Page 61 of No Mercy
“He will,” I snap, not taking my eyes off the screen.
Within moments, Ant pulls up a map with several highlighted areas, all near the east docks.
He presses a few buttons causing a voice to bellow out over the speakers.
“Three possible locations based on the data and surroundings. First location is the old shipping yard, Second location is the abandoned warehouses and the third location… an empty terminal entrance near the containers.”
I slam my fist against the desk, causing everyone around us to flinch. They’re not even close to each other!
Flynn approaches us slowly, taking his time to make sure I don’t lose my shit.
He studies the screen, no doubt noticing the same thing I did, “If we hit them one by one, we’ll lose too much time.”
“We split up.” I say immediately, “We don’t have a choice”
Mandy stands up, walking towards us, “I’m coming with you.”
I turn around, standing taller than I did earlier. “No, you stay here with Ant. We need constant monitoring and for someone to translate his words for us.”
She goes to argue but I don’t let her, “Mandy, it’s not an option. You’re staying here and that’s final. I can’t explain everything right now but when I return with Eva… I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”
She nods at my response, “If you screw this up, Axel…” She doesn’t finish as her voice breaks, but I know exactly what she wanted to say. “We won’t, wewillfind her.”
Carter joins us at the laptop, anxiously waiting to leave as he slips his mask from the bag. “We need to leave now. Every second counts.”
My phone pings a second later as Ant starts to send the locations to everyone’s phone.
I grab my bag containing my mask and gun, forcing myself to focus on her as we walk out of the door.
We decided it would be best for Gunnar, Flynn & Carter to go together in the car to one of the locations, while I head to the second on my bike. If Eva isn’t at either, we’ll regroup and hit the third together.
The rumble from the engine fills the silence as I weave through the streets, the city lights blurring into one. I don’t bother with music. The sound of the wind against my helmet and the hum of the bike beneath me is all I can take right now.
I blink the image of her away as I ride but no matter how hard I try, it reappears, reminding me of what I’ve done.
Gripping the handlebars tighter, my knuckles whiten against the cold night breeze.
I need you to be okay Eva, please be okay.
The weight of my past failures press down harder with each second that passes, the failures of letting my brothers enter this type of world. The failure of not being able to protect Ant and now Eva. The thoughts suffocate me, but I can’t let it break me, not now.
I swerve hard around a corner, the tires skidding slightly before catching the pavement. The second location isn’t far now, and my heart pounds harder with each block at what I might find.
I come to a stop outside of the second location, the abandoned warehouses.
The buildings cast shadows against the floor as the night sky provides them with a cover, giving it an eerie feeling.
I cut the engine and slowly dismount my bike as I take in my surroundings. My boots crunch against the broken concrete and shattered windows. Slowly, I take my time checking every inch of the warehouses, making sure to have my gun at the ready.
“Eva!” I shout, my voice bouncing off the empty walls as I step through another doorway.
The place is like a maze of broken machines, shelves and god knows what. Every shadow plays a trick on me as I aim my gun towards them. Every creak setting my nerves on edge the deeper I go.
I push forward, not letting the noises get to me. I pull my phone out, shining the torch, looking for anything that could point me towards her.
“Eva, can you hear me?” My voice cracks, the desperation appearing.
I stand here waiting for something, a cry, a stone throw but nothing happens.
