Page 21 of Vampire Bite

I took a step forward, trying to angle myself between the group and the approaching shifters, all the time keeping them in my line of sight. A low growl rumbled from one of the shifters’ throats. The sound vibrated through the narrow corridor. They sensed my defiance, maybe even a hint of desperation.

“Lucas,” Callum whispered behind me, “we can’t fight them all. We need an opening, something.”

He was right. We wouldn’t last long in a direct fight. I scanned the dim space around us, searching for any advantage… a corner to turn, a door to break through.

Then I spotted it. An old ventilation shaft just above us, large enough for a person to slip through if we moved fast. It was our only chance.

“Callum,” I murmured, keeping my eyes on the shifters, “see that shaft up there? Get the prisoners in, one by one. Annika, you’re going first. I’ll hold them off.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but I shot her a look that left no room for debate. “Go. Now.”

Callum hoisted Annika up, and she slipped inside the shaft, her body moving swiftly despite the cramped space. One by one, the prisoners followed. I could see each one glancing nervously at the shifters before scrambling up.

Finally, only Callum and I remained.

“Lucas, you too,” he whispered, nodding toward the shaft.

I turned back to the shifters, a dark, determined fury coursing through me. “Not yet. You go first. I’ll be right behind you.”

He hesitated, but he knew better than to waste time arguing. With a swift nod, he pulled himself up and disappeared into the shaft.

The last shifter growled, stepping forward, his eyes locking onto mine. A twisted grin spread across his face, as if he’d finally caught his prey. I gave him a hard, unyielding look.

“Not tonight,” I muttered under my breath, before jumping up and grabbing the edge of the shaft just as he lunged.

I barely pulled myself through as claws raked the air where I’d been, the shifter’s enraged howl echoing down the shaft. I crawled forward, catching my breath, feeling the cool metal beneath me.

We emerged from the ventilation shaft one by one, dropping down into the damp, quiet alley just outside the shifters’ stronghold. The cool night air hit me, and for a moment,I just breathed it in. I allowed relief to flood over me. We were out. Against every odd stacked against us, we’d made it.

The prisoners glanced around, bewildered, still uncertain if this was truly freedom.

Callum clapped one of them on the shoulder, grinning. “Welcome back to the world, mate.”

I caught Annika’s eye. She looked at me, and for a brief second, her expression softened. I could see so much in it… or perhaps, I wanted to see so much. Whatever it was, she wouldn’t admit it outright. I gave her a nod, a silent acknowledgment of what we’d just survived.

“All right,” I said, turning to the group. “We need to keep moving. We’re not far from the headquarters, but we’ve got to stay quiet. There’s no telling if we left a trail.”

I took the lead, keeping to the shadows and motioning for the others to follow. Every now and then, I glanced over my shoulder, making sure everyone was keeping up. They were, even if they looked exhausted, hollowed out from whatever hell they’d endured. But they pushed forward, with fear and hope intertwined in their eyes.

Annika stayed close behind me. I could feel her presence, steady and strong, even though the night had tested all of us. I could still hear her ragged breaths from earlier, see the way her fingers had tightened around the knife, willing herself to survive. She hadn’t backed down once.

After what felt like an eternity of slipping through alleys and dodging any movement on the streets, we finally saw the familiar outline of the headquarters. It looked as ragged as ever, the only sign that it was a haven being the flicker of light that glowed faintly from within.

As we reached the door, I let the prisoners go first, ushering each one inside. Some of the rebels were waiting, and they rushed forward to help, bringing water and blankets,offering soft words. Faces brightened, voices softened. And for a moment, I felt a rare, hard-won sense of satisfaction.

We’d done it. We’d brought them home. Well… to the only place in this hellhole they would be able to call home.

Annika stepped in beside me, watching the scene unfold. There was a trace of a smile on her face, the first I’d seen since this whole raid had begun. I watched her, wondering if she felt what I did. Could she feel that same strange, unexpected pull that had tied us together through all this chaos? I could only hope so.

“Think they’re going to be all right?” she asked quietly, nodding toward the newly freed prisoners as they were tended to.

“They will be now,” I replied. “They’ve got people who know what they’ve been through. And they’re not alone anymore.”

She looked up at me, her gaze lingering. For a moment, the noise around us faded, and it was just the two of us, standing in the dim light. A question hung between us, unspoken and powerful, pulling us together, but at the same time, tearing us apart.

But before either of us could say a word, someone called out, asking for help with supplies. The moment broke, and Annika stepped back, her face settling back into its usual guarded look.

I sighed, but there was no real disappointment. Tonight, I’d been reminded that every small victory was worth celebrating, and this time, we’d won.

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