Elara POV

My heart is pounding as I wait for the door to open. Failing these people is not an option. Getting their hopes up to be caught before they even exit the door would be just cruel.

“They’re at the door,” Kane whispers, and I bite back a smile. We are mind linking; it is not like anyone can hear us.

The door opens, and both guards enter, side by side. I wait until they are next to me before I jump behind them, grab their heads and bash them together. One tumbles to the floor while the other reaches for his head and turns around.

The moment we make eye contact, I punch him in the face. He stammers backwards, but I lunge forward, grab him by the shirt, and ram his face right into the wall. He collapses like a bag of sand, and I direct my attention to the other guard, but he is still out cold on the floor.

“Orson,” I call him over, grabbing a guard’s arms. “Help me lock them up.”

Orson rushes over and drags the other guard into a cell. We search their pockets, removing all devices and equipment that could help them escape or call for assistance. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

“Good work, Elara,” Kane mind links. “It’s clear, you’re good to go.”

“Come, we must hurry,” I say, running to a gurney. “I’ll lead.”

With Kane’s directions in my ear, I lead the group to the bomb shelter. Orson runs past me and swipes his badge.

“It’s not working,” he whispers, looking at me with big, worried eyes.

“Kane, we have a problem,” I inform him.

“We saw, don’t worry,” he replies. “Mindy is overwriting the lock.”

It takes all my self-control not to tap my foot or fiddle with my fingers out of impatience. I want to get out of this hallway and into that shelter. Finally, there is a soft beep, and the door clicks open.

“Go, go,” I rush everyone inside.

“Wow,” Matt mumbles once we are inside, and I look around. Not only is the shelter equipped with beds and chairs. There is also plenty of food, water, and medicine.

“Even if you don’t get us out of here, this is an upgrade,” Matt smirks as he picks up a candy bar.

Orson and I ensure that everyone is inside and safe before we close the door behind us.

“We’re in,” I mind link Kane. “Good luck.”

“Thanks, love,” he replies. “The door is locked and secure. I’ll see you on the other side.”

I lean with my back against the door, inhale deeply and close my eyes.

“Are you okay?” Orson asks softly beside me.

“Not really,” I admit. “We’re safe here, but my friends ... I worry.”

“Kane and Mindy will be fine,” Orson comforts me, laying a hand on my shoulder.

“It’s Braden I’m worried about,” I reply dryly. “He’s one of my best friends, and he’s taking the biggest risk. Fire is his worst enemy.”

My words are still lingering when the first explosion hits and dust falls from the ceiling.

“Are you sure this is a shelter?” I ask nervously. I am not an expert, but I was not expecting dust and vibrations.

“It’s too late now,” he replies as alarms blare everywhere.

Braden POV

“My turn,” I say firmly. “Get out of here, fast.”

“Let me help,” Kane looks at me pleadingly.

“You must get Mindy out,” I shake my head. “I’ll be fine.”

“You better be,” Kane grunts. “Or Elara will be pissed. I swear she’ll come find you in the darkness of death and kick your ass for dying.”

“Right,” I grin, picking up the bag of firebombs and turning invisible. “Now, get out of here.”

I follow them until I am certain they are out of the building before I run towards the conference room. I throw the first bomb with all my might at the wall, turn around and run away with the speed of lightning. But even though I am around the corner, I can still feel the flames’ heat.

People scream and shout as doors open and close. Alarms go off, and people rush towards the chaos with fire extinguishers. I keep on moving, throwing bombs at walls before ducking around a corner.

The inside of the building is engulfed in flames, and the heat is becoming unbearable; I know I must get out.

People bump into me as I head for the exit, but they are so terrified and panicked that they do not even realise they are bumping into an invisible wall. Finally, I am outside, and I turn to look at the building. Dark clouds of smoke fill the air, and I take out my last firebomb.

“Fuck you, Gustav,” I mutter as I hurl the ball at the facility.

It smashes against the wall, and I dive behind a car when it explodes. Heat and flames soar over and around the car before it retracts and climbs up the facility’s wall.

A guard runs my way, screaming in agony as his body burns. He falls to the ground, rolling around, desperately trying to extinguish the flames, but he bumps into me, and my jacket takes fire.

“Shit,” I mutter, yanking off my jacket and letting down my guard.

“Help me!” He screams when I appear in front of him.

He keeps rolling in front of me, trapping me against the car. I dodge to the right, jumping over him, but he grabs my ankle.

“Let go!” I struggle, fear closing my throat as flames jump from him to my pants.

With fumbling fingers, I unbuckle my pants, desperate to take them off before the flames spread, because then I am fucked.