Follow Me |e.d.|

chapter seventeen

-Malory pov-

She stared at me for a few seconds before rushing forward and giving me a tight hug.

"Oh my gosh, I never thought I would see you again..." She said, her voice slightly shaking.

I raised my arms to hug her back, but she suddenly pulled away from the embrace. "You need to leave—now! If they find you—." She took a few steps away from me, fear shaking in her eyes. "Mal...how did you get here? Were you kidnapped? What's going on? I-,"

"I snuck in." I interrupted her. "To save you."

"What? I don't understand..." She took another shaky breath and I noticed how red her eyes were—she had been crying.

I wanted to ask what was wrong, but I had to accomplish the mission first. "Blair..I'm here to save you." I repeated. "I'm with a gang called Twig, formed specifically to take down all five locations of Elements." I explained. "And tonight we take down Xenon."

As if on cue I heard gunshots and screaming coming from deeper in the warehouse.

Her eyes widened. "Malory, no! You need to leave before you get hurt!"

I stepped forward and placed my hands on her shoulders. "Blair, listen! I'm saving you! Come with me and you'll be free of all of this!"

Her eyes scanned my face. "Okay." She finally replied.

"Okay? You'll come?" I confirmed.

"Yes."

"Good, now come on, we have to hurry,we need to get out before they blow the place." I ran over to the door.

-Blair pov-

"Blow the place?!" I asked in shock.

I hated it here, but I didn't want anyone to get hurt. I just wanted all of the violence to end.

"Yes! Now come on!" Malory yanked the door open, impatiently waiting for me to follow her.

I scanned the small dark room that had become my home. I felt like I needed to take something—something to remember him by. I quickly ran over to the dresser, opening and pulling out a large black t-shirt. I pulled it over my head, the familiar scent comforting me. I zipped up a black windbreaker overtop.

I took a deep breath. "Okay, I'm ready."

Malory led my through the warehouse with no hesitation. We ran away from the gunshots, but they would catch up to us soon enough.

Malory turned a corner and ran straight into somebody. They both went crashing to the floor. I quickly helped Malory up before looking at the other person. Freya.

She stood up and looked back and forth at us. "What's going on? I heard gunshots? Who are you?" She asked Malory.

"Freya, just let us by," I said calmly.

She shook her head. "I don't know what's going on, but I don't know you're not allowed in this part of the warehouse. I can't let you by!"

Malory frowned and pulled a small pistol at Freya. "Leave," She said firmly.

Freya raised her hands. "Okay! Okay, don't shoot!" She took a few steps to the side.

Me and Malory rushed past her and were halfway down the hallway when she called out.

"Wait? You're escaping? No! Blair! Come back!" I yelled frantically. "I need you here to get-." She stopped in the middle of her sentence.

I turned. "Get what?"

Her eyes widened. "Nothing."

"Get what Freya?!" I screamed.

"It's nothing! Just leave! I don't care! I never saw you!" She answered, tears now streaming down her face.

I grabbed the small pistol from Malory's hands, using the technique Ethan had taught me and aimed it at Freya.

"Tell me why you need me to stay," I said sternly.

She raised her hands once again. "I turned you in okay? I turned you and Ethan in. Because Jace wanted you, and he said if he got you then he would get my sister out of jail." She broke down sobbing.

I lowered the gun, Freya turned us in? I felt numb. I thought she was my friend. I was dimly aware of Malory yelling at me to keep moving and us running through the warehouse and out a back door, alarms blaring. We ran into the woods and eventually came to a black Jeep. Malory told me to get in the passenger side and she got in the drivers side. She started the car and we were on our way. I was finally free of my kidnappers. But I felt even more scared out here than in there. I felt— vulnerable. I leaned my head against the window as tears streamed down my face.

the next morning:

I woke up in a big comfortable bed. I looked around at my surroundings, confused on where I was. Then it all came back to me. Malory coming to break me out. The attack on Xenon. Freya's confession. The long car ride. And finally the big house that apparently Twig ran out of. They let me crash in a spare room. I got up to find new clothes sitting on the chair in the corner of the room with a note.

Get a shower & meet us downstairs - Mal

I took her suggestion and took a nice long shower and got changed. However I put Ethan's shirt back on. I heard voices and followed them to a huge kitchen. I walked in and they all stopped talking and stared at me. I counted four guys, and three girls counting Malory. She immediately came over a gave me a hug then introduced me to everyone. I nodded at all the new faces, but didn't mentally store their names—I wasn't going to be here for long. Everyone left the room except for Mal and one of the guys. I immediately picked him out as the leader. He said his name was Landon. He stood and stared at me as Malory made me breakfast.

I became irritated so I spoke up, "So when do I leave today?"

Landon raised his eyebrows. "Leave? Mal, is that what you told her?" His voice was very deep and raspy.

Malory pressed her lips together and sighed. "Blair you can't leave today."

"Okay, then tomorrow."

"No, not tomorrow. "She answered.

"What?" I looked back and forth between them. "When can I leave? I want to go home!"

Landon chuckled. "I don't think you get it. We saved you from Elements. Now they want you back. You're not safe anywhere but with us."

"Okay, then I'll stay here for a few weeks, then I get to go!" I argued.

He rolled his eyes. "No, not in a few weeks, not in a few months! Never, you can never leave. You're part of Twig now."