Page 165 of Oathbreaker

“Nah, let me go. I need to get more water anyway,” I say. I stand up, and Kitty rolls over to settle in my vacant spot. He starts snoring again.

Ella shrugs in acceptance.

I wander out of the media room, feeling my way along the dark corridor. It’s not far to the kitchen, but I tilt my ear in that direction, hoping to hear August.

I receive silence instead.

Turning down the next hall, I plan to head to the nearest bathroom. Instead, I stop cold in my tracks.

There’s a body on the floor. It’s one of our guards, and an unimaginable amount of blood pools beneath him. With his face down, I stare at the back of his head where chunks of missing bone and brain matter should be. I clasp my hand over my mouth so I don’t retch or scream.

I reach out a trembling hand and pull on him with silent movements. Even though the bullet removed half of his face, I can tell it’s Rex, August’s guard.

Static fills my ears and my vision clouds around the edges.

You will not pass out. Find August.

I take a step back as silently as I can, keeping my hand over my mouth to contain the loud, sobbing breaths that I can’t control.

“This house is too fucking big,” I hear. I know that voice, but I’m not able to place it.

“Just kill the bitches, grab the girl and the kid, get the fuck out of here. Simple, Rodrigo.”

My memory catapults me to the foyer on my first day here. The guard who attacked August. His name is Rodrigo.

I pick up my speed and try not to vomit the terror swirling in my gut.

Step. Step.

Get the fuck out of here, Winter!

I keep my hand near the wall but don’t touch it so I won’t make any noise. I pause for a split second when I feel a bump in the paneling.

The tunnels.

I press on the panel and lurch into the dark space, whipping the door shut before babying it to return to a locked position.

I’m safe here in the walls.

But not for long.

Veronica and Ella, I need to get to them. They’re too exposed. They’re?—

I head down the hall, retracing my path back to the media room. When I feel the crease in the wall, I open the panel.

Veronica shrieks, but I shush her immediately.

“Come, now!” I hiss, trying to keep my voice a whisper. Ella and Kitty don’t hesitate, but Veronica does.

“What?”

I run into the room, grabbing Summer. “Let’s fucking go! The house is under raid.”

“Oh, God!” Veronica chokes out. Within seconds, I lock the five of us in the tunnel.

“Where’s August?” Ella whispers.

Tears well in my eyes, and panic surges through me.

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