The Seventh Crow

Part 15

What are we supposed to do now? No way does Kaz have an answer for this. There isn't a way that he would've thought about this. Even he has his limits.

"Everyone out," Kaz states.

I was the first one out of the tank. It would be easier for everyone if the large gown wasn't in the way. It's starting to become a problem.

"What's the plan, Kaz?" Matthias asks. Kaz doesn't answer. He looked like he was thinking but each thought was drawing a blank.

"Kuwei," Nina asks. "Do you have some jurda parem."

"Absolutely not," Matthias said. "Kaz has a plan, right Kaz?"

Kaz didn't say anything. He just stared out at the Drüskelle, sometimes his gaze slid over to Inej. But only briefly.

"I have a dose or two," Kuwei stated.

"Good, give it to me," Nina said.

She can't be serious. There are ways to get out of here. She doesn't need to risk her life and take the drug. Not when there is a chance she won't make it.

Kuwei searches his bag before pulling out a small vial of the drug. He hands it over to Nina. She looks it over before gazing up to meet Matthias's eyes.

Dem's body flashes through my head. Every Grisha's body that I had to clean up. Their bloodshot red eyes. Blood leaking from their eyes and ears. Sometimes their mouths.

"Nina!" I say, grabbing her hand to stop her. "I've seen what that does to Grisha. It's not pretty."

She gently yanks her hand out of my grasp. "I've seen it too. But I have to do this for everyone. No mourners."

"No funerals," everyone else replies.

I ignore their strange behavior. I want to argue with Nina, to try to get her to see reason. But she took the jurda parem before I could stop her. It was like her whole demeanor changed. Her eyes were brighter. Even her skin looked like it was glowing.

She holds her hands out in front of her. A couple soldiers dropped their rifles, their hands going to their chest. A couple fell to the ground, blood pouring from their eyes and mouth.

As I saw the Drüskelle and the random soldiers standing there, trying to survive, I couldn't prevent my eyes from scanning the ships.

Fear is eating away at my bones. What if Alev never got away and is standing up there with everyone else? I believe I got to him in time. He is smart, he definitely could've found some excuse as to why he was leaving after a protocol was sounded.

Yet, somewhere deep inside I was terrified that even after all that, he was still among the soldiers. Getting killed by a drugged up Nina.

Would I ever admit it outloud? Definitely not! They don't need to know my issues. Need to know what happened to me in the Ice Court. Need to know why I was branded a traitor and locked up for a year and a half. It wasn't important information.

My gaze lands on a soldier with the same brown hair, the same height. His eyes closed, hand to his heart. My heart beats in my throat. I need to get closer, I need to know if that's him. I'm too far away to see any of his features. I need to know.

"Run," Nina said to us.

Kaz, Jesper, Wylan, and Inej take off towards the ship. Matthias and I stayed behind, each for different reasons.

"Nina stop," I whispered. The soldier was still holding his chest. I need to get up there, shake him into opening his eyes. Trying to find something that will prove it's not Alev.

Without thinking, I ran towards the Drüskelle. I get a foot or two down the path before someone grabs my wrist.

"Let go!" I scream.

"We have to go," Matthias said, pulling me backwards.

"I need to know."

I twist my way out of Matthias's grasp, running closer to the Drüskelle. Is this a stupid idea? Definitely, but I have never been smart.

A rifle lifts up, pointed right at me. I slide to a stop. My gaze meets his. He looks frightened but isn't willing to stand down. He couldn't be more than a year older than me.

"You don't have to do this," I whisper. Wondering why I'm saying this. I should want them dead. Tortured. Hanged. Everything they did to me, they should feel.

I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist. The soldier holding the rifle falls to the ground, every muscle limp.

"Matthias," I scream. "Let me go!"

"Absolutely not," he screams.

I search for the soldier, the Alev impostor. He was now kneeling on the ground, pain written all over his face. I search his body, his face, his hair. Everything that I can see. I need to find something that isn't tied to Alev. I think I'm close enough that if he just opened his eyes, just for two seconds, I would be able to know.

Open your eyes! My thoughts scream out.

There it was. The evidence that I needed. The soldier opens his eyes. His brown eyes. Alev is safe. Safe away from here, away from a Grisha on jurda parem.

We make a stop next to Nina. Matthias leans in close to her, whispering something. Whatever he said, it made Nina drop her hands and we were running towards the ship.

I force myself to look behind. One more look at the destruction of the Drüskelle. The leader, Jarl Brum, lies on the ground. His scalp seems to be bleeding.

"Hurry up!" Kaz's voice screeches.

I follow up behind Matthias. The sailors quickly brought the board up, moving us out of the dock. Away from Fjerda. Away from the Drüskelle.