Page 61 of Heart’s Prisoner

Lana opened her eyes. "Are you hurt?"

"I-I think so. I was running and was able to get inside before one of those things got in but..."

"Can you move?"

"I don't know." There was a sound of shifting and a grunt then Nicole's breathless voice. "I don't think I can. I think my leg is broken. One of the machines fell and pinned me."

"Okay...okay. Nicole, we will come to get you, don't worry. I'm in one of the saferooms and will tell the officers to send help."

"I-I can hear them," Nicole whimpered. "They are outside the door. Lana, oh, god, I'm sorry, this is my fault," she cried.

"It's not. How could it be?" Lana said.

"I knew. I knew something wasn't right with him. I should have stopped him."

Lana frowned, biting her lip. "With your uncle?"

"Yes. The base is compromised."

"I know, with the specimens. I'm trying to convince them of that but they won't listen."

"Not with just the specimens." Nicole's voice shook. "I should have told you but he forced my silence. There's something else. Something–"

There was a loud bang on the other end and a shrill shriek.

"Nicole? Nicole!"

A sharp click and the line went dead. Lana cursed. She tried to call back but there was no response.

"Dammit!"

"Hey keep it down," someone grumbled nearby.

Lana jammed her phone back into her pocket and made for the group of officers.

"We need to get help to level six. They are in trouble," she said as she entered their circle.

The tall, dark, officer looked over at her, exasperated. "How did you know...nevermind. Maam, you need to let us do our job."

"And that is what? To wait here for orders?"

"There is a team outside who is handling the situation," he said.

Lana could guess which team. But Galger and his men weren't looking to help people. They were out to hunt down every non-human target they could find.

"There has to be someone else. Another team that can help six. Can't you call someone and–"

The officer swerved on her, getting up in her face. "Get back to the wall now, or I will have you escorted there."

At the corner of her eye, Lana saw the guards stepping closer, ready to manhandle her back to her spot. Lana clenched her jaw and stared the officer down before turning away.

Damn them. But what could she do?

She slunk back over to the corner and attempted to call Jacob. It was no surprise when he didn't pick up. Lana slid to the ground and crunched into a ball, placing her head between her knees. Nicole was running out of time. She was either about to be raptor food or already was.

Lana sat for a long moment desperately trying to think of a plan when a loud knocking started at the saferoom door.

Chapter Twenty

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