Page 53 of Deceptive Lies

There was no answer.

Just silence.

Mocking silence.

Reminding her of what it felt like in the underground cell the professor had kept her in.

But this wasn't the cell, she’d gotten away from him because of Cooper. Because he’d risked everything for her.

Now he needed her to get it together and be there for him.

With more determination than she realized she possessed, Willow managed to get to her feet.

It was dark, but there was enough light from the moon and stars that she could see the helicopter’s wreckage lying around twenty yards away from where she’d landed.

With her gait awkward and unsteady, she ran toward it.

Had to get to Cooper.

Hadto find him.

Had to help him.

He needed her.

The smell of gas in the air was strong and grew even stronger the closer she got to the wrecked helicopter.

A body was hanging partway out the passenger side door.

Terror lodged in her throat.

Cooper?

From the way it lay and the angle of the spine, Willow already knew whoever it was was dead before she dropped to her knees beside it.

Please don’t be Cooper.

Please let him be alive.

With a badly shaking hand, she reached out and turned the face toward her.

Relief almost stole consciousness from her.

It wasn't Cooper.

It was the man who had tried to kill them.

“Not Cooper, it’s not Cooper,” she babbled to herself, sounding dangerously close to hysteria even to her own ears.

Just because this wasn't his body didn't mean that he had survived.

Gagging as she went, Willow crawled over the man who had been intent on taking her to her death, and into the helicopter.

It was dark inside, and there was a hissing sound that she wasn't cognizant enough to figure out what it meant, but instinct told her it wasn't good.

Two figures lay inside.

Neither was moving.

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