Page 95 of A Light in the Darkness
“If someone was on the other side, they’d have shot us by now.” Rich reasons, though he doesn’t sound entirely confident about that.
“Not necessarily. They’d have to open the door to do it. It’s not worth the risk when they can wait us out.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I steal a glance at Kent, who’s hung his head and pressed his hand firmly over his mouth. I don’t know if he’s holding back vomit or a scream or maybe tears, but it’s one of the most devastating things I’ve ever seen. The desperation hits me as surely as if it were my own, a wicked, cold feeling.
“We didn’t come this far to turn away.” I shake my head.
“We can’t do anything.” Remy counters softly. His eyes are still on Kent, afraid to say what he really means.
We can’t get to her. If she’s in there, she’s out of reach.
I scan the space for anything to throw, unwilling to give up my boot, since I’ll definitely need that later. I stride toward Rich, taking the radio that’s hanging limp in his hand, and before anybody can object, I throw it.
My aim is a lot better when I’m not tied up, it seems, and the heavy radio makes impact right away, knocking the camera angle just a bit. I’m already running to pick it up when Remy catches me around the arm, stopping me in my tracks.
“What are you doing?” His voice is a hiss, startled, and by the way he’s looking at me, I think he’s fearing for my sanity.
“If we can’t get in, we have to make someone come out.” I try to tug out of his arm, thinking he’ll understand where I was going with this, but he holds tight, his brow furrowing.
“And you think breaking the camera is going to make them come out to investigate?”
I can hear the doubt in his voice, and I can see the doubt on Rich’s face, but I just nod. “That’s how I got out of Ludlow’s basement. I tripped the fire alarm, trying to get the camera. He came back to check on me.”
“Jesus.” He closes his eyes, processing the information I haven’t given him. We haven’t discussed any of what happened down there, and I’m grateful that he hasn’t felt the need to demand every detail. I’m grateful that whatever may have happened hasn’t made a difference in how he feels about me.
Movement over his shoulder catches my eye, and I see Kent standing with the radio in hand, appraising it thoughtfully.
“She’s right.” He says, glancing toward me. “But we have something you didn’t have in the basement.”
“Which is what?” Michael asks, looking between all of us like he hasn’t yet figured out what’s going on.
“Guns.”
The word has barely even left Kent’s mouth when he points his toward the camera. Rich and Rook rush at him, but they aren’t fast enough. He pulls the trigger, and a second later, as Remy whips me out of the way, shards of thick black glass rain down around him.
Chapter fifty-four
Remy
If he doesn’t seal us in here to fucking suffocate to death, I am absolutely going to murder him.
The steel of the bunker may be reinforced, but the area over the steps where the rock transitions is not. If he’d shot just a little further to the right, we’d be swimming in rock right now. Never mind the fact that he’s a fucking sniper and wouldn’t miss unless it was on purpose. It’s a stupid chance to take.
“What the fuck?” I growl, turning to him once I’ve checked that Claire wasn’t struck by a piece of the camera lens. “Reckless motherfucker! You could have trapped us down here.”
“I don’t miss.” Kent snaps. “Now get into formation.”
I stare at him, not sure exactly which formation he’s referring to since there’s nowhere to go. But apparently, he wants the usual, so I take up at his side, the two of us forming a barrier shoulder-to-shoulder. I ensure that Claire is firmly behind me, Michael and Rich out at the sides. I don’t see a door, or even a seam in the steel wall, so I’m guessing that wherever the entrance is, it retracts into the roof.
“Get in the back.” Kent demands, turning to glance at me. “Switch with Rook.”
“What?” I sneer. “No. Fuck no.”
“You don’t have a vest, you beautiful fucking idiot.” Rich says. “If the door opens and they open fire, you don’t even have achanceto protect your girl. Back of the line.”
I laugh despite not being the least bit amused, and switch places with Rook. He’s big enough, at least, that his body shields more ofClaire, who reaches a hand back behind her. I grab it, giving her a gentle squeeze.
Not being in front of her makes my entire body tense, and I wonder how hard her heart is pounding right now. She doesn’t turn to look at me, doesn’t waver, but this is different from anything she’s ever done. This is a different type of danger… one that’s well-past stupid. We have no clue how many people are in the shelter. We could be outnumbered a hundred to one. It’s impossible to say how big the shelter may be, though no matter how large it is, I’m sure it doesn’t hold more than a thousand. You can’t gather that many people in one space without expecting trouble, no matter how well-regulated conditions are. Any businessman or politician worth their weight in shit knows that.
