The Belial Library (The Belial Series)

by R. D. Brady

  CHAPTER 38

  Jake sprinted for the water. “Laney!”

  He was about to jump in, when Henry wrapped his arms around him, holding him back. “No, Jake. You can’t help her this way.”

  “Let me go. She could be under there. She could still be alive.”

  Henry's hold didn't break. “You saw what happened. No one could survive that. A mountain of rock just collapsed on itself. She’s gone, Jake. She’s gone.”

  Jake pulled himself free, glaring at Henry. “She’s not. You know her. She wouldn’t go down without a fight. If there was a way to survive, she’d find it.”

  “I know that. But Jake, even if she did, without the right equipment, we’ll never be able to reach her in time. Or Jen.” Henry's voice broke on Jen’s name.

  Jake jerked his head up and looked at Henry. He saw the anguish etched into his friend’s face. He knew that if there was a chance they could save them, Henry would be leading the charge.

  Seeing Henry’s pain hammered home the loss. Tears sprang to his eyes. He sank to the ground. Desperate loss clawed at his chest. He pictured Laney struggling to breathe, unable to escape, her lifeless body crushed beneath the rocks.

  He remembered the last time he’d seen her: She’d been laughing, making cupcakes with Max and Danny. She’d pulled him into the kitchen, forcing him into an apron and handed him a mixing bowl. Her eyes had sparkled the whole time.

  They were too late. She was gone. And there was nothing he could do.

  "No!"

  Jake's head whipped around at Jordan's yell. Jordan and Mike sprinted for the river and dove in.

  "I'll get them," Henry said, running after them. Yoni dove in behind him.

  Jake watched as the brothers’ dove under, again and again. Each time they popped back up, the hole in his chest grew larger. Finally, whatever Yoni and Henry were saying to them, got through. They let themselves be dragged back to shore.

  Yoni, his clothes dripping, walked up to Jake, his eyes red, his signature bounce absent. “Jake?”

  Jake wiped his eyes and stood to face him.

  Yoni glanced up at him. Looking away, he cleared his throat, a slight quiver in his voice. “The helo's approaching. What do you want us to do?”

  Jake stared back at the rocks, desperately wishing he could turn back time. If they'd only gotten here a few minutes sooner. I’m sorry, Laney. I’m so damn sorry. Forcing himself to focus on the task at hand, he knew he needed to do one last thing for her. Or die trying.

  There was no tremor in Jake’s voice when he spoke, only conviction. “Laney and Jen died for what they stole. We’re going to get it back.”

  CHAPTER 39

  Laney pulled Eddie up, dusting some of the debris off of him. “Everybody okay?”

  Jen had picked the right lever. When the middle door had opened, Laney and Jen had sprinted through with the children.

  Luckily, there was an identical door mechanism on the other side, allowing them to close the door behind them. Then they’d gone on a mad sprint through the dark tunnel.

  When the bomb had gone off, Laney had thrown herself on Eddie and Jen had done the same for Elena. The explosion had shook the tunnel, and rocks rained down on them. Besides some bumps and scrapes, though, they were good.

  “I’m okay,” Elena said, her hand firmly grasped in Jen’s.

  “Eddie?” Laney asked.

  “Okay.”

  “Well, I don’t hear the rush of water, so the doors seem to be holding,” Jen said.

  “Good thing we moved the bomb,” Laney said.

  Before escaping through the tunnel, Laney had moved the bomb over to the other side of the cave. Easily the most nerve-wracking walk of her life.

  Laney breathed a sigh of relief that the doors seemed to have held. She looked around the tunnel, grabbing one of the lanterns that had been left behind by the mercenaries. “Okay, let’s get moving.”

  Jen grabbed onto her hand. “Hold on a sec. We need to go carefully.”

  Laney stared at her, not understanding, when Jen’s warning about the tunnels came back to her. Her stomach dropped. Booby traps. They were lucky their panicked run or the explosion hadn’t set any off already.

  She stifled the urge to scream in frustration. They just couldn’t catch a break. Avoid a bomb, end up in a tunnel system filled with booby traps.

  With a nod to Jen, Laney turned to Elena and Eddie. She spoke with her most sing-song voice. “Okay kids, you two walk behind us and if we say to do something like, duck or run, don’t hesitate, just do it. Okay?”

  “Because of the booby traps?” Elena asked.

  Eddie nodded next to her.

  Jen smothered a laugh.

  Laney glared at her. So much for keeping the danger from the kids. “Yes. Because of the booby traps.”

  They trudged down the tunnel, making their way slowly through the dim light. After about thirty minutes, the tunnel began to angle up.

  Elena tugged on Laney's hand. “Laney? Is it going to be okay?”

  “Well, we’re heading up now, which is good. It means we’re heading towards the surface. I bet we find an exit real soon.”

  “But what about Grandpa? He was shot,” Eddie said.

  “I know, sweetheart. But I have to tell you, your Grandpa’s one tough man. I think it might take more than a bullet to keep him down.”

  Eddie nodded his agreement, but Laney’s heart felt heavy. She didn’t think Julian could survive that hit, not without immediate medical attention. And there was no chance of him getting it way out here. She just couldn't bring herself to say that to the kids.

  They walked on for another few minutes in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Laney’s mind drifted to her family and how they would cope if she didn’t come back from this. Her Uncle Patrick had been there for every moment since she was eight, always supporting her unconditionally. Kati and Max. She wouldn't get to wake up to the sound of Max running through the house, or share a glass of wine with Kati at the end of the day.

  The faces of her friends whipped through her mind. Danny, Henry, Rocky. Her throat felt thick and tears burned her eyes. She loved them all so much. She knew her death was going to hit them hard. And the idea of not seeing them again was wrenching.

  A picture of Jake came center-stage in her mind. She'd been trying to keep him out of her thoughts. It was too painful. But even his image was stubborn. She felt a stab of longing. She wanted to see him one more time, even without things being settled between them. She didn't know what she would say, but it didn't matter. She just needed to see him.

  She took a shaky breath. And then she heard a click.

  “Stop!” Laney yelled. Everyone froze in place.

  “Laney?” Jen called out, her voice small.

  “Yeah?”

  “I think I just stepped on a booby trap.”

  CHAPTER 40

  Jake's chopper chased the other helo through the air. They were about two miles behind and gaining.

  “Come on, come on,” Jake urged. The other helo was a speck in the distance, but it looked like it might be landing.

  He tapped his mic. “Drop us a quarter mile from the spot.” He knew if they went any closer, there was a good chance their chopper would be blown from the sky.

  Two minutes later, the helicopter was setting down in a clearing. Jake was out of it before it had fully landed, Jordan and Mike on his heels. He sprinted for the woods, heading for the drop zone. A glance back at the brothers showed their determination. Their resolve to make these bastards pay outdistanced even his own.

  The sounds of men wafted through the air. Jake picked up his pace, but Jordan and Mike flew past him. They burst from the trees. The twins set off round after round, mowing down every man in their path.

  Jake veered away from the brothers, heading for the cargo plane that seemed like it was about to take off. One last crate was being loaded by two men. He took out one of the men, but the other managed to shove the last pallet
into the cargo hold. The door began to close.

  Jake sprinted towards the plane, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to do anything to keep it from taking off. To his right, he saw a large man who’d been giving the orders head for the last remaining helicopter. Jake changed direction, sprinting for him.

  Jake crashed through the trees, laser-focused on reaching his target. The man was tall, at least six-foot-five, and had an overly muscular build.

  Something about him was familiar, but Jake couldn’t place him. Doesn’t matter who he is. He killed Laney. He’s going down.

  The man reached the helicopter, jumping into the open door way. He circled his hand in the air. The chopper rose.

  Jake dropped to his knees, lining up his shot. He looked through the scope, the man’s face situated perfectly in the center.

  Shock jolted through his system. His finger paused over the trigger. Stunned, he watched the helo lift off and fly out of range.

  Henry and Yoni burst through the trees behind him. They raked the air with gunfire, although it was futile.

  Jake stood, staring after the disappearing craft, unable to believe what he’d just seen.

  “Jake?" Henry asked, his tone concerned.

  Jake looked at him blankly.

  Yoni slapped him on the shoulder. “What the hell happened? Why didn’t you take the shot?”

  Jake shook his head. “I froze.”

  “Froze?” Disbelief laced Yoni's words. “I’ve seen you in every kind of firefight and I’ve never seen you lock up. What was different about this one?”

  “I knew the guy.”

  “Who is he?” Henry asked, his voice solemn, his eyes serious.

  Jake looked back at him, feeling completely cut off from reality. “It was Derek Collins.”

  Yoni went still, his face a mask of shock. “Jake, it can’t be Derek. He’s dead.”

  CHAPTER 41

  Kneeling on the tunnel floor, Laney examined the plate Jen had stepped on. “It’s some sort of ancient pressure plate.”

  “Kind of figured that. Any idea what it connects to?”

  “Well, nothing’s moving yet, so I’m guessing it doesn’t go into effect until you step off.” Laney raised her lantern to examine the ceiling. Nothing. It all looked smooth and polished.

  “Over here,” Eddie called, standing along the wall.

  Laney’s heart skipped a beat. “I thought I told you guys to stay back.”

  Elena stood next to her brother. “We wanted to help. And I think we found the trap.”

  Laney swallowed the yell in her throat. She’d ordered them back down the tunnel. But here they were, in harm's way. She illuminated the wall behind them as she walked towards it. “I don’t see anything.”

  “Put your hands here.” Eddie took Laney’s hand and pressed it against the wall.

  Small indentations covered the wall. She shone her light on one and realized that the small hole was filled with a spike of some sort, the same finish as the wall. It was almost impossible to see. She ran her hands over the wall. There were tons of the things.

  She quickly crossed to the other side of the cave. More indentations. She looked back at where Jen stood. Right in the cross hairs.

  “I’m guessing some sort of flying projectile?” Jen asked, her voice tight.

  “Looks like.”

  Laney saw the tremble in Jen's hands. The same tremor worked its way into her own. She didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t see any way to shield Jen from the onslaught and no one was fast enough to get out of the way.

  Except . . .

  Her head jerked up. She looked at Jen’s arm. She thought about how easily Jen had trekked through the forest, the grace with which she moved, how easily she’d gotten out of the bindings. “How’s your arm, Jen?”

  “What? My arm? Who cares how my arm is?”

  Laney walked over to her, and stared into her eyes. “It’s healed, hasn’t it?”

  Jen looked back at her, terror in her eyes. Laney couldn’t tell if it was from the situation, the question, or both.

  Jen nodded.

  “I’m guessing you generally heal pretty fast? Run pretty fast?”

  Jen nodded, tears in her eyes. Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper. “Yes. I always have. I don’t know why. I keep it hidden. People haven’t always been kind about my abilities.”

  Swallowing the lump of fear in her throat, Laney backed away, fear shooting through her. Enhanced physical and healing abilities, just like Paul, just like Gideon. Her breath picked up. It felt like the walls were closing in. Jen was one of them. She was a Fallen.

  Laney gasped when a hand slipped into hers. She looked down into Elena’s face. “We need to help her.”

  “Elena, you don’t understand. There’s more at stake here than-”

  Elena cut her off, sounding older than her years. “No. I do understand. I know Jen. I know who she is. She’s good. She’s your friend. You need to help her.”

  Laney breathed deep, looking back at Jen, who had tears running down her cheeks. What am I doing? she thought with dismay. This was Jen. They’d been friends for over ten years. She’d never had any reason to do anything but trust her.

  Squeezing Elena’s hand, she stepped back towards Jen and took a deep breath. “Well, right now, I think those abilities just may save your life.”

  Laney turned to Elena and Eddie. “Okay guys, I need you to go back down the tunnel the way we came.”

  Elena glanced down and shook her head. “It’s too dark.”

  Laney walked over and handed her one of the lanterns. “Take this. Keep walking until I tell you to stop.”

  Elena shook her head. “Laney, can’t we-”

  Laney's voice was firm. “No. Eddie, take Elena down the tunnel. Wait until I tell you to stop.”

  Eddie nodded, looking every bit the child warrior. He pulled Elena behind him.

  When they were fifty feet away she called out for them to stop. “Just stay there until I tell you to come back.”

  Laney followed Jen's light back to her. "Jen, shine the light at the ground again."

  She did, and Laney found the edge of the plate. Careful not to step on it, she positioned herself right in front of Jen.

  “That was good thinking,” Jen said, her voice low.

  “What?”

  “Making sure the kids wouldn’t be able to see.”

  Laney sighed. “I was hoping you didn’t pick up on that.”

  Jen handed Laney her lantern and then clutched her hand. “If this doesn’t work, promise me you’ll go see my family and tell them how much I love them. Tell them they were the perfect family and that I know it wasn’t easy taking me in and –"

  Laney looped the lantern’s handle over her arm and squeezed Jen’s hand. “Shh, shh. It’s going to be okay. You can do this. And you can tell them all that yourself. Now here’s what you’re going to do: You’re closer to the back of the plate than the front. So, very slowly, keeping the same pressure, I'm going to help you turn around until your facing down the tunnel, the way we came.”

  “Laney, you need to back away. If this thing feels a shift-”

  “I don’t think it’s that sensitive. I think it’s more of a pressure/no pressure kind of sensor. So I’m going to help you turn, so you end up facing the right direction, and not a wall.”

  Jen took a shuddering breath.

  “Okay. You ready?” Laney asked.

  “Yes.”

  Slowly, with Laney bracing her, Jen began to turn clockwise.

  Laney moved with her, her eyes on the ground tracing the outline of the plate. Breath held, Jen finally faced back down the tunnel, the front of her boots touching the edge of the plate.

  “See? Piece of cake,” Laney said, feeling a cold bead of sweat roll down her back.

  Jen let out a shaky laugh. “You really need to stop saying that. Now, what’s the next part?”

  Laney forced some levity into her voice. “Well, that part’s easy. You�
��re going to dive off the platform and avoid all the darts.”

  “Oh, good. I was afraid it was going to be something difficult.”

  Laney gripped her hands. “Jen, you have this in you. It's part of who you are. I’m going to walk down the tunnel. I'll keep the lantern on. You’re going to aim for me, okay?”

  Jen jerked her head, a tremor in her voice. “Okay.”

  Laney backed up fifteen feet. She’d seen what Paul and Gideon could do. This would be child’s play for them. But Jen had been hiding this ability her for her whole life. Laney prayed she could tap into it now.

  “Just aim for me,” Laney said. “And don’t hold back. You leap with everything in you. Got it?”

  “Got it.”

  Laney placed the lantern on the floor next to her, a beacon for Jen to focus on. “Count of three?”

  Jen paused. Laney could feel the terror coming off of her.

  “Count of three,” Jen finally called.

  “Okay. Here we go." Laney took a deep breath. "One, two, three.”

  CHAPTER 42

  Jen moved so fast Laney didn’t see her, didn’t hear her. But she felt her. Jen plowed into her with the force of a train.

  Laney’s head whipped back. She crashed towards the floor. Jen’s hand slipped between Laney’s head and the ground just before they met.

  Jen sat up quickly, pulling Laney into a sitting position with her. “I can’t believe that worked.”

  Laney gulped. Neither could she. She flashed the light up ahead to where Jen had stood. Dozens of arrows pierced the walls on either side.

  The kids sprinted down the tunnel towards them. Eddie stood grinning at them. Elena flung herself at Jen. “You made it.”

  “Sure did, kiddo.” Jen hugged her back, her breathing still a little uneven.

  Laney straightened up from the floor, stifling a groan. Her butt was going to be one massive bruise.

  “You okay, Laney?” Eddie asked.

  “I’m good. Just whacked into the floor a little hard.”

  “Sorry about that,” Jen said.

  Laney grinned. “That’s okay. You just don’t know your own strength.”