Page 25 of Sinner's Salvation

“There’s still two armed soldiers out there,” Brian pointed out.

And they would make a lovely snack.Perhaps she wouldn’t tell him that, but the thought did make her smile.

Brian swallowed hard and took a step away from her, his fear obvious in his body posture and scent.

It was becoming tiresome.

Brian cleared his throat. “He said something to you before he closed the door. What was it?”

“Be ready.”

“Be ready...for what?”

“I assume for the opportunity to escape.”

A grindingboomrippled through the building, shaking loose dust and debris. The mess rained from the ceiling above them, coating their heads and clothing. Of course, it stuck to her even more than Brian. She had more drying blood on her than he did.

The lights flickered and went out.

“Time to go,” Anna said to Brian. “Stand next to the door until I say to come out.”

He moved to stand next to the doorway.

She turned the knob on the door and opened it to reveal chaos. People were running through the hallway and shouting at each other, though none of it made much sense.

The two armed guards turned, their weapons coming up into a firing position. They stood side by side, the muzzle of their rifles only a couple of feet from her head.

At this distance, a blind man could have shot her.

She ignored the weapons. “Was that an explosion?” she asked.

They didn’t reply.

She let her lips pinch together into a prissy frown. “Are you planning to let us die of smoke inhalation or burns?”

The two men glanced at each other, only for a fraction of a second, but she noted it. They weren’t sure what to do.

She sighed, making sure her whole body was involved in it. “We should go, gentlemen, before the fire spreads.”

Brian stuck his head around the doorframe. “Where’s that guy, Gunn?” he asked.

“He went to investigate the source of the smoke,” one of the guards said. “He hasn’t come back.”

“So,” Anna said, crossing her arms over her chest. “He went to see where the smoke was coming from, then there was an explosion?” She looked from one man to the other. “And he hasn’t come back yet?”

She waited, but the two men didn’t move.

“You’re not the least bit worried about him?”

No response.

“Did he leave you with any orders in case the situation becomes too risky to stay?”

The two guards exchanged a look. One nodded at the other.

“He ordered us to evacuate you to a muster point outside.”

Part of the ceiling collapsed down the hall, sending out a cloud of sparks, flames, and smoke. Enough to make them all cough and choke.

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