Page 120 of Us Dark Few

“Astronomically low,” Derek muttered. Khalani raked her hand down her face. The prospect of them traveling to Hermes, on the surface? The idea was insane.

“Give me the walkie,” Takeshi demanded, holding out his hand.

She hesitated, unable to read his cool expression. Even in the face of unfathomable news, Takeshi always kept his composure, his face the most challenging book to read. His scorching eyes were unyielding, and she reluctantly handed him the walkie.

“Are you going to report us?” she asked as he placed the device in his back pocket, fear sliding through her veins like icy-cold water.

A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Listen to me carefully. You don’t mention this to anyone, understand?” He leveled each of them with a harsh glare and waited until they nodded. “There is no making plans or plotting escape until I find out more information.Is that understood, Kanes?”

Her lips drew together as Takeshi centered his fierce gaze on her. He was the last person she wanted to take orders from, but they had no other choice now.

“Fine.”

“Good. Now, walk out this door and don’t look back.” His deep voice reverberated in the enclosed space with such authority, they quickly obeyed and rushed out of the tight closet.

Takeshi’s body heat crowded her space, and the memory of his tongue tracing her neck made her ungraciously slide out the door as fast as she could.

She smoothed her dress, trying to calm her erratic breathing, and hurried back to the kitchen, afraid of her own actions if she looked back.

****

Back in Braderhelm, she continued to work on autopilot, there physically but gone mentally. Her thoughts were consumed by what the mysterious man suggested.

Escape.

Leaving Apollo behind and fleeing to Hermes for refuge.

Traversing the deadly surface of the earth.

Her chest tightened further, not from fear, but because the idea coiled inside her heart like a breath of fresh air after drowning in coarse gravel.

Every sign pointed away from Apollo, and the voices in her mind that begged Khalani to find the truth no longer spoke faintly. Answers lay on the horizon, and after ceding control her entire life, she would no longer sit back and let someone else decide her ending.

“Look,” Serene whispered. “There’s Brock.”

Khalani, Serene, Derek, and Adan hovered in the far corner of the pit. It took little convincing for them to agree that trusting or waiting for Captain Steele wasn’t viable. They needed to escape Braderhelm.

For themselves. For each other.

Even if it meant risking death.

Luck and grace were never staples in Khalani’s life. In fact, she always thought that God had it out for her. But looking at the people surrounding her, ready to sacrifice what was left of their lives for one another, she’d never felt more fortunate.

Khalani turned and narrowed her eyes. Brock was by himself, at the other end of the pit. Alone.

“Let’s go.”

The muscles in Brock’s back constricted as he did push-ups on the ground. Sweat gleamed down his spine. He glared at the ground with such intensity that she hesitated to interrupt him, remembering the swift death he delivered in the pit.

“Sorry to interrupt, Brock.” Her voice shook. “Can we talk to you for a few minutes?”

“No,” Brock growled, continuing to lower himself to the ground.

She glanced at the others warily, and Serene not-so-subtly pushed her forward.

“It’s really important, and I think you’ll want to hear this.”

“Get beat, kid.”

---