Page 118 of Us Dark Few

Two minutes.

Five minutes.

“What’s taking so long?” Derek asked.

“I told you. It will take some time for the signal to reach Hermes. It’s a long distance. It should be reaching them any minute, though.” Adan anxiously gripped the walkie, his nerves showing through.

All of a sudden, someone knocked on the door.

They all froze in utter fear, and Khalani held a finger to her lips in silence and turned off the lamp, pitching them into darkness.

Don’t open the door.

Don’t open the door.

Don’t open the door.

The knob slowly started to turn and her insides twisted in panic. They quietly sank to the ground, praying they wouldn’t be noticed in the dark. The door creaked open, and a tall figure entered the room, their face hidden.

The stranger flicked on the lamp, and light flooded the space, revealing Takeshi.

“What are you doing here?” she forcefully whispered, standing up.

He glared at the four of them, shutting the door as his giant frame filled the tight space.

“I should be asking you the same question.” He folded his arms over his chest, waiting for an explanation.

She racked her brain for a believable lie, but nothing could explain why they were hidden in a closet, holding a walkie-talkie, with blatant fear in their eyes. The only option left was the truth.

“Apollo’s in trouble, Takeshi. We’re trying to save it.”

“Is that so? You have approximately two seconds to explain.” Takeshi glared down at her with fury, and she found the courage to continue under his disarming gaze.

“Derek used to work at the R&R Labs. The crops are dying. That’s why they killed those prisoners. And it’s going to keep happening until we’re all dead. We’re contacting Hermes for help.”

The lines on his forehead deepened as he processed her words. “That can’t be true. They wouldn’t let the food supply be destroyed.”

“They’ve been lying to you. I need you to trust me.”

“What you’re saying is impossible, Kanes. You all need to go back before someone notices your missing.”

“No, Takeshi!” A weight like lead dropped in her stomach. “You have to listen to me!”

Takeshi opened his mouth to argue.

And then, a voice came through the walkie.

28

Breathe in obedience. Exhale dissent.

“Come in, Brock?”

They whirled in shock at the voice echoing from the device.

“Yes, hello?! We are reaching you from Apollo.” Adan’s eyes danced with excitement as he gripped the walkie-talkie.

The ensuing long pause made her muscles tighten.

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