Page 125 of Us Dark Few

Ever since the mass execution of prisoners, a swell of silent, solemn anger hung in the air. The festering emotions brushed against her skin, making her palms itch as she walked through the pit.

Khalani’s eyes lingered on the bloodstained spot, and a disturbing chill set in her bones, as if the souls of the dead lingered. Watching.

Judging the dark few who remained.

Everyone was on edge, even the guards, whose numbers had increased over the past week. They were preparing. For an uprising maybe—or something worse. The thought unsettled her, and her footsteps quickened as she moved toward Brock in the far corner, with Serene, Derek, and Adan in tow.

They weren’t thrilled about Takeshi aiding their escape, but they agreed to proceed with the plan simply because they had no other option.

Brock stood alone with his back against the stone wall, a foot kicked back, observing the prisoners with a sharp eye as he lazily drew on a cigarette.

Who gave that man a cigarette?

“Back so soon? Come to beg after you realized no guard will help you?” Brock exhaled a puff of smoke as they approached.

“No, we actually came to tell you we found one.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

Brock cocked his head and threw the cigarette on the ground, stomping on it. “Who?”

“That would be me.”

Khalani froze as the familiar, low rumble sounded behind her, sending a shiver down her spine.

Brock’s eyebrows nearly hit his hairline as Takeshi advanced to their group, huddled in the corner. His eyes found hers, and their depth made her pulse race, like black blades slowly splitting her open. Her gaze drifted down his athletic frame to the handgun strapped to his hip, one he usually didn’t wear.

Serene, Derek, and Adan stiffened.

Takeshi stood close, close enough for their fingers to touch, and Khalani didn’t breathe until his piercing stare shifted from her. The weight of his presence pressed in around her, placing every inch of her body on alert.

Brock gave a low whistle as he sized Takeshi up, turning to Khalani. “You managed to get the Captain on our side? Didn’t know sexual favors went that far.”

“I suggest not another word,” Takeshi’s voice deepened. “You’re needed alive for this plan to work.” The promise of violence hung in his obsidian eyes, like he was seconds away from slicing Brock apart.

Something told her he’d enjoy it.

“Hold on. Khalani may trust you to help, but I’m not so sure I do. What’s in it for you?” Serene regarded Takeshi with a serpentine glare.

“I don’t expect you to trust me. I actually advise against it.” Takeshi’s poignant gaze slipped to her. “But you wouldn’t be standing here if I wanted you dead. And seeing as I’m you’re only shot of making it out alive, that will have to be good enough for you.”

The antipathy in the air weighed like chains of metal around their shoulders. Serene’s jaw set with boiling resentment, but she nodded stiffly.

“What’s the plan?” Derek’s voice trembled.

Takeshi gave him an assessing look. “In two days, a few hours before the first shift, I will disable the cameras and alarms. That’s the easy part. The tunnels of Braderhelm are extremely complex, designed so that any who tried to escape would never find their way out.”

“But you know the way, I gather.” Serene’s brows pinched together, the enmity and distrust in her expression apparent.

“Naturally,” he replied in a clipped tone. “We have a measure to deploy gas in certain prisoner cells that will render them unconscious for transport. I’ll turn on the vents to knock out the other prisoners in their cells. We don’t want any additional noise. After manually unlocking your cells, I’ll guide you to the Braderhelm Gates.”

“What about the rest of the guards?”

“Most guards are asleep then, so few will be on duty. By knowing their rotations, sneaking past shouldn’t be difficult. But when we get to the Braderhelm gate, two guards will be stationed there. They have a separate alarm that will bring hundreds of guards on us within minutes if activated.”

They visibly gulped as Takeshi continued, “I can’t physically engage them without triggering the alarm. The risk is too high. One of you will need to help me take them out. I presume you know how to use a gun and not miss.” Takeshi turned to Brock, the tension in the air palpable.

“You’d be correct.” The corner of Brock’s lip lifted, and the hairs on Khalani’s arms rose.

Takeshi nodded. “Good. Both our guns will have suppressors to minimize the sound. We need to take them out at the same time. Once the guards are dead, I’ll open the gates, and we can steal one of the transports to escape. How far is this secret entrance to the surface?”

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