Page 4 of ForeverMN

Oaklynn and I get inside and start helping my mom. I pick at the food on the table and start on a mimosa. “Where is our guest of honor?”

“She was on a phone call,” Mom calls from the kitchen. “She didn’t say with whom, but it sounded like it was about her classes.”

“Mm,” I grab another bottle of champagne and crack it, knowing we’re going to need it. My mom is still bustling around, and she looks worried. A deep V etched across her forehead. When she walks by me to straighten the fruit platter one more time, I stop her and sling my arm around her waist, “It’s okay mom. Everything is perfect. Mila is okay, even if she has something she isn’t saying yet, I don’t think we need to worry.”

Mom sighs, her body deflating, “I know. You’re right. I’m just so worried, Say.”

“Don’t,” I tell her, giving her side a little nudge with my hip. “Now, which color should I paint my toes?” I pick up the various bottles and look at the names. That seems to do the trick, and my mom stays occupied talking colors with Oaklynn and me. Of course, they also take this time to bring up wedding colors…because why not. I roll my eyes at both of them.

“Mila!” I call down the hallway to her room, “Come save me!”

“You’re so dramatic,” Oaklynn laughs, and pours some more champagne into my glass.

“Tonight isn’t about me,” I remind them both, and they just continue to smile and talk about dress styles.

“Mila!”

I hear her chair as it glides across the floor, and I start to relax. Until I see her face. Mila’s eyes are wide, and her skin looks ashen.

“Oh my god, Mi,” I get up from my chair and face her, “What’s wrong.”

“It’s the mission,” she hands me an iPad. “I was keeping tabs. Then Reed sent this through.”

I take the iPad from her hands, my own hand shaking. I already know before looking, it’s not good. I can feel my heart wanting to rip out of my chest, and my stomach sinks. Tears glisten in Mila’s eyes as she holds my gaze. “Say…”

I feel my mom and Oaklynn come up behind me, hearing the intake of breath from my mom. “Call Matt and dad,” I tell her. “We’re going to need them.”

My eyes fall back to the screen, as Oaklynn hugs me to her. I want to break down. I want to cry and let my legs give out.

There is so much blood.

Ciaran

Well, this sucks. That’s the first thought that pops into my mind when I hear the click echoing through the tunnel, and I know, undeniably, that we are not alone. Unlike the intel had led us to believe. I feel a faint vibration against my chest, not loud enough to be heard by the others around me, but enough to let me know something unnerving is waiting for me. It’s probably from Reed, which most likely means it’s a warning.

We’ve been made.

Unfortunately for us, that means our secret descent into this area was leaked by someone we trust. And last I checked, Reed was too far away to be of any help right now.

I glance at Silas, who is now stopped next to me, his senses already heightened, eyes taking in everything. I use my hand to make a chopping motion across my neck, our silent communication so he knows our next move. Momentary surprise flashes in his eyes, but it’s swiftly followed by disappointment, and anger. No matter how far we try to stay ahead, there is a constant struggle to find people we can trust.

Silas takes my cue, and moves quietly to the other wall, behind me. I lower my stance so he can see above me with his weapon drawn. Silent and efficient, we continue moving deeper into the tunnel. Kai, with a small team, approaches from another location. Our main goal is to meet in the middle, where the targets should be located. My ears strain, listening for someindication of where the sound I heard earlier came from. At first it sounded like a gun, but the more I think about it, I’m not sure. I move us deeper underground as swiftly as possible, working from my memory of the diagram Reed had sent us. The air is getting thicker, and I’m beginning to feel confined. If there’s anyone down here, they are losing their prime opportunity. We’re almost on them.

I feel Silas tap my right shoulder twice. He is thinking the same thing. Either we’re going to be ambushed soon, or we may be walking further into a larger trap. Both options suck, but we have no choice. At least twenty people are waiting for us to help them. Breathing in and out, I take another step when I hear it again.Click.

Silas reaches for me, hauling me back hard. My back slams into the wall, making my lungs instantly seize. An orange ball of fire bursts through the air past us, the material on my jacket is singed as it goes. Heat radiates on my face and my eyes slam close.

It’s fucking hell.

The burst dies away, leaving Silas and me breathing hard through the smoke. Sweat now drips into my eyes, and I can faintly feel my skin sting, like I have a massive sunburn. This was not in our intel. How are we getting around this?

I feel my chest vibrate again twice. I can’t risk taking the phone out yet to check though. If we can’t make it on this side, I only hope Kai and his team are having better luck on their side.

I tap Silas’ leg once. I can sense the small moment of hesitation in his body, but eventually he slides closer, and I take a step forward. Right as I do, the same event occurs.Click. Boom. Burst!We flatten against the wall, and this time I turn my head to the side as I send out a silent prayer. Once the last of the flame moves past us, I whip to the side and fire three shots into the darkness.

“Umph!” There’s a grunt, and a body falls. Footsteps start to retreat, right as Silas whips around me, shooting off ten rounds into the darkness. There’s a scratch noise followed by another thud. We wait for a second before I start moving forward. Using my night vision goggles, I’m able to step over the body of the first guy. Usually I’d take the time to stop, but we’ve already wasted precious minutes. I keep moving and jogging until we come upon the other body. His arm is slung around a backpack and attached to a hose-like device. At least we took care of the fireball situation. I motion Silas forward. Eventually, the tunnel curves right, but there is a small opening to the left for which I was actually looking for.

As quietly as we can, obviously we’ve already been compromised, I use my hand to feel over the steel panel. There is no indication of a latch, or knob, to open it. My head falls forward. “Tools,” I whisper to Silas. Once I start, we’re going to be on borrowed time, if anyone else is waiting here for us.

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