Demons Grasp

Chapter 19

Jake's POV

I must be hallucinating. There is no way MC, my sweet, naïve, though admittedly reckless MC just burst in here, picked up a fight with one of the guards and then shot the man.

After I was brought here, those two schnooks kept badgering me about the data I took from them. They tried to break me, tortured me, but I would not give in. I know damn well that I am dead the second they get what they want.

They must have drugged me at some point because I keep fading out of consciousness. And I feel dizzy. But that might also be a concussion. I try to take a deep breath to clear my head. The pain shooting through my chest causes my vision to blur again. It becomes more and more difficult to breathe.

There is a ringing. Is this in my head? I try to lift my head but the woozy feeling returns and my surroundings fade to black again.

********

The man collapses on top of me, pinning me to the ground and pressing the air out of my lungs. I begin to struggle against his weight, trying to get him off of me.

I am on the verge of a panic attack. But then I manage to roll him off me. I can finally sit up and then get back up on my feet. Jacky is standing as well. Her leg is bleeding and she looks pissed.

I am covered with blood and tissue. None of that is mine, luckily.

"Don't even think about moving a finger!" Jacky growls. I follow her gaze and see that Hall has raised his weapon again, aiming for me. "It is over, Cecil," I say. "Your men are being picked off one by one as we speak." His eyes widen in panic. He looks like a trapped animal. A dangerous animal.

I hear steps behind me and glance over my shoulder. As if to prove my point, Beaker and Midas have chosen this very moment to catch up with us. "The upper floor is clear," Beaker says.

"Fuck this!" This came from the other man. I still don't know his name. He spins around and heads for the other set of doors. But when he bursts through them, he runs straight into the arms of Hyde and Curly. Curly lands a skilled hit against the man's chin and knocks him right out.

"Put down your gun, Cecil." "Have you the slightest idea who you are dealing with? I am working for a powerful organization. Even if you make it out of here, you will be hunted down like the filthy little animals that you are. You..." Hall is cut off by a ringtone. He reaches into the pocket of his jacket, pulls out a mobile and glances at the screen. "Shit," He accepts the call and brings the device to his ear with shaking hands.

"Yes? ... No... I can expl... No... I understand. Yes, Sir." Slowly, he lowers the phone again and keeps staring at it for a few moments. In the meantime, the men close in on him, with their guns raised. But before they can reach him, he raises his other hand, holding his pistol, up and presses the weapon against his temple. He looks up straight into my eyes. "You fucking bitch ruined everything." Then he pulls the trigger and his head explodes.

I stare in shock. But only for a second. Then I realize that it is finally over. I start running towards Jake, almost slipping on the blood pooling around the dead guard. Jake has been awfully quiet through all of this. Is he unconscious? Or worse? Please, no! Please let him be alive, after all of this.

Reaching him, still slouched on his chair, I fall to my knees and take his face into my hands. He flinches and his skin feels damp and hot as if he is running a fever. Up close his bruises and injuries look even more frightening. "We are getting you out of here now." The calmness in my voice betrays the turmoil I am feeling inside. Beaker comes up and cuts the ties constraining Jake's hands. Then he hands me the knife to free his legs. I am taking Jake's hands and gently rub them to get the blood circulation flowing again. The zip ties have cut deep into his wrists.

"Are you a hallucination?" Jake asks. His voice is so low I can barely make out the words. A giggle escapes me. "No, my love. I am really here." I press a kiss to his forehead and then try to lift him up the chair. But he cries out in pain. "It is so hard to breathe," he mumbles. "I need some help here." I look around and see Beaker and Curly getting into position on each side of Jake. They gently take an arm each to pull him up. "We need to leave, before we get more company." I nod and lead the way out of the manufacturing hall and through the hallway.

When we walk out of the main entrance I see lights approaching us. Assuming that someone brought the car around, I hurry forward. But then another set of headlights appears; then another. Several black SUVs are approaching us and come to a halt right in front of me. "Fuck," someone says behind me.

What now?