Page 61 of Into The Darkness

“I have nothing to do with whatever is going on between the two families. I didn’t even know until recently, Ale. You have to believe me,” I rushed out just before I heard a hiss.

“What was that?” I asked.

“Fuck,” Ale murmured, and the car sputtered.

“The tire,” I whispered. They shot the tire, which meant we were limited to how far we could go.

“One more block,” Ale seethed. Though my hands were tied, I attempted to lean over to the door and use my body weight to somehow push it open.

“Be smart, Ember. This is all about the bigger picture. This is larger than any of us.”

“I don’t want to be a sacrificial lamb to some grander plan, Ale. I want to be a college student. I want to make out with boys on dance floors, be friends with my roommate, and possibly fall in love.”

I looked at him, tears thick in my eyes. “Please.”

Bang.

Another hiss.

A second tire had been blown out on the same side, so the car veered to the left, making our descent out of the neutral territory much slower.

“Let. Me. Out,” I demanded, shoving my body against the passenger side door. Bringing my feet up, I kicked the door.

“Bitch,” Ale seethed while pulling my hair, but I was determined. Maybe it was the alcohol coursing through me, but I felt a strength I had never felt before. We were outside the town at the edge of the pines. The “Come back soon” sign fast approaching, marking the end of Isles.

“No,” I screamed, and with one big kick, I got the door open. I scrambled out of his grasp and tumbled out of the car, grateful that it was moving at a slow rate.

“Help,” I screamed but was curled up on the ground, unable to move. My body hurt.

The car lights behind us stalled, and Ale jumped out when they did.

“Turn around, Ember,” a familiar voice crooned, and I closed my eyes, unable to move from the spot I had rolled to.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Three shots rang out, and I knew what had happened without even seeing it. I was still crying, but I wasn’t sure if it was because the person that grabbed me was dead or because I had been saved. Upon opening my eyes, someone jumped into the car and pulled it off the road onto the shoulder.

“Don’t open your eyes until I tell you.” His voice was quieter, and there were no screams or shrills. I figured when you murdered someone it was a big commotion, but nothing happened.

“Is that Rain?” I asked, shutting my eyes again.

“Yes, mi sol.”

“I was so scared.” Tears rushed my eyes and poured down my cheeks.

“I am here. I will always be here.” A few moments passed, then he cut the zip tie from my hands and lifted me into his arms.

His mouth was against mine right away, and I blinked opened my eyes, staring right into his deep-emerald gaze.

“Ash,” I whispered. Wrapping my hands around his neck, I breathed him in. He gulped before letting his body relax into my touch.

He dropped me right by his car when a few more blacked-out vehicles came behind us.

“What are they doing?” I asked.

“Cleaning up,” Ash responded, nodding over at Rain who walked over to us and looked at me as if he was assessing for damage.

“You okay?” he asked. His voice had a slight shake to it. His eyes laden with fear even more so than Ash’s.

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