Page 28 of When Monsters Rise
Therewas no time for this. “Wehave to go.Wehave to get everyone out now.”Iclapped my hands to get everyone’s attention. “Lookat me.Hey!Eyeson me.Forgethim.Grabyour packs and meet at the southside door.”Themain route was known toMichael, but he didn’t know about the second route. “Now.Move.Allof you.Justone pack each.Youhave five minutes.GO!”Everyonescattered, galvanized by my orders.Iturned toBastian. “Getthem out of here.”
“We’renot ready.Thetunnel isn’t clear.”
“Thenclear it as you go.Justgo.”
“Youwon’t make it,”Michaelrasped. “It’stoo late.”
Istrode up to him and kicked him in the head.Hetoppled onto his side and looked up at me with bright blue eyes filled with sorrow. “YouandBeeshould have stayed in the tunnel,Rue.Iwas trying to save you, but now…Nowyou’ll die too.”
I’dtrusted him, even grown to like him, even care about him a little, and he’d lied to us. “Theonly person that’s dying today is you.”Ilooked atShem. “Killhim.”
“No!”Beerushed forward. “Youcan’t…”Sheshook her head. “Imean…just leave him here.Wecan go.”
“That’snot you speaking, it’s the fucking bond he made with you.”
Shepressed a fist to her chest and looked down atMichaelwith disgust. “Fuck.”
Arumbling sound filled the chamber. “Whatis that?”
“They’rehere.”Michaelsat up and wiped at his bloody mouth.Hisface was already healing fromShem’sattack. “Acceptyour fate, and it’ll be quick and painless.”
Peopleran past us, herded byBastianandZaq.Wecould do this.Wehad time.
Bastianran over. “Weneed to go.Now.”
Theground shook, and the ceiling began to crack.
Michaellooked up. “They’rehere.Acceptyour fate calmly.Thereis no escape.”
“Fuckyou!”Beesnapped. “You…Argh!”
“Wehave to give the humans time to escape,”Sarqsaid.
“Therearen’t enough of us to fight them,”Penemuepointed out. “Baraqeland his team are out scouting.”
“Yournumbers, even with the scout team present, would be no match for the sentinel army.”Michaelstood slowly. “You’reweak without celestial power.Wewill end you, and we will purge the humans.I’veallowed you to vent your anger but no more.”Heheld out his hand, and his sword appeared. “Nowyou will wait for judgment.”
Therewas no time to waste. “Move!Everyone!”
Werushed after the stream of people headed for the southern exit.Zaqwas up ahead ushering everyone through. “FollowTumiel!” he ordered as they went past. “Keepgoing.”
BastianandBeewere ahead of us when a chunk of the ceiling came down between us.Acloud of dust filled the air, and blazing light sliced down over the rumble.
Thecelestials were here.
Chapter14
“Rue!”Bastianattempted to double back, butBeegrabbed his arm.
“Go!I’llfind you!”Thelight intensified. “Run!”
Shemgrabbed me around the waist and hauled me away from the light.Thenext momentIwas on the ground and the watchers’ growls filled the air.
Someonetugged me to my feet and shoved me toward the escalators. “Run.Getout.”
Sarq? “Youcan’t fight them.They’llkill you.”
Hisamber eyes filled with sadness. “Wehave to try.Nowgo!”
