Page 111 of The Stolen Princess
“He’s next door,” Arco whispered as he quietly moved to the next room. She followed behind him as he unlocked Rommel’s door.
“Who’s helping you?” she asked Arco. There was a part of her that hoped Drake had come for her. That he was the one responsible for helping her escape.
“No one,” Arco shook his head. “I’m working alone.”
Disappointment stirred inside as he twisted the knob and pushed the metal door open.
“I’m getting you out of here,” he said to Rommel. “Let’s go.”
Rommel understood immediately and ran out, hugging Myka close.
“Is this Officer Arco?” Rommel asked as they tiptoed down the hall.
“Yeah,” Myka whispered back to him. She hadn’t realized that Rommel had never met Quaker Oats. “Who’s in room one?” she asked as they neared that door. “Should we get them out too?”
“We don’t have time, and besides, there’s a nurse in there.” Arco nodded toward the window. “Duck as we walk past.”
“Okay,” Myka said, hunching over until she was at the beginning of the hall. Officer Bayler, the guard from earlier, was passed out, leaning back in his chair, an empty bottle of alcohol resting on the table in front of him.
“Arco, what did you do?” Myka whispered.
Arco peeked out the window of the next door. “I put your father’s alcohol to good use.”
“How much did you give him?” Rommel asked.
“Enough.” Arco turned over his shoulder. “We have to hurry,” he said, opening the next door. “The shift change happens soon, and Stoddard will know.” He led them down a different hallway that ended with another metal door. “These stairs will lead outside.” He reached in his pocket and handed her a small hand light and a gun. “Go to the door in the west wall, where we usually escape from, and wait for me there.”
“Stoddard killed my father and he wants to use the weapons to take over the other kingdoms,” she said, wondering if Arco was up to speed on everything that had happened.
“I know,” Arco said. “Don’t worry. We won’t let that happen.”
Myka shook her head, placing her hand on his arm. “I have to go to the weapons location. I have to get rid of them before Stoddard uses them against everyone.”
“Get rid of them?” Arco’s eyebrows shot up.
Myka looked at Rommel, and he nodded.
“Yes,” she said. “We’re going to detonate them.”
“That’s too dangerous,” Arco replied.
“We have to. Stoddard won’t stop until he finds them, and we can’t have him using them against innocent people,” Myka said. “We have to do this.Ihave to do this.”
“You might not make it out,” Arco said.
Myka swallowed. She knew the risks. “I know.”
Arco pulled her into a hug. “Your mother would be so proud of you and the brave woman you’ve become.”
Would her father be too? In some weird way, she hoped he would.
Arco released the hug. “What do you need me to do?”
“You need to get everyone out of Tolsten House and have them run to the West Woods on the property,” Rommel said. “Everyone needs to get as far away from Tolsten House and the East Woods as they can.”
“How much time do I have?” Arco asked.
Rommel shrugged. “Thirty minutes or so.”
