Crux Year

Chapter Seventeen - Royal

My heart is in my throat as we race to the front of the building. Several adults, including Mr. Preston, are yelling for everyone to get inside to take cover.

What is happening?

I'd been so eager to climb that wall and discover what lies beyond, but now that whatever is out there is trying to come in, I'm filled with terror and dread.

Shay looks over his shoulder, his blue eyes panicked. I take his hand, uncaring if anyone sees. People are running every which way, so it's not like they'll notice. I squeeze his hand, dragging him toward the throng of people that are bottlenecked at the door to the banquet hall.

An explosion makes the ground shake.

"Shay!"

Shay jolts at the call of his name. Both his parents are waving wildly at him, gesturing for him to go over to them. He tugs me that direction.

"We need to take cover," Spencer yells when we're close. "Come on. There's a safe place in the lab."

The four of us run through the parking lot until we reach their car. Oliver has the vehicle started and going before we even close the doors. He squeals out of the lot, weaving his way onto the street.

"What about your dads?" Shay asks. "Trace and Nicky and—"

"Preston will take care of them," Oliver assures him. "When the threat has been eliminated, we'll go back to check on them."

"How exactly do they eliminate the threat?" My voice is hoarse and shaky.

"The guards who monitor the wall are trained to shoot upon sight." Spencer lets out a heavy sigh. "The bombs, though, aren't us."

A chill runs down my spine. "Who or what is trying to get in?"

"Outsiders. People who've been banished over the years," Spencer answers. "Troublesome people."

"Why do they want in here?" Shay demands. "There's nothing here!"

The car grows quiet aside from the muted sounds of bombs and gunfire going off in the distance.

"The council..." Oliver trails off and sighs. "They've been known to take things to the extreme. If you don't stay in line and follow the rules, you're exiled. The people trying to come in could be seeking retribution."

Why now?

Why after all this time?

"They're just now mad about this?" Shay asks, voicing my thoughts. "It doesn't make any sense."

Spencer turns around in his seat, a grim expression on his face. "There's a man...Wes Graham. He used to be a scientist here."

"Tall, muscular guy with a black beard. I remember him," Shay says. "He always looked angry."

"He's gone now," Spencer mutters. "About a year ago, they exiled him."

The thing about exiles is the council keeps it hush-hush. They essentially erase their existence and we're not allowed to speak of them anymore.

"Why?" Both Shay and I ask at once.

"Because he didn't like what he discovered," Spencer says, anger tinging his words. "But, rather than trying to solve it rationally, he confronted the council. They banished him immediately. He promised one day he'd make them all pay. I can't help but feel like it has something to do with him. "

Oliver pulls into the parking lot of one of the research buildings. We climb out, the four of us rushing to the doors. One stands ajar.

"Stay behind me," Oliver hisses, slowly stepping toward the open door. "Hello?"