUGH
The sound of birds chirping woke me from a deep sleep, from dreams filled with the burn of flames and tears. I felt a cool breeze on my cheek as I opened my eyes, my head lying on the soft fabric of a pillow. As I absorbed my current reality, my eyes scanned the room. Around me were white linens, wooden floors, pale blue walls, and white curtains cascading in the breeze from a set of French doors.
I looked down at the oversized flannel shirt I had slept in, the smell of Ben surrounding me. Though his scent was present, he was nowhere to be seen in the room. The cool breeze chilled my bare legs as I stood up from the comfort of the blankets.
Making my way to the wispy curtains, I drew them back with my hand. A small private patio was visible through the partially open wooden doors. Outside the window, a small bistro-style table and chairs overlooked the gentle waves of the ocean. The beautiful blue waters rolled toward the white sands, white foam tumbling over their peaks.
In one of the chairs sat Ben. His body was relaxed as he faced the beautiful landscape before us. At the sound of the door creaking open, he stood up and looked down at me. I could see the exhaustion on his face, the dark rings under his eyes, the heaviness of his expression.
You’re awake.
Where are we?
Cornwall.
What about the mission, the next facility?
He was wearing jeans and a cotton t-shirt which clung to his body in the breeze. His hair was tousled and brushed against his temple as the ocean air whipped around us. Putting his hands in his pockets, he shrugged at my questioning.
The Legacy: The Influencers Book 2 (The Society) Page 8