AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Only a couple of hours left.” Lukas calls from the driver's seat. He's been driving for ten hours straight. I feel bad for sleeping nearly the entire trip.
We started early this morning, throwing ourselves into the van and speeding away from the Bed & Breakfast that had become our home. We packed all of our bags and more, taking the threat more seriously than even Bennet had suggested.
The way he kissed me before he left told me more than his reassurances that everything was likely to be fine. He kissed me with an intensity that said he didn't think he'd get the chance again. It left me anxious and aching, and I could barely do more than collapse into a puddle when he walked away.
He walked away, right into a monster's den. To keep me safe. To keep us safe.
Please be okay.
After nearly half an hour of panic, Jackson finally called us back and told us what happened. He'd followed Bennet to his meeting, waiting outside. Bennet was probably pissed that he strayed from his carefully made plan, but thank goodness he did. Otherwise, we would have never known how much danger he was truly in.
We had dressed, gotten everything ready, and packed into the van just as Bennet instructed, prepared for whatever came next. Luis and Micah were helping the Coolsons pack their car. Lukas' phone chimed, and he jumped up.
“It's time to go,” he said, pulling me from the couch and leaving our tea sitting on the coffee table.
Running out the door, we waved off Mr. and Mrs. Coolson as they pulled out of the driveway. We were hot on their heels, speeding down the dirt road as I watched the estate shrink into the distance.
The guys were frantic, trying to call Jackson and find out what was happening. The longer he didn't call back, the more my chest cracked, panic and fear filling my rib cage. There was so much of it I could barely fit enough air into my lungs.
When Micah's phone finally rang and he confirmed it was Jackson, it was like taking a breath after being underwater for too long.
“Jackson, what's going on? Are you alright?” Micah said into the phone, switching it over to speaker.
“They took Bennet, man. He was unconscious, and they took him.”
“Where did they take him?”
Jackson sounded worried, bordering on panicked. “I don't know, I don't know. I followed them to an airfield, and they got on a private jet.”
“He was unconscious?” I cried, my chest filling up again.
“Yeah, that's all I know, though. I didn't see any blood or anything. They threw him in the trunk until they got to the plane and then carried him on board like a sack of damn potatoes.”
“Oh my god.” A whimper released from the back of my throat, tears streaming from my eyes. Luis pulled me into his body, my tears soaking into his shirt.
“Do you think he was…?” Micah couldn't even finish the sentence.
“No,” said Lukas. “I don’t think they would have bothered taking him with them if he was dead.”
My mouth felt dry, the thought that Bennet could be dead sitting like sawdust on my tongue. My head shook, trying to let go of the despair that burrowed into my heart. Focusing on what I could control rather than succumb to worry and despair, I turned my attention to getting the rest of my men back with me.
“Jackson, where are you now? Are you safe?” I asked him, fear in my voice.
“One of Adley’s lackeys dropped off a card and made some threats, but then drove off. I've been driving all around town trying to see if anyone's following me. Where are you all?”
“We're maybe fifteen miles down the highway heading west,” Lukas answered.
“You're coming up on that truck stop.” He pointed out.
My mind was bursting with questions, but I knew we needed to focus on getting to the next destination safely.
Lukas met my eyes in the mirror. Micah looked back at me and then at Lukas. Luis seemed tense, but gave a sharp nod. I really wanted to see it in person, to find out if it could trigger any memories, but I also understood that there were more important things at stake.
“Looks like we're going to stop,” Micah said into the phone. “Do you want to meet us there?”
“I'm going to keep driving and meet you at the cabin. I don't think anyone's following me, but I don't want to risk it so close to town. And hey—keep an eye out. That guy said something about Adley wanting “the Progeny” or something like that. I don't know for sure, but I think he might have been talking about Six.”
Progeny? I rolled the word around on my tongue, but it didn't feel familiar.
