The Purity Project

Chapter 22

Lorenzo sprinted through the halls, tightening his grip on Halona's hand. He could hear gunshots firing in the distance, and he knew that the government's forces were drawing closer. Just as they were about to turn the corner that Tyler and Malcolm had disappeared behind, Lorenzo heard shouting, and he pulled Halona back. Gunshots fired, and Tyler and Malcolm reappeared, ducking behind the wall.

"They know we're here!" Tyler said between breaths.

"How could they-" Lorenzo stopped mid-sentence as he realized what must have happened. Tyler's grim face confirmed it.

"I didn't want to say anything earlier, but when we were attacking that guard, I heard an explosion," Tyler replied, avoiding eye contact with Malcolm.

"Jada," Halona whispered, and her hand slipped out of Lorenzo's.

"We need to find her," Malcolm said as he threw a knife down the hall, turning away when someone screamed.

"How? We're trapped here, and the staircase where we split up is down that hall!" Lorenzo could feel the sweat running down his neck.

"We have to fight our way through," Tyler announced as he rummaged through the bag and pulled out a handful of small spheres. He handed two to everyone. "These are smoke bombs. If you throw them right, it should take away the enemy's vision. Then we can wound them and make sure they don't follow us down those stairs."

"Just remember to cover your eyes after you throw the smoke bomb," Malcolm added as he twirled a knife around his fingers.

"On my mark," Tyler said as he pushed past Malcolm and started firing shots down the hall. Someone screamed, then Tyler shouted, "Now!"

Lorenzo stood up and charged down the hall, flinging the smoke bomb the moment he saw movement. He threw his arm over his eyes as the smoke exploded out of its container, and the screams that followed confirmed that he had hit his target. Once he had backed away from the smoke, he threw his other bomb at the other group of guards. Gunshots fired and he ducked to the ground. He crawled back to the safety of the wall, where Braden was crouched.

"How are you doing?" Lorenzo asked, scanning Braden for injuries.

"I'm fine don't worry. I'm just out of smoke bombs, and I don't have weapons like you guys." Braden eyed Lorenzo's gun. "So, how long have you been dating Halona?"

Lorenzo's cheeks burned and he looked away. "We're not dating. It's-complicated."

Braden laughed and clapped Lorenzo on the back. "I don't know how you feel, but Halona is definitely in love with you. After all this is over, you better shoot your shot."

"I'll try, but she's stubborn as a mule," Lorenzo said, and they laughed together.

"But if you break her heart, there's no where you can go where you'll be safe from me," Braden said coolly.

Lorenzo stood up and tightened his grip on his gun. "Trust me, I won't." He winked and ran back into the hall. "Stay safe, The Wolf!" he called over his shoulder.

Lorenzo ducked behind Tyler, who was firing shots at more guards. "Need any help?"

"Nice of you to show up, pretty boy." Tyler glanced at Lorenzo and smiled.

"Missed you too, bestie. Looks like we might actually get through." Lorenzo aimed his gun and fired. Relief washed over him when the bullet came in contact with a leg.

"Nice shot, but you need to stop being afraid of killing someone who wants you dead," Tyler said as he dropped his arm to his side.

Lorenzo sighed and relaxed his arm too. "A life is a life, Ty. If I don't have to take it, then I won't."

Tyler shrugged and pointed across the hall. "Your girlfriend seems to be doing fine."

Lorenzo turned to look at Halona. She was firing multiple shots at the guards across from her, a determined look on her face. She grabbed her last smoke bomb and threw it at the last group of guards. But one of the guards kicked it back at her, and it exploded at her feet. 

"Halona!" Lorenzo shouted. He watched as she covered her eyes and her mouth, trying to back away from the smoke that was engulfing her. A flash of movement caught his eye, and he noticed one of the guards pulling a gun out of their holster. Lorenzo took off sprinting toward Halona.

"Lorenzo!" Tyler called after him.

Lorenzo ran faster than he ever had before. He jumped and crashed into Halona, slamming her to the ground, just as a gunshot rang in his ear. More gunshots fired, and he turned to see Tyler and Malcolm by his side. Malcolm threw another knife, which made direct contact with the last guard's neck. Lorenzo watched as the guard collapsed to the floor and went limp.

"You're bleeding!" Halona shouted, moving closer to Lorenzo.

Lorenzo suddenly noticed the sharp pain in his shoulder, and his head fell onto Halona's lap. "Where have you said that before?"

"Stop joking around and hold still," Tyler snapped as he examined the wound. "Looks like the bullet just grazed him, but we need to wrap his shoulder to stop the bleeding." Tyler tore off Lorenzo's jacket sleeve and tied it around the injured shoulder.

Lorenzo winced and sat up. "Well now this jacket looks weird." He gently pulled it off and dropped it on the floor. He looked down at his fitted white t-shirt. "It's a miracle that this hasn't gotten dirty yet."

"You're such an idiot," Halona said as she pulled him into a hug.

"Aw, you care about me," Lorenzo said, earning himself a punch in the gut. "Hey! I'm already injured enough!"

"Come on, we have to keep moving. Jada needs us," Malcolm said, heading for the stairs.

"He's right. Halona, help Lorenzo walk," Tyler ordered, standing up. "Hey Braden! Stop hiding and come out!"

Lorenzo stood up as Braden came sprinting down the hall.

"You look terrible," he said with a smirk as he and Tyler went to catch up with Malcolm.

"When's the last time you looked in a mirror!" Lorenzo called after him.

"When did you two become so close?" Halona asked him as she laced her fingers through his.

"Oh you know, we have a lot in common," Lorenzo replied.

Halona snorted. "Yeah, right." She rested her head on his good shoulder. "Thank you for saving me."

"You don't need to thank me. I'm just happy you're safe," Lorenzo whispered as he leaned his head on her's. He hesitated before kissing her forehead.

 Halona turned toward him, her caramel eyes looking into his. "Lorenzo, I-"

"Hurry up you two!" Tyler shouted from the bottom of the stairs.

"Coming, cranky-pants!" Lorenzo shouted back. He turned to look at Halona. "What was it you were saying?"

Halona smiled and turned away from him. "I was just going to say we should probably walk faster."

Lorenzo resisted the urge to tell her how obvious it was that she was lying. 

"Come on. Let's keep going."