Page 34 of Stay Awhile
Shiloh bumped VC’s shoulder. “You know better than that. This man can find any damn body, but on some serious shit, we family, even though you don’t like to claim it. We are dysfunctional as hell, but we all we got. Who else gone better have your back than us? I’m waiting.”
I shook my head to hold back to tears that were begging to fall. He was right. I just wanted to wash them away because good things didn’t happen to us. I wanted to avoid emotions and people because they only disappointed you. There was no one else who could go through what we were about to but us.
“Yeah, aight. I appreciate it though. It’s time for us to take our control back. Now let’s get this damn plan together. I’m sure Vlad has guards and snipers covering the building. VC and I got the buildings maps so we know every exit and entrance.”
Raven stepped forward with her sniper gun. “Shiloh and I can cover you by taking out the snipers and the guards before you reach the clearing.”
“We need an exit strategy?—”
Red eye stepped forward. “You know we got that.”
VC looked at Red Eye with a raise of his brow. “You flew here?”
“Come on now, you know better. I don’t do cars. The shit takes too long. I spotted a helicopter on my way here. Must be her escape if shit gets too wild. I’ll find that,” Red Eye responded.
“Makena, you’re with us. It doesn’t matter who gets in our way, they’re dead. Simple.”
“Sounds like a good time to me. Once we’re done with the clearing, we will be right behind you,” Shiloh said.
“Only calculated risks! This is not a suicide mission,” I added.
“Let me find out you give a fuck and are finally ready to show it!” Shiloh said with a smirk.
I ignored him and turned around to finish pulling on my bullet-proof vest, then grabbed a few to toss over to everyone. “Just don’t get killed.”
The understanding was clear. We all make it out alive. VC handed everyone Bluetooth mics to place into their ears so we could communicate.
Raven and Shiloh slipped off back into the heavy brush of the trees to find a good high point. VC grabbed his laptop, throwing it over his shoulder in a bag that was secure. Makena checked her gun a few times and made sure her reloads were ready to go. Red Eye slipped into the brush of the trees.
I said a silent prayer that we all made it back safely. I couldn’t add anyone else to my conscience. VC, Makena, and I made our way through the brush. We had to have walked for at least a mile before the large imposing building that emulated a castle but held a darkness that stuck to the stone gray walls. We stood at the edge and waited for a moment.
My heart picked up in pace as we waited for any word from Raven or Shiloh that we could step out into the open. I drummed a pattern with the tips of my fingers against the side of my thigh. Then, just like that, I watched as a body fell from the top of a tower, followed by a few more.
“It’s go time,” Shiloh said in a cool tone.
Without hesitation, we rushed from the brush, running toward the building. A few guards rushed from the inside because they noticed we were getting through with no trouble. Before they could lift their weapons, their bodies dropped to the ground. Finally, we were inside. No longer did we have cover. It was on us.
“We’re inside,” I informed them.
Soon, guards were rushing around the corner. Quickly, I shot the first two between the eyes. Makena slid across the floor, cutting the next two at their ankles with her blades before slitting their throats. I shook my head. She could have guns at her disposal, but she preferred those damn butterfly knives.
“VC get to—” I started before he interrupted.
“Already headed there,” he responded, just as someone stepped in his way.
He moved fast, snapping the guy’s neck, then stepped over his body to continue through the opening. A few minutes passed before the lights went out. I smiled because they didn’t know these halls the way we did.
“It’s time to play!” Makena announced with a smirk.
She followed me down the long dark hall. I could remember when we were kids, being woken up in the middle of the night. We were blindfolded, and they beat the hell out of us if they were able to hear us coming. According to them, you should be able to walk anywhere in the dark. Light was a privilege.
Little did they know that one day those same kids they tormented would be back to use those tactics they trained them to do on them. Neither of our steps could be heard but the guards running the halls were making more than enough noise for all of us.
I knew the way Vlad thought. She was going to try to break Skye’s spirit while she had her. She knew she grew up in a well off situation, so there was no other place she would take her than the ice box. It was the one place you never wanted to be. When you were sent there, you were never seen again, except for me.
I shook my head to wash out the heavy memories of those dark days. This was all part of her plan to make us lose ourselves, but Skye was worth more than that. Just as we turned the corner, we heard a door slam in the distance, and a few more guards came rushing out.
I didn’t waste a second before I shot with Makena, throwing blades behind me. The moment we took out every guard in front of us, just as many showed up behind us.
