Page 74 of Captured Immune

“Let me go first,” Pixie says.

Without anyone having to say it, they all shift to stand in front of me as the elevator opens. Ruby even prepares her hands with fireballs. I appreciate the effort, but I already know we’re good. I don’t sense anyone on the other side.

Pixie steps out and peeks around the corners before calling out, “Clear!” Only then do the rest of the group step off the elevator and Ruby’s hands smoke out.

Carlos leads us to the Artificial Sunlight room, where he holds the door open for everyone else. I step inside with Pixie and Ruby protecting my front while Katie and the Speeder guard my back. I stare at Arella’s chest to make sure it’s still rising and falling. Slowly and slightly, it is.

Carlos shuts the door behind him. “Follow me.”

A fake sky stretches above us with an artificial sun so bright, it stings my eyes. I wait a second for my vision to adjust and return to normal. Blazing heat attacks my skin. On cue, my body’s natural equilibrium kicks in.

Since Victor made up a rule that this room was for agents only, I’ve never been in here. Seeing it for the first time makes me feel like I’ve been transported onto a deserted island. A sandy beach covers the floor as far as I can see. Glistening blue water sweeps over the shoreline in calm waves. Some blue tables are stationed around the beach with padded lounge chairs under giant white umbrellas. If someone showed me a picture of this room, I wouldn’t think it was indoors.

Carlos points toward the rocky, tree-covered cliffs in the distance. “The tunnel is just on the other side of that.”

As we hike across the beach, Pixie presses her fingers against Arella’s neck again. “She’s good.”

“Thanks for checking.”

“Aren’t your arms tired, bro? She’s, like, all deadweight.”

I let out an exhausted grunt. “My arms are so numb that I can’t feel them anymore.”

“How about one of us carry her for a bit?”

I’m about to accept her offer until I realize it means I’d have to let Arella go. It’s not that I don’t trust them to keep her safe. Pixie, Ruby, and Katie have more than proven that they’re willing to take risks to help save Arella. Carlos and this Dash guy are still in yellow status, but for now, I’m choosing to allow them near my girl. Either way, none of these people will protect Arella to the extent that I will. If it comes down to it, I’ll take a fireball for her. I’m not sure if any of them would do the same. For that reason, she’s staying as close to me as possible, even if it makes my arms fall off.

“Never mind,” Pixie says. “That was a stupid question.”

“I’m sorry,” I say. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. It’s?—”

She puts a hand up. “Say no more. If it was my baby sister, I wouldn’t give her to someone else to carry even if my arms were broken.”

I’m glad she understands.

A sudden burst of panic rushes through my head as double the emotions invade my mind. It’s all coming from the sixth floor above us. “Fuck.”

Everyone turns to me. “What?”

“I think the Royals just got through the main entrance.”

“Shit,” Ruby says. “Maybe we should have secured the door to this room in case they?—”

Dash disappears with awhoosh!and a gust of air that blows Ruby’s curls into her face. The ground rumbles for a moment, then a few seconds later, Dash returns with anotherwhoosh!“We’re good now.”

“What did you do?” I ask.

He smirks and nods his head toward the door. “Take a peek.”

We all turn.

Katie gasps with a hand to her mouth. “I can’t even see the door anymore.”

I can’t see the beach behind us either. A forest of dark green trees now stands between us and the door.

“I’ll keep working my Earth powers,” Dash says. “Just keep going.”

As we close the distance between us and the other side of the cliff, Dash remains a few steps behind. The ground rumbles with each tree that pops out of the sand. From the branches, he grows thick thorny vines, making it almost impossible to see through his forest.

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