Page 23 of Us Deadly Few

“Leave, Khalani,” Winnie begged as they fell further behind the group. “Winnie can’t run anymore.”

“Like hell I’m ever leaving you,” she whispered fiercely in Winnie’s ear. She’d drag her across the entire desert if she had to.

Her chest heaved and Khalani yelled, using all her strength to prop Winnie against her body.

Sand swirled around them, gaining momentum. She winced as the rough particles scratched her face, but she continued to heave Winnie’s body through the sand, inch by agonizing inch.

“Khalani!” Serene’s voice pierced through the howling winds.

She whipped her head around, mouth agape as the others abandoned their sprint toward shelter and rushed back to them.

Takeshi was the fastest.

He dashed across the sand like he was born racing through dunes, reaching them in under a minute. Without a word, he effortlessly lifted Winnie into his arms before pivoting his deadly gaze to her.

“I’ve got her, Kanes. Go!”

Violent determination swam in the black depths of his eyes, and Khalani hesitated only for a brief moment before nodding.

No matter what bitterness lay between them, Takeshi was the strongest one there. Winnie’s only chance of survival was with him.

“Come on, Khalani!” Serene danced on her heels, waiting for her.

“Get moving, pixie!” Brock’s voice thundered as he charged toward Serene, his expression contorting in rage.

Ignoring Brock, Serene held out her hand. Khalani’s thighs burned and a sharp cramp pierced her side, but she pushed her legs, straining to catch up. When she finally reached them, Brock all but dragged Serene forward.

Derek and Adan ran several feet ahead, but she was quickly losing sight as a whirlwind of sand swirled around them. She peeked over her left shoulder, and the monumental storm was nearly upon them.

“Don’t look.” Takeshi appeared to her right.

Even with Winnie’s full weight in his arms, he kept pace beside her.

Everything hurt.

The heavy backpack slamming against her lower back. Her calves that screamed for relief as she waded through the thick sand that felt like mud.

But through the dusty haze, a worn grey building loomed closer.

Serene faltered in her steps, but Brock kept a firm hand on her backpack, relentlessly pushing her forward. Adan and Derek were the first to make it to the building. They held the door open, frantically waving.

“Hurry!” She thought she heard Derek scream.

Khalani’s chest rattled as she tried to run faster, but the punishing wind lashed out at her frail body, and sand pelted her from every direction.

All over her skin.

Her hair.

Her stinging eyes.

Her vision was a sea of nothingness, barely able to make outher own hands in front of her. Khalani opened her mouth to scream, but dry sand trickled to the back of her throat, and she gagged.

Her whole body went numb, and she struggled to get a single ounce of oxygen in. She waved a hand in front of her, blindly moving toward the building.

Or was it the other way?

The heavy particles hit her like broken glass, and she fell to her knees, losing all sense of direction.

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