Page 61 of Detonation
You may have to seriously hurt someone—or even kill them—to get your people out, Lana.
The weight of that hits me and, for a moment, I wonder if that’s something that I’m capable of. I think of the woman who was killed in front of me by those guards at Anshar's word. My back steels and I accept that I'm willing to spill their blood, in order for my people to be free of this place.
We descend the steps towards the dungeon and I hear laughter ringing out.
Fuck, how many are down here and why?
"It's my turn to have another go with her," one of them states and I hear a door creak open.
My stomach drops at their words.No.
I rush down the rest of the way, leaving the rest of them behind, and see three guards clap the one that spoke on the back as he heads into the room. Before they can react to my steps ringing out, I hold my hands out, directing a wall of fire at these men.
A searing heat blasts from my hands, enveloping the three men as they turn towards me. Their screams ring out and I find myself smiling at their pain, knowing they've violated multiple women by the snippet that I heard.
I snarl and run towards them, picturing a dagger in my hand and tightening my grip around the hilt of the ice dagger that materializes in my hand. The three of them are on their hands and knees, wailing over the burns on their faces as the fourth guard emerges from the dungeon.
I don't think, acting on instinct, and use a man's back as a platform to jump and throw my weight onto the fourth, knocking him into the dungeon as we fall into a heap of limbs.
Screams sound from the prisoners and I jump to my feet, turning my icy flare to the guard who’s still on the floor, holding a hand above his head to protect himself as he looks up at me, his eyes crossing slightly.
Probably a concussion.
I plant my foot on his chest and spit at him. "Rot in hell."
I lean down with my dagger but a familiar voice stops me. "Let me."
Smiling, I look over at Serafina and grab the keys hanging from the man's side. As I cross to Sera, I hear a scuffle outside and hope that the mage is handling the other three.
I unlock her shackles and she stands, stalking over to the man. She pulls his longsword from his side, the metal hissing against the scabbard. The guard tries to turn and crawl towards the door but Sera’s there in a beat, her bare foot on his back as she commands. "Turn back over."
The sword shakes in her trembling hand as he does and tries to plead for his life, trying to strike a deal. But he has no power here. "You don't have to do this. I'll let you go free."
She shakes her head, placing the tip of the sword above his heart. "I don't need you to do that. I want to see the life leave your eyes so I can sleep in peace at night, knowing you'll never touch me again."
Goosebumps cover my arms and tears form in my eyes at the strength she has to face her rapist.
"N-no, plea—" his words cut off as she stabs the sword into his chest, the blade coming out of his back, his blood filling his mouth as he chokes on it. She twists the sword and he falls silent, all of his fight leaving with his life.
The mage rushes into the room with Doc and Liviana behind him, smatterings of blood on his face and clothes. I ignore the shock on their face as they take in the scene before them, directing them out of their surprise. "Grab the keys from their belts if they have any. We need to unlock all of these chains quickly."
Livi is the first to jump to action, going back out to search the three other guards. I toss my keys to Doc. "Start unlocking them. I need to get us out of here."
Seeing Sera still standing unmoving and looking down at the guard, I take a moment to go to her, calling out softly to not startle her in her state. "He's gone, Sera."
As my voice reaches her, she lets go of the sword and backs up, her hands shaking and I lightly grab her forearms to turn her towards me. I stare into her eyes and say the only two words that can help right now. "I understand."
At those words, her haze disappears and she breaks, her face contorting as she launches herself at me, crying out the grief that she’s been holding in to keep herself afloat to survive. I catch her as her legs give out and lower her to the ground, keeping her tight in my embrace, running my hand up and down her back, repeating it like a mantra as she cries. "I know. I understand."
A gentle hand lands on my shoulder before Liviana drops down next to us, taking Sera from my arms and holding the broken woman together. "I've got her. Go. We don't have much time."
I stand up and look around, seeing the last of the prisoners being unshackled as men and women of various ages stare at me, so much hope in their eyes that my heart breaks thinking of everything they’ve had to endure.
Glancing to the back wall that should lead them out of this hell hole, I walk over and place my hands on the walls, searching with my powers through the stone to find a weak part in the wall. My energy webs out like a network of veins, flaring as it finds a spot a few feet to my left.
I rush to it and place my hands against it as panicked shouts start coming from behind me.
"Lana! They're coming!"
