Page 4 of Ravage

Six months ago, we missed the signs. We didn't have the technology and power available to us to fully stop it until it was too late. We upped our game—but Arthur did too. He led us to believe we were one step ahead, letting us think we had absolute control.

It might not be too late.

I try to convince myself that it's fine. I just need to reach Avery before they do. Once I have her, I can tie us together. If they want her, they'll have to go through me first. Besides, she's in session. They wouldn't make a move right now. It's not their style—too many witnesses and obstacles to jump through.

Rounding the doorway, I skid to a halt in Elsher's office. My eyes scan the empty room wildly, heart thumping in my chest.

"Where is she?" Theo snaps behind me, shoving past me to look around.

I can't move. I can't breathe. For the first time in my life, I'm completely paralyzed in place as it dawns on me. Bile threatens to spill out of my body as red-hot rage builds inside.

She's gone.

They fucking have Avery.

Theo does a lap around the desk, pausing to look at me with dark eyes. "Grey!" he shouts.

It snaps me out of my trance, my body moving on its own accord. I pick up the patient chair from against the wall, flinging it across the room. It narrowly misses Theo who doesn't budge an inch, shattering the barred glass window behind him.

Immediately, an alarm starts to sound from somewhere, but it's faded in my ears by the rushing of blood.

I'm going to kill them all.

One by one, I'm going to hunt them down and rip every single organ out of their bodies with my bare hands.

"Grey," Damon's voice floats into the room from behind me. "We have to go—now."

I swing my head around to find him standing in the doorway, looking composed somehow.

How?

Does she really mean that little to him that he's not even bothered by this? Avery is missing and he just looks completely unfazed. It makes me want to put my fist through his face.

"No," I finally speak, firmly glaring at him. "I'm going to search for her."

I start to move past him but he swings his arm out, blocking my path. "Grey—"

"Get the fuck out of my way," I warn him, ready to throw hands, even if he is my best friend. "Theo?"

"I'm coming too," he answers.

Damon's gaze flicks between us. "We will find her, Grey. I promise you that. But right now, we need to be smart about this. The guards are on their way and we can't help her if we're taken to solitary confinement or arrested. You know that will be their plan."

His words stop me in my tracks, the irrational monster inside screaming that he doesn't give a fuck and he should pay. Hell, he needs to move out of the way before I bulldoze through him. He's eerily calm and it makes me angry.

That's what happened last time.

That's why she's dead.

I shake my head slowly, not voicing my thoughts. But Damon's face softens slightly, and I know he can read me easily. He steps forward, putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Let's get back to the rooms and make a plan. They will be expecting us to go in with guns blazing. All we can do at the moment is go against their plan—it's the only way."

Theo appears beside me, glaring daggers at Damon. "You better start fucking explaining or else I'll shove your plan into your chest cavity and do what I want."

"Calm the fuck down, Ashwood. This is for your benefit too. Do not threaten me," Damon says coldly, lowering his hand from my shoulder as he turns and silently orders us to follow.

I take two deep breaths before my feet move, going against the urge to run in the opposite direction to find Avery and slaughter Arthur on his expensive wooden desk.

---