Page 100 of Drop His Mask

“Come on!” Levi pushed forward across the open floor, guiding them to a destination that they blindly followed.

Enzo wanted to look for Jayce, to understand what was going on, but there wasn’t time.

I need to stay alive.

Levi opened a door at the other end of the room, it was another set of stairs. “Just a few more flights, and we’ll be outside!”

Enzo wasn’t sure if he trusted Levi, or the men at his back, or anyone in this game. But the gun fire, the screaming, and another explosion had him not thinking anything through.

He could only hope Levi would keep them safe, whether they deserved it or not.

Chapter 54

Yours To Protect

Raven

Present Day

My head lulled against the man’s chest as he continued to carry me. Finally after enough time had passed my shock wavered and self-preservation pierced through.

“Where are you taking me?” I shouted up at him. “I thought you were an ally.”

Felix’s hold tightened on me. “No, I am a pawn. But that is no matter, I am taking you to safety. Off of this island.”

A door whipping open drew my attention and hundreds of men ran through wearing combat gear. I flinched, assuming the worst, but the lead mannodded his head.

“One floor down,” Felix advised. “Allow them safe passage.”

The men continued on, marching past us.

“What is going on?” I asked again. My daughter had both broken me apart and built me back in a way I couldn’t explain.

Another reason to live. To survive. To escape. To fight.

“We are making our way to the ships. From there you will make passage to Grypheem.”

“I need to go to Violencia. To where she’s taking my daughter.” This time I didn’t fight him, I allowed him to continue carrying me up one more flight of stairs.

“You will,” Felix promised. “But first you need to gain allies. Allies that will ensure your safety. This isn’t just about you, Raven. This is about our home, our friends, our family. The cruel injustices of our corrupt country need to change and you can be that change.”

But I couldn’t understand how, and I voiced as much to the man as he stepped out of the stairwell.

“You don’t understand yet, but you will. I promise.” He walked us through an open door and next thing I knew, we were outside. The rain beating down on us, hitting my face and nearly blinding me.

The rain. I hadn’t realized how much I could miss something I had taken for granted before.

“You’re a guard here. Then you must know The Host.” I pivoted my questions, my eyes flicking around as I took in the sand, the ocean’s waves, the beach. It was all lit in the eerie glow of the moon above.

The beach and ocean and sand were all things I had only ever seen in books, in pictures. They had not done justice to the real deal, but I couldn’t enjoy it, I simply allowed it to sink into me. The knowledge that the world can be beautiful even amongst the pain and suffering.

“I do,” Felix confirmed, walking us up a dock and hopping onto one of the ships. Still I didn’t fight. I didn’t want to truly admit it, but I couldn’t even if I wanted to. My body no longer agreeing with what I wanted. It was tired, used, exhausted.

“Is it Julian? Is the host Julian?”

“No.” Felix made his way to a door on the ship, and I attempted to take in more of my surroundings, but my eyes were growing tired, my vision blurry. “He is The Host and Julian is Julian.”

I couldn’t fathom what he meant, and I didn’t have time to truly question it before he was placing me into another man’s arms.

---