Page 34 of Unmasked Prophecy

“I know, it won’t be easy. But you just need to distract the kids for a second, and bring Lily. It will be less than five minutes.”

“They will ask me where she is...”

“You say I snuck in through the corner, held you at gunpoint, whatever you have to say to get out of it. I don’t care. Tell them Lily panicked and ran off, and you can’t find her. Whatever you have to do, do it.”

She shakes her head. “The cameras will see me sneaking out.”

“I have mapped out a plan, this is how I got out without being seen,” I say, handing her a sheet of paper where I have drawn the exact route. “I figured out where every camera pointed and got myself out. You can do this.”

Miriam's stares down at the paper, and I can see the weight of her decision pressing down on her. For a moment, I think she might change her mind. My heart is pounding, my breath caught somewhere between hope and despair.

"I'll do it," she says finally. "But it has to be quick. If I think I’m getting caught, I won’t do it.”

“I understand. Thank you. We’ll be there in two nights exactly. Eight PM.”

Miriam nods, but I can see the doubt in her eyes as I turn and run back to the truck. My heart is a wild, frantic mess in my chest, but I feel a spark of hope for the first time. We might actually pull this off. We might get her out. I throw myself into the truck, breathless and shaking.

"Well?" Knox grunts, his eyes boring into mine.

"She's going to do it," I say, my voice elated. "She'll take Lily to the crops."

Mera lets out a breath, her face softening. "You did it, honey."

"Thank fuck," Knox mutters, turning the key in the ignition. "Let's get the hell outta here before they see us."

He guns the engine, and the truck lurches forward as we speed out of the parking lot. I watch the van shrink in the distance, my heart still pounding. I can't believe it. I can't believe she's going to help.

We might actually get away with this.

I’m coming, Lily.

I’m coming.

7

The sun is warm against my skin, and the air smells like smoke and charred meat. The yard is packed, chaos in every direction as the club throws what Mera calls aproper party. I stand on the deck, arms folded, watching as the guys set up makeshift tables with plywood and sawhorses, covering them with anything they can find.

People are everywhere.

I have never seen a gathering quite like it.

It is exciting. I can’t deny it.

Having convinced myself I’m not pregnant, because I don’t feel sick anymore, I sip a drink. I should test, I know I should, but I can’t think about it right now. Besides, Mera is likely wrong. Cyrus and I only had sex twice and I doubt I’d be pregnant so fast. Besides, I wouldn’t be feeling better, right?

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