Page 81 of The General's Captive
“Ssshh, okay, I just need to think about how to get this lock open.”
“It doesn’t matter, it’s still too risky, you need to leave!” he tried again, which was when I took his hand again and gave it a squeeze.
“Remember what you said to me?”
He closed his eyes and whispered my name.
“Alex.”
“You said, you would always come back for me. And what did I tell you in reply?” I asked, his forehead going to the mesh on the door in frustration.
“You said you would do the same,” he replied after a shuddered breath.
“Exactly. Now I am getting you out of here and arguing about it is just wasting time.”
He finally let out a sigh of defeat, knowing he wouldn’t win.
So, he told me, “The keys are hanging up by the door.”
My eyes shot to the door before looking beyond it, seeing that Aster was still hanging around beyond the courtyard.
“Okay, so I have a plan, but you’re going to have to trust me,” I told him, making him narrow his eyes before asking me,
“Tell me it doesn’t include any Harpies or Goat Bombs.”
I grinned before pulling the two syringes out of my backpack.
“No, but it does include some screaming on your part,” I replied, winking.
He rolled his eyes before finally conceding.
“Alright, out with it, what’s your plan?” he asked, making me grin, before going on to explain in hushed tones what I needed him to do.
“Okay, there is a lot to talk about when we get out of here, starting with how you got those,” he said, nodding down to the drugs in my hand.
“Sure thing, let me just go deal with this ten-foot Minotaur first.” I winked at him and started walking away just as he started shouting for real.
“ALEX! DAMN, GET BACK HERE!” he shouted, which was of course part of my plan, I had just wanted to give him a little extra motivation. And well, he was going crazy enough in his cell for it to sound convincing.
I went running just as Aster was squeezing himself back through the doorway into the courtyard. Which was when I had my own performance to put on.
“ASTER! Quick, I don’t know what is wrong with him, he’s going crazy in there!” I shouted, panicked, feeling bad with every lie I told.
He frowned down at me before getting closer to the door as I backed away to allow him space. Then as soon as his back was turned, I pulled the caps off the syringes with my teeth and stabbed both needles into his ass, pushing hard on the plungers.
“Argh… what the fuck was that?” he questioned, turning around, twisting his body to yank them out, holding them in his large palm, as his features twisted into betrayal.
“I am so sorry, Aster, I just can’t trust The General to keep his word,” I told him as he started to stagger to the side, using the building to hold up his giant weight. And for a minute I didn’t think it would be enough.
“Alex… w-w-what… h-h-have you… dooone?” he asked, his words coming out murmured, telling me it was taking effect.
“What I had to do. I hope you can forgive me one day, my friend,” I said, before I jumped out the way as his body gave up the fight and fell to the unforgiving ground with a loud thud. I then pulled the note out of my pocket and tucked it into his hand.
I ran back inside, grabbed the keys, telling Riley, “Okay, you can stop shouting now.”
I then stuffed the key in the lock and turned, yanking it free of the latch. My shaky hands pulled open the door and a second later, I was in his arms as he held me to him.
“Christ, I have thought of nothing else but getting to hold you one more time.”
