Page 131 of Us Dark Few

They crammed inside, and Brock slammed the letterSon the dashboard. The doors finally swung closed just as the transports arrived, and the ground shook beneath them as the elevator began rising.

She leaned back against the wall and breathed a huge sigh of relief.

They made it.

“Khalani,” Winnie whimpered.

She turned to Winnie, who had blood pouring down her chest as she held a shaking hand to her collarbone.

Khalani’s jaw dropped. Her lungs barely seemed to operate as she raced to Winnie’s side. Blood continued to leak down Winnie’s jumpsuit, and the coppery scent invaded the air.

“No, no, no! Winnie. J-just hang on!” Terror surged through her, like a knife tore into her stomach. This was not happening. Not to Winnie.

The elevator continued to fly up at full speed. Takeshi was immediately by her side, tying a piece of cloth from his backpack. “Where was she hit?”

“I don’t know!” Khalani yelled, panicking. “Her shoulder, maybe. There’s a lot of blood.”

“Distract her, Kanes. This will hurt.” Takeshi’s searing gaze ripped into her.

Khalani’s hands trembled as she placed the gun in her pocket and cupped Winnie’s cheeks. “Hey, Winnie. It’s me. Everything’s going to be fine.”

Winnie’s face was pale, and her bottom lip quivered as Takeshi swiftly tied the cloth around her bloody shoulder.

“Just focus on me, Winnie. Right here.” Khalani pointed toward her eyes. “That’s it. I was thinking about your music. EspeciallyGrease. Wait until we reach the surface, and we can sing like Danny Zuko.”

Winnie’s mouth lifted until Takeshi gave a tight tug of the knot. Her scream coincided with a shrillbingas the elevator doors opened.

A faraway glow illuminated their shocked faces. In front of them lay a clear glass door. Through it, a tunnel led to an opening, shining with the brightest light they had ever seen.

The surface was on the other side.

“C’mon, Winnie. Stay with me,” Khalani added, as sweat dripped down Winnie’s pale face and she swayed on her feet. Khalani wrapped her arm around Winnie’s waist as they hobbled out of the elevator. The doors closed as soon as they exited and the elevator zoomed back down.

“We need to unlock the door,” Brock said, racing over to a console against the wall as Adan rushed to help.

“See that, Winnie? We’re almost there,” she whispered as Winnie leaned against the stone wall. Winnie’s cheeks were getting paler by the second, and Khalani turned to Takeshi frantically.

“Will she be okay?” Her voice shook as tears threatened to fall. Any answer other than yes was unacceptable to her.

Deep lines marred Takeshi’s forehead. “I hope so, Kanes.”

“We’re in!” Brock exclaimed as the glass doors parted open.

Takeshi went to the other side of Winnie and helped support her weight as the others raced through the tunnel.

The glass door shut soundly behind them, and Khalani and Takeshi moved as fast as they could while supporting Winnie—which wasn’t fast at all—but the light from the tunnel grew brighter, and hopeful energy surged her forward.

Voices shouted past the glass barrier. Khalani turned her head to see the Governor, the Warden, and several guards entering the cave.

“Open the door!” the Governor yelled at a guard.

“We can’t, sir! The radiation will kill us!” the Warden denied.

“Move faster,” Takeshi growled as they raced forward, practically carrying Winnie.

“You stupid fools! I will do it!” Alexander Huxley screamed.

The glass doors whirled open behind them, and adrenaline raged through her muscles as they surged forward. She squinted, her pulse racing as the light intensified, completely engulfing their bodies as they charged out of the tunnel and onto a sandy surface. Warmth caressed her skin and enveloped them like a cloak.

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