The Seventh Crow

Part 13

I follow a couple paces behind two soldiers. Inej was supposed to be in the party, trying to get a diamond for Jesper, but I'm guessing she never made it in. Nina wasn't anywhere outside. Why did Nina get in but not Inej?

The soldiers and Inej took a couple twists and turns. Not entirely sure why she isn't trying to get away.

There's only two soldiers, all of which she could easily take on. She seems very nimble and quick. Someone that can definitely get out of their grasp.

It took me a minute to figure out exactly where they were headed. The dark hallway with those white rooms. My heart and stomach ached from the sight I saw only moments before I met these people.

Not the time.

I need to do something before she gets locked in one of those cells. Those impossible cells that have a very specific key in order to get open.

Running up behind one of the soldiers, I knock into his right arm making the rifle fall to the ground. The other one was pointing his rifle at me in seconds.

"Don't even think about it," he demands.

I stand up straight, putting my hands up in a mock surrender. Two more soldiers ran over to us. Without thinking twice, one of them pulled their rifle on the soldier.

"Jesper?" Inej asked.

"And Wylan," he says.

The soldier on the ground starts to move for the rifle. I kick him in the jaw, making him pass out. It felt good to inflict some pain on the people, the soldiers, who have caused me so much pain for almost two years.

Inej, Jesper, and Wylan walk over to the long window. What are they doing? That window is very strong. No bullet is going to be strong enough to go through that.

"What are you guys thinking?" I question.

"Just keep watch," Jesper said. "I bet there are going to be company soon."

"Maybe Inej shouldn't have gotten caught?"

"Part of the plan, I guess," Wylan whispered to me.

If this was part of the plan, why didn't I know about it? I was in the same place while Kaz was laying it out. I don't remember him saying anything about Inej getting caught and then finding Jesper and Wylan.

Inej pulls out the dimond and hands it to Jesper. He started to mold it, making the top sharp enough to penetrate the glass.

Down the hall there were loud footsteps running. Of course, it didn't take them long before they were following the sounds of gunfire. Not saying I blame Jesper for this, but I blame Jesper for this.

"Hurry," Inej says.

I lunged forward and grabbed the two rifles lying on the ground. I handed one to Wylan and kept the other one for myself. We are going to need them.

Down the hall, a dozen or more soldiers turn the corner. They come to a stop once they see Wylan and I hold our rifles at them. Didn't take long before they got in position, ready for a fight.

"If you're doing something," I call towards Inej. "Do it now."

The soldiers were the first ones to shoot. The bullet flies by my head. So they are aiming to kill? Good to know.

I squeeze the trigger. Seconds later bullets ricochet around the hallway. Some of my bullets hit the soldiers, some of Wylans hit. Even Jesper was shooting.

In the chaos, I didn't see Inej disappear. Not like it matters right about now. There are more soldiers shooting at us than we have bullets. Once we run out, we are as good as dead.

"Stop resisting!" one soldier yells through the sound of bullets.

Can't believe he actually thinks that is going to work. As if we would give ourselves up to the enemy. I'm not dying in the Ice Court. I'm not dying by a Fjerdan hand. If I go down, I go down fighting.

"Get down!" A muffled voice screams.

I look around, trying to find where that voice came from. Its definitely Inej's, but where is she?

I didn't get the chance to figure out where she went before Jesper was tackling me to the ground. My hands flying out to break the fall. My vision shifted to the white cell in the dark hallway.

I'm on my hands and knees. Tears running down my face. My breathing catches in my throat everytime I look at Dem's dead body. Her blood on my hands. The bucket of water stained a watery red.

"Cover your ears!" Jespers panicked voice bounces through my skull.

I quickly cover my ears as loud vibration sounds throughout the hallway. The soldiers fall to the ground. Glass tumbles onto our backs.

Jesper grabbed Wylan and ran to the long open window. Everything is in chaos. I am very lost, but I try to stay close to Jesper and Wylan. They know what they're doing. At least they seem like they do.

He drops a long rope down the window, tying it to part of the railing. Wylan was the first one down, Jesper motions for me next.

"Is Inej down there?" I ask.

"Yes, now go," he says. I grab onto the rope and start climbing down.