I stood before Layla, my gun pointed at the door. Her tiny nails dug into my back. It kept me grounded as I tried to block out the havoc surrounding us. I wanted badly to turn and take her into my arms. She deserved to be held. She deserved so much better than what this world had given her.
My body shuddered at the sound of the door being ripped from its hinges. I reminded myself again and again that they would need to find the hidden room but I knew it wasn't difficult. When the trap door opened I pulled the trigger and as I did I almost dropped the gun. My ears rung painfully.
Suddenly I felt a hand wrap around my shin and I shot again but I was already being pulled away. I was caught before I could hit the floor and my arms were secured behind my back. Suddenly I was being pushed forward only for a groan to come from my assailant and both of us to tumble to the floor.
"Don't touch her!" Layla screamed.
I turned and elbowed him in the head and as I forced myself out from under him he reached for his gun. I tried to grab his wrist as he held the gun out and before he could take aim I heard another shot ring out. I looked up at Layla, my eyes wide. She stared down at the body. I rushed to her and pushed her face into my stomach to shield her view. I turned to look at who I thought was one of our men.
I was frozen like a deer in headlights. I couldn't process who he was, only that he was the enemy. But why did he save us?
"Let her go," I heard my voice plea, "You can do whatever you want just please let the girl go."
He nodded and I shoved Layla to her room. I locked the bathroom door behind her. With my back against the door I held my dress in my fists. I stared at him as he came to me. Slowly he shut the door behind him. He walked to me. I squinted my eyes shut and force fed my lungs. As the man drew closer I could smell gunpowder and leather. I flinched when a hand cupped my cheek.
"Don't be afraid, wraith," He soothed, his fingertips dancing over the curves of my face, "I've never seen such a beautiful woman."
I swallowed. I tried to tighten my muscles but that only made me shake more.
"You feel unsafe," He said as though coming to a revelation, "I didn't want this war. I can't imagine killing someone so beautiful."
Suddenly his hand moved to the back of my neck and my breath hitched. My eyes widened, gazing into his beautiful sapphires. I felt pressure against the back of my neck before the world was taken from me.
They'd all been killed, or so I thought. I was laying in bed, seemingly asleep, when I overheard Moose at the front desk. Our little home was just past the front desk in the security room. It was divided by a wall that Bolts and I had made. It was the furthest thing from sound proof.
"Why are they still alive?" Moose demanded, his voice clipped and hushed.
"Alex and I are figuring it out. They surrendered, Moose."
"I don't give a rotten fuck if they dropped to their knees and lined up to blow me."
"That's why you're not in charge here. We can't just kill everyone."
"And if they break out?"
"They can't."
"They said that about Alcatraz, too. They had escapees, and this ain't Alcatraz."
"These people aren't career criminals."
"You can understand my position better than anyone, Belle."
"I know. I love Bianca. You know that. But we can't advance society unless we extend an olive branch here and there. That's what Alex did and now we have allyship with farmers."
"Farmers. Not killers."
"No, but they're allied with killers."
"That's still how you see us?"
"That's what we are. Yes we have reason, but that's the point. Motive should play a role in sentencing. Maybe these people were blackmailed or brainwashed."
"If they're not?"
"Then we'll have a lot of fertilizer," Belle's deadpan tone sent chills down my spine. Clearly she read ease on Moose because soon she said, "Look, I get it; you're not used to someone other than Alex or Jess having a say, but you need to get used to it because I want the best for our people just as much as Alex does. I understand people more than he does. I didn't study law to become naive."
"I don't think you're naive."
"Then what is it?"
"I don't know."
"Then figure it out, and then deal with it."
I couldn't hear her leave but I knew she had gone by the harsh groan the bed made under Moose's weight. I heard him deflate. I stood and walked to the gap between the dividers that acted as a door. As always I moved like a ghost, and so he didn't know I was there until I tapped against the metal. Upon seeing me he made a lazy smile.
"How long were you up?"
"I heard your argument with Belle."
"I'm sorry if I woke you."
"You didn't."
"I'll keep you safe."
"Thank you."
Moose stood and left the room. About a minute later I entered the surveillance center. I watched as slowly the meeting room filled. I didn't fully know my intention when I walked to the lowest floor.
When this building was built it had a dungeon. Way back in the day we would keep prisoners of war there. In the modern age it was treated as an attraction.
The dungeon was three quarters of a football field. One end was a massive cage and the other was lined with tables, shackles, and shelves filled with instruments of torture. The room was dimly lit. There were about ten prisoners in the cage. I stood before the door. Nine of them were sitting together, just staring at the wall. The last was watching me.
He was tall and lean. He had curly black hair and blue eyes. He was very pale with a sharp chin and intense brows. His gaze burned through my soul. My hands clasped together before me as I assessed him. He had plump lips and a prominent, sharp nose that suited his face.
"Hello, wraith," His voice was like blades creeping up my skin.
"My name..." My voice caught. Dread ebbed from him, washing over me. I couldn't turn away, nor even blink. I didn't know if I was too scared to move or if he just intrigued me. I forced myself to speak through exhausting deliberation, "My name is Bianca."
"White or fair," He hummed, "What brings such a delicate little thing here?"
I bit my lip and tilted my head downward. My chest was beginning to hurt under the assault my heart conducted.
"I don't know," I murmured.
"So you're not the one to kill me."
"You saved me."
"That doesn't dismiss my crimes."
It was true. I tilted my head. Still I could see him as he stood and walked to me. He reached through the bars, his fingertips resting gently against my chin to tilt my head up to look into his beautiful eyes. He held me captive with that bright, deep shade of blue. It almost glowed.
"Sit with me."
He gestured to the wall and we sat down together, leaning against the cold brick.
"Tell me about you."
"What do you want to know?"
"Everything."
"Well, when I was a kid I was very outgoing. I was in ballet and karate until I was an adult. I got really good grades. I actually skipped a grade. In high school my mom passed. Car accident. Every year I'd come to her memorial and lay flowers out. In college I studied psychology until I met my..." I stopped. I'd only referred to him by his name before but never to a stranger, "The man who would be my husband. While we were dating my dad died. I dropped out and went to live with him. He was a monster."
"Is he still alive?"
"No. He was killed before all this."
"Good."
"After he died I took a job in a library. It lasted until the outbreak. I did a lot of reading. A book or two a day, roughly."
I looked up to find him smiling in a way that let me know he'd held on to every word.
"What about you?"
"You don't want to know."
"Of course I do."
"Bianca?" Moose's voice boomed through the room, making me leap out of my skin.
I stood straight as an arrow as he crossed the room to me. I could tell he was working to contain his rage but still his face foretold his fury. When he reached me he placed his hand between my shoulder blades and we started back for our room.
"What were you doing?" He asked once we were out of earshot.
"I wanted to see the man that saved me."
He stopped and turned to me, his arms crossed, "Why?"
"I don't know."
"What did he say to you?"
"He wanted to know about my life before. That's it."
"He's trying to manipulate you. That's what they do."
"I would know if he was trying to manipulate me."
"No you wouldn't. He's already sunk his claws into you."
"By saving my life? By saving Layla?"
"Sparing a child doesn't make him a saint. Believe me."
We went back into our room. Before I could duck into my portion he held my forearm. I turned to face him. I couldn't help but feel my heart ache at the sight of his forlorn expression.
"Please don't be mad at me."
"I'm not."
"Promise?" He held out his pinkie and I grinned before wrapping my little finger around his own, "Goodnight. Love you."
"Love you."
I crawled into my bed and snuggled my pillow as I always did. I fell asleep to the gritting sense of injustice that my savior was trying to sleep against cold, hard concrete while I had a bed.