Page 147 of Bonds of Pain
A chill runs down my spine as the implications sink in. An Inquisitor conducting illegal experiments in a secret facility, working alone without backup? Either Thane was incredibly arrogant, or...
“The alarm,” I realize aloud, my stomach dropping. “It’s not for our escape.”
Maya’s eyes widen as understanding dawns on her face. “Then what?—“
Another alarm joins the first, this one deeper, more urgent. The emergency lighting shifts from red to orange, and somewhere in the distance, I hear the unmistakable sound of shouting.
“We need to move,” I say, taking the scalpel from her and checking both directions down the hallway. “Now.”
I feel my body go rigid as I hear the distant shout, my heart hammering against my ribs. “Freeze!”
Maya’s hand finds my shoulder, her fingers digging in with desperate strength.
The guard stands at the far end of the corridor, maybe fifty yards away. His rifle is already rising to his shoulder, the dark barrel tracking toward us with mechanical precision. At this distance, the scalpel in my hand might as well be a butter knife.
I shove Maya behind me without thinking, my body moving on instinct even as my mind calculates our odds. Terrible. Worse than the worst I can imagine.
“Get down,” I rasp, pushing her toward the wall.
The guard’s rifle locks onto us. I can see his finger tightening on the trigger, the moment of decision balanced on a knife’s edge. This is it. After everything we’ve survived, we’re going to die in this sterile hallway like rats in a maze.
A silver streak cuts through the air beside the guard’s neck.
Blood erupts in a crimson spray as the blade bites deep. The guard’s eyes widen in shock, his rifle wavering as his hands fly tohis throat. Dark liquid pours between his fingers as he staggers sideways, confusion replacing aggression on his face.
Poe steps out of the shadows like death itself, his movements fluid and controlled. The guard collapses slowly, his weapon clattering uselessly to the floor as life drains from his eyes.
I nearly collapse backward against Maya in relief, my legs turning to water. The scalpel tumbles from my nerveless fingers as the adrenaline crash hits me all at once.
“Took you long enough,” Maya breathes, though her voice shakes with relief.
Poe approaches us at a measured pace, avoiding the spreading pool of blood around the fallen guard. His dark eyes assess our condition with clinical efficiency—the makeshift bandages, my obvious weakness, Maya’s torn nightdress.
“Status report,” he says simply.
“Thane is dead,” I tell him. “I’m injured, but mobile. How did you find us?”
“Maya has a tracking implant,” Poe explains, wiping blood from his blade before sheathing it. “Logan triangulated your location.” His gaze finds mine. “Can you move?”
I try to stand straighter, fighting the tremor in my legs. “I can manage.”
Poe nods curtly. “We’ve cleared most of the facility, but there are still hostiles between us and the exit. Stay close.”
He starts down the hallway, his movements predatory and silent. I try to follow, but my knees buckle after only a few steps. The blood loss and whatever drugs Thane pumped into my system have left me weaker than I want to admit.
“I’ve got you,” Maya whispers, slipping under my arm to support my weight.
Her warmth against my side is a lifeline I desperately need. Even without the shredded bond, her presence grounds me,gives me something to focus on besides the spinning hallway and the taste of copper in my mouth.
“Can you make it out on your own?” Poe asks, glancing back at us with concern.
I want to say yes, to maintain some shred of dignity. But as another wave of dizziness crashes over me, I realize pride is a luxury I can’t afford.
“I don’t think so,” I admit, leaning more heavily on Maya.
Poe doesn’t hesitate. He returns to us, sliding his arm around my waist to take some of my weight from Maya. “We’ll manage.”
Maya looks between us, then makes a decision that surprises me. “Give me your spare weapon,” she tells Poe. “If you’re supporting him, you have only one hand free.”
