Sacred Flame: His Enemy, His Mate (BL)-Chapter 28: Katie

Kain Locke

The front door creaked open like it was rusty, that’s right, these guys are deaf to warning.

They didn’t listen to me, and even though Mateo has every reason to hate me, but that doesn’t necessarily mean sacrificing every other life along with his.

But no matter what, I have no say, I can’t, because he’s the leader of this team, not me.

But weren’t they cautious enough to notice it was simply too quiet here, like the quiet before the storm.

"Guys.. don’t you feel something ominous? This feels just too easy, infiltrating a dangerous weapon institution shouldn’t be this easy, don’t you think?" I tried giving them more reasoning.

But just like a switch, "So what if we feel something ominous? Do you think of yourself as a hero? Who in the fucking hell do you think you are to be giving suggestions? A savior?" Mateo snapped at me with a hateful glint in his eyes.

Regardless, his words hit harder than they should, but I kept quiet. I didn’t trust my voice, not when my chest was tightening, and my head was spinning with guilt.

But he wasn’t done as he continued, "You always act like you’ve got everything under control, like nothing scares you! Who do you fucking think you are? Superman? A superhero ?" he yelled out angrily.

"I’m not a hero!" I shouted before I could stop myself, "I never said I was!"

"Then why do you always act like it?" he shot back, his eyes blazing something really fierce at that moment. "Tell me, why do you always have to be the one who knows everything?"

"Because we’re walking into death!" I yelled, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "I’m trying to warn you, but none of you are listening!"

He went quiet for a moment, but then his face twisted, "Katie listened," he said in a very low and bitter voice, "She listened to you. And where did that get her? Where did that get the others?"

I felt like the ground was falling out from under me. My chest was getting so tight it hurt, and my throat felt tight remembering her. Katie...

I could still see her face, her smile before she followed my lead, trusting me. I knew how it ended. I knew exactly where it got her.

"It got them killed!" Mateo shouted, "All of them! Dead because they listened to you!"

I couldn’t breathe.

Because he wasn’t wrong. It was my fault. I had led them into that place, thinking I could handle it, thinking I knew better. And they paid the price.

I blamed myself over and over again, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get rid of the guilt. Because it was always there like a heavy weight on my chest, a loud agonizing voice in my head telling me I should’ve done more, should’ve known better.

I was still lost in my thoughts when a cold click suddenly sounded in the air snapping me out of my thoughts.

And when I lifted my head up to look, my heart almost stopped as I saw Mateo pointing his gun at me, his eyes darkened with hatred so deep.

"I’ve been meaning to do this for a long time... All these years... the only thing that kept me going was the thought of putting a bullet through your fucking head!" He pause,

"To tear you into pieces as a price for Katie, but then you disappeared, only to return unscathed, and arrogantly sparing Ken of his life like you’re the most beneficial out there, I haven’t felt rage that hot before, and as goodness has it, I was paired with you, as your leader, so tell me what? Tell me..."

My body went cold. He didn’t have to say it before I knew he was darn serious with that deadpan look in his eyes.

I swallowed hard, my mouth running dry, but no words came out.

"Fucking tell me," he growled, "Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you right here, right now."

I couldn’t answer. Because deep down, I wasn’t sure there was a reason for him to spare me,

However, "Stop this madness at once Mateo, let’s get this mission done first, you can always kill him later once we have the formula." The beta who drove the car here said as he jumped between us, his hand covering the gun, "Shooting now will alert them, and I’m sure you don’t wanna risk that."

He huffed out an angry breath and reluctantly lowered his gun, not without shooting me another glare "Later." He said before going to open the door that was supposed to lead us deeper inside.

’Supposed’ because even though I had been here before, I could barely recognize anywhere anymore, because the whole structure seemed to have changed.

And maybe it was instinct, but I have a feeling that something bad is about to go down,

However, saying that thought out loud is like pulling the last string of restraint Mateo has, because I doubt he wouldn’t pull the trigger right there, right now, not like I can bear to pull mine against him, so I was between a rock and a hard place.

And the next second I felt it before I saw it, a movement, very fast from around the corner.

Then, something long and twisting shot out of its hiding place, heading straight for us. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

My eyes widened. "Watch out!" I shouted.

But it was too late as more of them appeared, slithering out, their bodies swirling like living ropes. As they moved too fast.

Snake beasts.

It was the same kind that killed Katie and the others back then. The same cold eyes, the same sharp fangs. My chest tightened, fear crawling up my spine. It was happening all over again.

My heart pounded as I dodged another attack, my body moving on instinct.

But my mind was spinning as something Kael said flashed to me.

Someone wanted me dead.

And that someone... was his father.

My stomach dropped, the pieces falling into place.

Caspian. He had the instructor send me here because he wanted this. He wanted me dead.

And he didn’t care how many people he had to kill to make it happen.

But why would he want me dead?