The ashes we left behind

Chapter 18

I almost fall asleep when I hear a huge noise coming from outside. I suddenly open my eyes.

Asher is trying to untie himself. He looks nervous.

"What is it?" I ask.

"It looks like a bomb", he replies.

For a moment I stay agape.

"Did you just say a bomb?!" I shout.

He stops from what he's doing. "Yeah, why?"

"Do you know what a bomb can do?"

Asher raise his brow as he replies, "Uhm... Kill a lot of people and destroy everything? I'm not sure, Kenny. What does a bomb do?"

"Ha! Very funny, Asher. It's not the time to-

I get interrupted by the sound of people crying from outside, followed by the gang's member whose footsteps and voice grow louder.

"We can't stay here", I say, my voice shaking.

"I know."

"What are we supposed to do in that kind of case."

"Untie me first?" he proposes waiting for me to help him.

I hesitate.

"Or maybe we can sit here, talking like good old friends. We don't have time, Kenny."

Ignoring the nickname he got used to call me with, I hurry to him and try to untie him.

"Who did this to you?" I ask. The ropes are impossible to untie. I only could start.

"Ginny."

Of course...

The more I pull the knot the less it's tight. So I continue. Despites how cold it is, sweat is running down my forehead.

"Kenny?"

"Yes, Asher", I reply, more than annoyed.

"Look at the door."

I obey.

Someone is opening it. Asher and I keep looking at the lock until the person finally opens it.

"Ginny!" I cry out of surprise.

"You!" she shouts before walking to me. "Are you taking me for a fool? There are cameras in here. I saw you trying to free him."

"What is happening outside?"

"Ask yourself!"

She takes me by the throat before throwing me on the floor in an unbelievable strength. After rolling up her sleeves, she puts herself astride of me.

"I can finally take care of you", she whispers before punching me in the face, more precisely hitting my nose which liberates tears of pain from my eyes. She repeats the movement again and again to the point of making me bleed from both my nose and my mouth. I protest but she doesn't care.

"It's all your fault! You made this city in danger and Hailey too!" is all she keeps repeating like a machine.

And it's when I think that I'll feel this pain forever, that it stops. In fact, the sound of something stubbing Ginny's head makes her collapse on me. I try to push her away. Asher helps me. He is the one who hit her with a chair. Now, she's unconscious.

"How did you untie yourself?" is the first thing I ask.

He offers me his hand. I take it and let him put me on my feet.

"You started. I finished."

"Thank you", I murmur while putting my hand on my nose. It's still hurting.

"You're bleeding", Asher says.

"I know."

He grabs the bottom of my tank top in order to wipe the blood off my face and neck. Then, bends to Ginny to take the keys from her pocket.

I follow him out of the room as he locks Ginny in it. But she was only our first challenge. Indeed, what waits for us outside is worse.