Page 57 of The General's Captive
“His survival is part of my condition.” He laughed at that but it was without humour and one of mocking.
“Then you’re a fool if you think he would simply let you go without a fight.” He snapped as if this information angered him.
“That isn’t your concern.” I stated when he whipped back to me and snarled,
“That’s where your wrong!” I frowned unsure where this fury was coming from.
“My private life is…”
“Mine.”He finished snarling this single word vehemently making me startle back.
“You would be giving yourself over to me, any threat against that ownership is my concern and you would do well not forgetting it.” he told me firmly, before going back to look at the wall, or more specifically the map that hung there.
“You wouldn’t own me.” At this he laughed once before telling me,
“Then you have a very naive understanding of what it is to become someone’s prisoner.” He retorted sarcastically to which I couldn’t argue against.
“Regardless, I will do whatever it takes to save these people.” I affirmed.
“Yes, I can see that.” he replied and for once it didn’t come with a mocking undertone and unless I was mistaken there was even a hint of admiration in there.
“So, you will agree to my terms?” I asked as he stepped closer to the map before looking to the window, narrowing his eyes.
“You can’t escape your fate Alexandra…neither of us can.”He replied before pointing a finger directly at the map, telling me,
“And besides… I just found you.”I gasped in horror as he was right after his finger pinpointed the Train Yard. But then he wasn’t done as he turned to me, this time with surprising alarm,
“And so have they! Which means it is too late for your bargains now Little Warrior for the enemy is at your door. Now open your eyes!” He shouted making me gasp, doing just that and to the sound of screaming.
And this time…
It didn’t belong to me.
“Alex!”
For once, my name was being shouted and it wasn’t what woke me. Because I was already up on my feet when Riley burst in the room. And he didn’t need to say anything for me to know what The General had said was true.
They had found me.
“We have to go!” Riley said as I ran to him, but a single look to the wall told me all I needed to know. That I had likely led him here, like the fucking fool I was! A fool thinking I could take back control of the situation.
But then, why did he warn me? Again, I couldn’t make sense of The General’s actions, nor could I get the worry from his face out of my mind. So, I took Riley’s hand and we ran into the chaos, for the second time in only days.
“We have to get everyone to the train!” he shouted over the screams of terror.
I watched as soldiers and civilians all flooded out of the common rooms as the Myths weren’t attacking at night like they usually did. Just like when they had hit us at the base, doing so just before sunset.
Which meant only half of the people were on the train already in their dorms, the rest were dotted around the Train Yard. The sound of the train blaring its horn was enough to alert everyone, which was why everyone went running. And not a moment too soon, as Myths ran toward us. Those closest to us taking out any civilian in their path, ripping them apart like dogs with stuffed toys.
This was my fault.
Everything The General and I had discussed had just given him the opportunity to discover where we were hiding! I was a fucking fool to think that I could trust him! That absolute bastard.
“Riley, the kids!” I shouted over the madness, both of us trying to get to where we could see the few who were without their parents.
I reached for a little girl called Tammy, who was crying into her stuffed doll. Now clinging onto me as I ran for the train, that I only hoped was ready to set into motion. We raced against the horror behind us before we were snatched from life as Myths pounced on others, landing their claws in deep.
The demented neigh of what I assumed was a mutilated centaur echoed through the yard from the direction that Tammy had come from moments before. We turned in unison at the sound of screaming that followed, but nothing appeared. Then suddenly, coming around the corner, were five children racing toward us, the Harpies coming in hard and fast. So, without hesitation, I handed the little girl over to another soldier who was without his gun.
