Page 70 of Unmasked Legacy

Nia’s face pales. “Do you think that’s really his plan?”

I hate to admit to it to her, but unfortunately I do.

“You do,” she whispers, staring down at her hands.

“Listen,” I say, stepping closer and taking her hands in mine. “I will not let him hurt you. I promise you that.”

She gives me a smile, but I can see the fear in her eyes. She doesn’t believe me, which only makes me more determined to ensure her safety.

“I’m afraid,” she admits. “I don’t want to die.”

“I promise you I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

She nods, but I know how scared she is. Caleb told us what his plan is, and that plan doesn’t end with her alive. That thought must be crushing, even for the strongest person. It would instill a fear that is impossible to remove.

“Come on, help me get this wood off the window.”

A distraction is what we both need.

Together we go to the window and begin pulling at the wood. It’s a lot firmer than I first thought, and I’m going to need some kind of leverage to get it off. Something that I can hit it with, or pry it away. The nails are rusty, but it’s still holding strong considering how long it has been here. Biting my lip, I step back and glance around.

The basement has stairs, and on those stairs is a wooden railing. Walking over, I shake it, and while it is solid, I think I could kick it enough to break it. I could use that to get the wood off the window, or better yet, if I get a solid piece, I could just use the railing. Ordering Nia to step back, I kick the railing as hard as I can. It shakes and cracks, but it doesn’t break.

I’m determined.

Taking a breath, I kick it with everything I have, over and over, until finally the railing snaps. The cracking sound is exhilarating, and I reach forward, wiggling it and pulling untila piece breaks off. Turning towards Nia, I wave it at her. “This won’t feel nice.”

Her eyes widen and she walks over, staring at the piece of railing in my hand, its jagged edges making it even more lethal. With enough force, this could do a lot of damage. I could hit it over their heads, or worse, I could stab it into their bodies. I don’t want it to end with that kind of violence, but if they fight too hard, what choice will I have?

It's them or us.

“Do you think you can really do it? Hurt those men?” Nia asks, reaching for the railing and studying it.

I am trying not to think about it too much. I will do it, because I have to, but there is a big part of me that wishes above anything else that I didn’t have to hurt another person. Inside, it makes me feel no different to him, and it only solidifies what people have been saying my entire life – that I am just like him.

I’m not, though.

This is a matter of life and death, not an enjoyable hobby.

My father killed for enjoyment, for fun, for whatever other sick reason he had.

I’ll do my best not to take a life, but if it comes down to saving Nia and myself...I’ll do it.

I’ll do whatever it takes.

WE’RE READY.

At least, Ithinkwe are.

When the guards come down the next afternoon, we have everything in place. I want them distracted, and to do that, I get Nia to lie on the ground looking like she has passed out. The moment they open the door, I cry out that something is wrongwith her, and they need to get help. I act frantic, yelling and screaming.

Nia has a piece of the railing tucked beneath her, and she will use it however she can. I’m going to use the smashed plate on the other guard. They really didn’t think things through when they decided to lock us down here. They didn’t consider that we might be able to use the items given to us to get out. Why would you give glass plates? Are they utterly insane?

Not to mention, they didn’t even notice the broken railing when they came down this morning. If you ask me, these two guards have better things to do and are only coming down here to feed us, no doubt with plenty of other things on their mind. That will work in our favor, because they won’t see this coming. At least, that’s what I’m hoping. They’re big men, and it is going to take everything within us to carry out this plan.

The guards act exactly how I anticipate, walking over to Nia, both of them staring down at her unconscious form. Using his boot, one of the guards actually slams it into her side. I wince inwardly, horrified. Nia, like the true warrior she is, doesn’t even flinch. I don’t know how, because that would have hurt, but I slowly release the breath I was holding and prepare my shard of glass.

"What's wrong with her?" one of them barks, eyeing Nia suspiciously.

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