We rush in the dark while I try to be as silent as he is. I’m surprised we don’t run into anything, but then, as the lights come back on again, I know if they’d been off for any longer, I would have most likely knocked myself out. I stop just in time before colliding into a pile of piping. Ethan isn’t so lucky and he noisily dives right into it. I unexpectedly find it hilarious as he is sprawled out with pipes surrounding him. He growls at me as a short snort comes out, but I try to stop the laughter from settling in. I can only assume this is some bizarre reaction to the very volatile and serious situation we’re in.
I am about to step forward to help him move out when I near someone clearing their throat. I turn to my side, fearing it’s going to be Corby, but breathe a sigh of relief as I see Will standing only feet from me, smirking. He is pointing his paintball gun directly at me. I’m so relieved to see him that I rush his way while I can still see where I’m going. I expect him to fire a round of paint at me, but he doesn’t. Instead, his face dissolves to one of worry and then panic. He races towards me and I feel my hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I know I’m being chased.
“Zoe!” Will shouts out to me as rough hands pull down on my shoulders and again I’m covered in darkness. It’s getting very frustrating losing my sight every few minutes.
“Get off me!” I scream at Corby when his hand slams over my mouth. I taste blood when my lips are slammed into my teeth. I try to move my face, but his grip has me pinned to the ground. I dig my nails into his hand, trying to pry it off, and I’m rewarded with him removing his hand briefly before a sting slaps me across the face.
“Stay still,” he barks at me.
“Zoe?” Will shouts out.
Corby quickly places his hand back over my mouth so I can’t call out to him.
“Parker?” I hear Ethan’s voice now.
I struggle more than ever to try and alert them to where I am. Their voices sound close to us, but with it being pitch black it’ll be easy to miss us hiding on the ground. Will isn’t wearing any night vision goggles and I lost ours, so if the lights stay off, then they’re going to have to stumble on us to find us.
“Corby has Zoe.” Will’s panicked voice cuts through me.
I kick out, hoping I can elicit a groan from Corby, however when my foot connects with him, he doesn’t make a sound. I kick again and again until my foot is aching, yet he stays eerily silent. His grip on my mouth becomes more forceful and I panic when his other hand covers my nose.
I can’t breathe!
I kick out again and claw at his arms, but his hands are unmovable. Panic floods my body and just as my lungs start to burn with starvation, the lights come back on.
Corby’s eyes shoot up around us and then Will is on him in moments. He pushes Corby off me and I gasp for breathe. This is the second time he’s tried to strangle me! What the hell?
“What is your problem?” Will yells and I’ve never seen him look so angry. He pushes Corby into one of the wooden crates by us and the wood cracks from the pressure.
“You want to play, too?” Corby smirks at Will. Without any warning he lashes out and Will is struck in the face. It sounds sickening. The force knocks Will down and I try to slow my breathing so I can be of some use. My body shakes and fear strikes me when Will doesn’t get back up immediately.
“That the best you got?” Will defies the odds for anyone other than him and is able to slowly move to his feet. When his hand briefly moves his jaw, my stomach drops when I hear him crack it back into place.
“This is going to be fun.” Corby laughs as Will charges at him. Corby has been training for years, though; he is able to maneuver out of Will’s way just in time and swings Will crashing into the now destroyed wooden crates.
“Will!” I shriek, worried he is seriously injured. I watch him try to get up twice and fail. There is blood where the wooden splinters have struck through into his skin. One large stake is currently lodged through his leg. The sight is enough to make me heave, but I don’t have the chance to dwell on it. Corby has changed his attention back to me and, since I’m still on the ground, I crawl backwards, not able to take my eyes off him.
“Why turn Reader? You already had your little crew going, why turn him, too?” Corby glares at me.
“I didn’t turn him—”
“LIES! You tricked him into betraying us, betraying me. You don’t deserve to breathe another breath. I don’t care what my uncle says, you need to pay.”
“I’m sorry.” I try to think of a way to reason with him as he keeps approaching me menacingly, yet the evil glint in his eyes makes my mind go blank.
“You will be.” Corby is at my feet now and, in the blink of an eye, he crouches down and grabs hold of my ankle, dragging me in one swift motion towards him.
I cry out in surprise as he takes hold of my vest, using it to pull me onto my feet.
“I think I’ll enjoy hearing you scream.” He runs a finger slowly down the side of my face. I feel like his touch burns. I blink away tears and struggle in his unmovable grip.
His face is red as fire and his black eyes have red tinting in them. It’s like his entire body is boiling. I feel heat radiating off him and a trickle of blood drips down his nostril, just like last time.
“Let her go, Corby.” Ethan is at my side and I glance at him quickly to see his worried glance. He doesn’t move to touch him, though.
“This is none of your business Mac.”
“She is under my protection, so it kind of is.”
“I’m going to kill her.” His words chill me and send a spasm of fear down me.
“No, you’re not. Like it or not her ability is needed for our future missions. You took an oath to serve and protect America. Killing her is wrong,” he tries to reason with him.
“She deserves it.” I feel his grip slowly lighten around me, doing the opposite of what his words suggest.
“It doesn’t matter. Let her go.”
“No.” His voice sounds calmer now and, while sweat covers his brow, I see his face changing back to pale until a few pink spots on his cheeks are all that remains.
“Don’t do this,” Ethan begs.
I look at Corby to gauge his reaction when it goes dark again and I’m blinded.
My fear spikes back up not being able to see his face. I don’t know what he is going to do and I feel the anxiety radiating from Ethan.
“Holloway, you all right?” he asks me.
As Corby slowly lets go of me, my legs aren’t able to support me; I fall to the ground in a heap, shaking badly enough that my teeth chatter.
“Ethan,” I gasp out, wanting to tell him I’m not all right, but my throat constricts with my sobs and I can’t say anymore.
“This isn’t over,” Corby growls. “One day, you won’t be of any use to us, and I will not hesitate to end this.”
I hear footsteps moving away, as well as others coming towards me. Ethan blindly reaches out in the dark and I feel his hands on my feet as he finds his way to me in the dark. Soon I’m wrapped up in his arms as I finally let the tears out. He strokes my hair and holds me close as I try to get myself under control.
“I’m sorry I lost you. I’ll never forgive myself,” Ethan berates himself and holds me to him tighter. “Nico is going to kill me.”
“Will?” I gasp out, finally feeling my tears coming under control.
“I’m okay,” Will gasps out, sounding close to us. I reach out and feel his shoulder at the tip of my fingers. I leave Ethan’s arms to hug Will. His body stills from my touch, but after a few moments he relaxes.
“Are you sure? The blood…” I trail off, remembering the last image I saw of Will before it went dark.
“You know me.” I feel Will shrug in my arms.
The lights come back on then and I look at him closely. His leg is gushing blood as well as from his many cuts over his arms and chest. I now have blood on my clothing, too, from my enthusiastic hug.
Ethan stands over us and,
before I know what he is doing, he points his paint ball gun at Will and shoots him in the back.
“Ethan!” I shriek in surprise. Will doesn’t even flinch from the short range shot. He does look up and glare at Ethan, though.
“What was that for?” he asks, annoyed. The siren blaring over us answers that we’re the last ones standing.
“Zoe needs tomorrow off more than you do.” Ethan shrugs and I see Will’s annoyance disappear.
“That isn’t fair.” I feel angry on Will’s behalf. He could have easily shot me if Corby hadn’t been about to attack. When he found us, Ethan was drowning in a pile of piping, so chances are, Will could have gotten him, too. He should have been the last one standing.
“Where is your partner?” I ask Will.
“Got shot a while ago, took the night vision goggles with her.” He shrugs at me. As he then tries to stand up, I can tell it’s a painful process. I slowly get up with him, relieved that my legs have gotten their strength back and am pleasantly surprised when I’m not too sore.
“How do I look?” I ask Ethan, wondering how much Charlie is going to freak when he sees me.
“What do you mean?”
“Am I bruised?” As far as I can remember, the only injuries I have from Corby are him holding his hand over my mouth and a slap to my face. Perhaps Charlie won’t need to know how horrible this has all been.
“Your cheek is red and you’ve got a split lip. Apart from Will’s blood all over you, you’re fine. It won’t matter, though, he’ll have been able to see it all on the footage.”
“Actually, chances are that he would have shorted it out as soon as he saw Corby near me. He probably doesn’t know anything. I think, if he doesn’t, then maybe we can hold back what exactly happened here,” I suggest, hoping he hasn’t seen anything. There is no way I’ll be able to stop Charlie from going after Corby if he knows he’s attacked me again. After facing Corby twice now and seeing Will struggle, there is no way Charlie will walk away from it.
Ethan is happy to oblige, especially since it might mean Charlie won’t be angry at him and won’t try to kill him, though Will only agrees after thinking it over for a few moments.
“Let’s go. Will needs to see a doctor.” I stay close to Will as he hobbles along, however he won’t take any help from us. He leaves a sickening trail of blood along the ground from his bleeding leg. I again feel my stomach flip seeing so much blood.
Stan meets us at the exit that is just a few yards from where we’re standing. His stance is casual as his gaze takes in Will’s condition before he eyes me carefully. It’s dark outside now and I have no idea how late it is. It feels like we just spent five days straight in that shed. I feel nervous being so close to Stan. This is the first time I’ve seen him since trying to break Will and Charlie out of The Jail.
“Congratulations Third Eye and Mac. You’ve both won your first mock mission together.” Stan sounds anything but pleased. His gaze is still appraising us.
“Thank you, sir.” Ethan is respectful. His stance stiffens as he straightens his back, his eyes remaining alert.
I, however, am exhausted and fighting the urge to pass out right here.
“Will needs to see a doctor.” I state the obvious since apparently no one else is noticing this fact. I take Will’s arm and push him forward.
Ethan, on the other hand, waits for Stan to dismiss him before rushing after us. He walks next to Will, ready to help if he’s needed. Will is still walking on his bleeding leg and appears to be limping less now already.
When Doctor Pratt meets us at the doorway leading to the bottom level of The Mansion, I notice her gaze stays on Ethan for a few extra seconds before she assesses Will and sits him down on a bench just inside the doorway.
“We don’t want you bleeding all through the place,” Pratt explains herself as she takes out a long bandage and some gauzes. She quickly cuts Will’s pant leg and discards the bloodied material on the ground. She then cleans Will’s wounds before wrapping his leg up, apologizing if it’s hurting him. Will doesn’t appear to be in any pain so I feel myself relax a little more.
“Are either of you hurt?” Pratt asks us. Again, her gaze lingers on Ethan’s and remains there for a few extra seconds longer than necessary.
“I’m fine,” I speak up. Ethan nods that he agrees and she turns her attention back to Will.
“You’re okay to walk?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I think you should stay in medical tonight, just to be safe. You’ve lost a lot of blood.”
Will looks like he’s going to complain and perhaps fight her on this, so I place my hand over his arm and squeeze.
“Yes, of course he’ll stay. Will, do you want us to come with you?” I try to give him a look of don’t-fight-me-on-this, but I’ve never had to do a look like that so I’m not sure if I succeed.
Will sighs at me then nods and I relax again. The last thing I need to be doing is worrying about if Will is all right instead of sleeping.
“Good, come this way. I’m going to need to give you some stitches.”
I walk behind Will and Pratt as she leads him away. We walk them back to the entrance of medical. Before Will has the chance to protest, I give him a quick hug.
“Thank you for saving me back there.” I can feel the shock and fear trying to fight its way back up inside me, yet I hold it at bay.
“Of course.” Will blushes and glances away from me. When he looks like he is going to say something further, he is led away again by Pratt, insisting he needs to hurry. Ethan leads me in the opposite direction, passing the permanently stationed guard to start up the stairs.
“You sure you’re okay? You look like you’re going to cry.” Ethan sounds wary, which gives me an irrational urge to laugh. Does every man fear a woman crying and not being sure what to do? Drew used to panic if Dana got upset; in the end she would be comforting him.
“I’m just tired.”
“I know what you mean; this day can definitely drag.”
“At least we get to sleep in tomorrow.” I allow a small smile to grace my lips, even though I know Will should have won it. His partner might have already been knocked out, yet he could have won on his own.
“Yes, you’ll be able to.”
“Won’t you, too?”
“Well, Sunday we all get to start an hour later anyway and I get bored if I’m not training.” Ethan shrugs at me.
“So you’re just going to train anyway?” I’m shocked.
“Yeah.”
“You’re so weird.” I roll my eyes at him and decide I’m going to try to teach him how to be lazy. I’ve spent many of my weekends training to do this.
As we reach the top of the stairs where Ethan opens the door for me, Charlie is waiting there and makes me jump.
“Charlie?” I gasp.
“What the hell happened to you?” he demands.
I fear word has already gotten around about Corby, but then I follow his eyesight to see he’s eyeing all the blood covering me.
“Nothing, this isn’t my blood.” I’m suddenly itching to get out of these clothes. I see blood over my hands and Dana’s prone body fills my vision.
“It’s Parker’s. He’s fine since, of course he’s Mr.-heal-in-two-seconds, but he’s staying overnight in medical to be sure. Your girl is fine. I’m going to get some food; I’m starved.” Ethan quickly breezes passed Charlie and me.
“You’re not hurt?” Charlie reaches out and his finger lightly grazes my cheek where Corby slapped me.
“Nothing you need to worry about.”
“How did this happen? And your lip?” He steps closer to me so I can’t move away unless I want to go back down the stairs.
“They kept turning the power off and on, I knocked into something when the power was off and I couldn’t see. I think I bit my lip at one point, too. I’m fine, honest.”
Charlie eyes me for a few moments. I look down at the ground, afraid he’ll see straight throug
h my lies if I look him in the eye.
“Are you sure?”
“I really would like to get out of these clothes and shower.” I finally look up at him and his eyes soften.
“Okay, I’ll see you at dinner?”
“Sure.” The last thing I want to do is eat, but I also don’t want to argue with Charlie.
I scoot passed him and rush down to our room to grab a change of clothes before I head over to have an extra-long shower and feel instantly better for it. I wash my hair and take my time to dry it with the hair driers provided. The air is cool tonight and, when I step out of the bathroom, I hug my sweater to me.
The food area is quiet and I notice several people leaving as I arrive. I receive slaps on the backs from strangers and congratulations as well as several appraising looks. I’m sure looking at me, no one really thought I was much of a threat before. Now they’re starting to doubt that. The thought is hilarious given that I didn’t fire a single shot and, if I would have had only myself to rely on, I would have been knocked out straight away.
Charlie already has a plate full of food waiting for me at a table to ourselves as I sit across from him, eyeing my plate wearily. Charlie has almost finished his own food. I take my fork and begin the task of trying to fit all this food into my stomach.
“So, did anything interesting happen? Did you have any problems with that asshole?”
I wonder quickly if he has heard something and this is a test, but when I glance at his face, I don’t see any anger there. He would be furious if he knew what’s really happened.
“Nothing interesting really, although I think Will and Corby had a run in. It’s how he got hurt. Having the power go out is really dangerous; Will got pushed and he didn’t know where he was going. He ended up landing in some wooden crates with some of the splintered wood cutting through him.”
Taken By Choice (Taken Trilogy Book 3) Page 11