Page 67 of Challenged
“Okay,” Blaze starts, his voice low and urgent, “we need to scout the prison first. Find out the layout, shifts of the guards, anything that could help us.”
“Right,” Felix chimes in, eyes narrowed in determination. “I have someone I trust who can get me the information.”
“Are you sure about that?” Griffyn questions, concern etched on his face. “If we’re caught…”
I swallow hard at the thought, my pulse quickening. We all know the risks but there’s no turning back now.
I can’t shake the image of Aksel being dragged away in handcuffs. I can only picture it and it’s still horrible. I pace back and forth, my heels clicking on the hardwood floor, trying to think of a way to get him out of jail.
“Turning in the information on the fighting ring isn’t an option,” Felix says, rubbing his temples. “Not while we’re wanted. It’s too risky.”
“Agreed,” Blaze chimes in, his voice strained. “But we need to do something. We can’t leave Aksel in there.”
“Even if we manage to break him out,” I say, my voice shaking slightly, “wouldn’t that make Aksel look guilty?”
“Anna has a point,” Blaze adds, concern etched on his face. “If we do this, we could be putting Aksel in even more danger.”
“Right now, he’s already in danger,” Felix argues, frustration seeping into his voice. “We don’t know what they’re planning to do with him, or how long he’ll be held.”
“Can’t we try to prove his innocence first?” I ask, desperation clawing at my throat. The idea of breaking Aksel out carries so many risks, and I can’t shake the fear that it will only make things worse.
“Every day Aksel spends in that prison is another day he could be hurt,” Felix says solemnly, and I can see the weight of his worry bearing down on him. “We don’t have much time to waste.”
My mind races, torn between the urgency of Aksel’s situation and the potential consequences of our actions.
“Right,” I say, gripping my hands into fists. “We have to figure out how to get Aksel out.”
A heavy silence hangs over us as we rack our brains. How can we free him without making things worse?
“So we are going to bust him out?” I ask, looking to Felix for guidance. “Has your contact responded?”
Felix hesitates, clearly considering the idea. “Not yet. This isn’t impossible, but it would be incredibly difficult.”
“Aksel’s life is on the line. We don’t have a choice,” I snap.
“Anna’s right,” Blaze says, nodding in agreement. “We need to act fast before they hurt him or worse.”
“Alright then,” I say, forcing myself to sound confident. “Let’s come up with a plan.”
“Actually,” Felix says, breaking the silence, “I might have the way to break Aksel out. My friend responded.”
All eyes turn toward him, hope and worry mingling in our expressions.
“Go on,” I urge, my heart pounding in my chest.
Felix runs a hand through his curly brown hair and takes a deep breath. “I have a friend who works at the prison. He gave me some information that could help us get Aksel out.”
“Are you sure we can trust this friend?” Blaze asks, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
“I trust him,” Felix says without hesitation, his hazel green eyes meeting Blaze’s gaze unflinchingly.
The sound of a phone vibrating shatters the tense silence that has enveloped us, startling me out of my thoughts. Blaze’s expression tightens as he pulls his phone from his pocket and glances at the screen. I watch him closely, trying to decipher any hint of emotion on his face, but he remains an impenetrable fortress.
“Who is it?” Felix asks, his voice hoarse with anxiety.
“An unknown number,” Blaze replies, his brow furrowing as he reads the message. “But it’s written in the code our director uses. It says ‘Reme.’”
As the word leaves his lips, a cold wave of dread washes over me. Reme is the name of the council member whose husband is involved in the illegal fighting ring. My heart hammers against my ribs, and I can’t help but wonder if this means they’re responsible for Aksel’s arrest.
