Page 80 of Bound By Water
Not willing to chance our voices carrying in the still night air, we’re silent the entire way. Once we get to the side of the facility, I understand why they think it’s a warehouse. It’s a long rectangular building made of cinder blocks and painted Creech brown. Small windows top the structure, but that’s it.
The standard military paint makes me smile as I think of Beckett’s silver eyes twinkling with laughter as he told me that story.
River places his lips by my ear. “There are a few more guards than usual. Might be because of the raid yesterday. I’ll go in first, make sure it’s clear, then signal for you, okay?”
I nod.
He walks out of the trees and heads straight for the single grey door on this side of the building. A small light shines down on it. He slips inside just in time. A guard walks by a minute later and tests the knob. Locked. He moves on.
My eyes burn from staring at the door. To distract myself, I scan the building. Another guard goes by. Is he on a rotation? Should I be counting the minutes? I wish someone had given me a manual for this first.
The door eases open, and I hold my breath. River’s head ducks out, and when he sees the coast is clear, he waves me forward. My legs are shaking like crazy, but I stumble out of the trees and jog across to him.
Once inside, he pulls me into his arms. “Put this on. There are a lot of guards here and your jacket will stand out.” He thrusts a dark blue button down into my hands.
I look around the small room. There’s a coffeepot on the counter and a table with four chairs. I pull off my jacket and put it in my backpack, then slip the button-down on over my t-shirt. He silently hands me an armband, and I slide the hateful insignia up my arm. He’s going to owe me for this.
With my hand in his, he leads me out of the break room and down the hall to a janitor’s closet. “Put your pack in here. We’ll grab it on our way out.”
Uneasy at the thought of leaving it, I swallow hard and stash the pack in the corner where someone won’t see it. “Are they here?”
Tears fill his eyes. “They’re here. In rough shape. Worse than Lance. We’re going to have to help them out, but I have a plan.”
CHAPTER40
WILLA / GREER
Infirmary. He slips in and rolls out two wheelchairs. “We’ll get my sister first. She’s more mobile, and her powers can help us, if needed.”
He wheels the chair down the stark white hallway filled with fluorescent lights quickly and with purpose. A guard walks by but doesn’t stop. He’s wearing the same dark shirt and armband as us.
River stops and swivels the wheelchair around to face a door. He presses the key card against the electronic lock, and when it clicks, enters first.
“Hey, Brat, I’ve missed you,” he says in a low voice full of emotion.
A beautiful, but skeletal, face topped with long white-blond hair turns toward River and smiles, bright blue eyes sparking with disbelief and happiness. Using the table, she pushes herself up and slowly walks over to her brother. “You shouldn’t have come, but I’m happy I get to see you one last time.” Her frail arms wrap around River.
Tears roll down his face. His eyes, heavy with guilt, turn toward me, and he shakes his head. “I’ll always come for you, Lily.”
I swipe the wetness from my cheeks. This is wrong. In what world do they have the right to destroy someone so beautiful? I look around the small room. A cot, a small table with two chairs, and a nightstand with a lamp. I peek in an open door and see a closet with one shirt and two pairs of matching cotton pants. That’s it. No bathroom.
“We actually have it better than a lot of the others,” she says softly. “Hi, I’m Lily.” She holds out a fragile hand, pale as snow. I realize it’s been a long time since she’s been outside.
I reach out and enfold her in a gentle hug. “I’m Greer, River’s friend. I’m so, so sorry. You’re too beautiful and sweet for this horrendous place. Once we get you out of here, we’ll find you a comfy couch in the sun where you can lie like a cat all day.”
“I haven’t seen the sun in years. I’d like that,” she says wistfully, then looks at the clock. “Shift change is in forty minutes. They’ve quadrupled the number of guards this week, so we need to be gone before sunrise. Mom’s at the end of the hallway.” Shuffling over to the wheelchair, she eases into it.
I look at River. How are we going to get them across the park? There’s no way I can pull a wheelchair across the dirt and grass.
He looks at me. “Stop worrying.” His fingers slide along Lily’s neck. “No collar?”
Her laugh is full of bitterness. “No need for a collar when you have very little strength or when they can threaten your family. Mom doesn’t have one either.”
“Fuck. I’m sorry.” He clucks her under the chin. “Hang on.” Spinning the wheelchair around, he zooms to the door, making her laugh. It’s hoarse and thready, but full of affection. He ducks his head out, then motions for me to follow.
This time, we don’t pass anyone, but the hall is full of doors with windows on them. Like Lily’s. I move closer to the wall and peek in when we pass by, seeing a person in each one. A captive. My feet slow.
River looks back and hisses, “Hurry up.”
