Page 57 of Ghosted in Arkadia
“Damn it, Ghost. You better make it back to me,” I say into the dark.
Rex follows as I make my way over to James and Tommy. They greet me with open arms, pulling me in for quick hugs while a feeling of relief washes over me.
“I’m so fucking glad to see you two,” I yell above the sound of the music.
Tommy’s smile grows even wider, before he pulls out his phone and, with the press of his finger, plunges us into silence.
My ears hold on to a soft ringing.
“Learn a lot of useful things from those raid files,” Tommy says, holding his phone up. “We’ve blocked outgoing phone calls. But we should really get out of here before back-up arrives.”
“Where’s Killian?” James asks, looking at me.
“I don’t know. We were in the lab with Roman when the lights went out. We got separated.”
James and Tommy exchange a worried look.
“I’ll go look for him. You get Kira out,” Tommy says, looking at James, but James adamantly shakes his head no.
“We go together, or not at all.”
That’s how I should feel about Killian, but I’m trapped under a sense of suspicion. I don’t even know what side he’s truly on.
“Come on,” James says, looking between Tommy and me. “Let’s do a quick sweep, but then we have to go.”
I give a sharp nod, readying the rifle. “I’m ready to get out of this dress.”
James cracks a smile. “Hell yeah. Let’s do this.”
We move as a unit, following the scattered sounds of shots. We find bodies littered on our path. Either Killian or Ghost has racked up a serious body count.
Tommy holds up a hand, and we all stop. He brings a finger to his lips before pointing to his ear. I strain but hear what faintly sounds like an argument.
Rex’s superior hearing must definitely pick up on something, because he takes off, and I am left to scramble to catch up. Rex moves through the warehouse with a blazing speed, barking to announce our arrival.
I sprint after him until Bill Roman’s head comes into view. He looks directly at me and then I see the barrel of a gun pointing in my direction and I drop to the ground a moment before a bullet rushes through the spot where I was standing. The scent of old wood and sawdust fills my nostrils as I press my back against some crates, my heart a frantic drum against my ribs.
Another shot fires, and a sharp sting of pain blooms in my right shoulder. A half scream followed by a grunt escapes my lips before I press them together. I breathe through my nose, harsh and rapid while I try to get a handle on the pain.
I’ve felt worse. I’ve lost more. I won’t lose this moment.
“Did you hear that, Kalon? She’s hurt. Bleeding. Will you be able to save her? Or will she be dead by the time you get to her, just like poor Katherine?” Bill says, taunting Killian.
“Hey Billy. Over here,” Killian calls out before several shots are fired.
I can’t see what’s going on and pull myself up with my good arm to get a peek. Killian is to my left, partially hiding behind a thick metal beam, while Roman is doing the same across the room.
“Your reign ends here, Roman,” Killian calls out. “We’re going to tell the people the truth. About the food, soulmates, everything.”
Roman laughs. It’s the kind of laugh that can only come from someone who has lost their grip on sanity at least once in their life. Maniacal. Unrestrained.
Insane.
“They’ll never believe you. And if they do, there will be riots in the streets and more death than you can imagine.” Roman laughs again, like he’s already won, no matter what happens tonight. “You of all people should know the dangers of upending a person’s foundations. How… unsteady it can make them.”
I don’t really understand what they are talking about, but there are a few things I know to be true. Bill Roman is a bad guy and he will kill me if he gets an opportunity. This is my only chance to end things with him.
Roman will die today.
