Barren Crossroads

Put Me Back Together

Chapter 15

Just to Feel Again

Jace's heart was thundering in his chest, and the his blood rushed, blocking out any other sound, he could hardly think. Fatal. The cure was fatal. If she took it, whatever she was thinking, whatever she was hoping, she'd be dead in minutes. If Michael and Lilith took it too when they found her- Jace wanted to scream.

It was time to leave, they had to get out and now. There was no more time, no more careful planning. He had to be fast. He grabbed à backpack, the one he'd traveled with. He didn't know how long he'd be able to keep it charged, but he threw the computer and charger in, hopeful he'd be able to access more information with Lilith free and on his side. He grabbed one other set of clothes, and the weapons he'd convinced his father to let him keep and shoved them in. He found the thickest coat he could in the creepy closet of clothes his size he'd discovered in his rooms after moving in. He grabbed two more for Lilith and Michael.

He crossed the room and went into the common area, and to the door in the wall. He slid it open, and peeked down the hall. He couldn't see anyone, or hear any steps, so he hefted the bag over his shoulder and grabbed the other empty one he'd found. He darted down the hall and to the right, towards where he'd found the kitchens to be.

He thanked himself for sucking up to Ryan to get his access, because he was able to slip into the kitchens and the storerooms with ease. He filled the second bag until the seams bulged with food and bottled water. He grunted as he lifted it over his other shoulder and then he crept his way back down the halls and towards the door to the basement and the cells. He heard the soft thumps of steps coming towards him and he quickly opened the door, shutting in behind him and hurrying down the stairs.

"Michael," he said as softly as he could.

"Jace? Back again so soon," he responded, and his voice was cut through with bitterness.

"Stop it," Jace snapped in à whisper. "We need to get out. I can't tell you more here, but we need to fucking leave and now. Lilith?"

He heard the soft rustling in the next cell. "I'm here," she said. "Do we have à plan?"

Jace snorted. "Do we ever? No. No time. We're just gonna have to go. I don't care what you do, I don't care how we have to do it, we are getting the fuck out of this place. Kill them all."

"And Ryan?" she asked as he opened the door to her cell and let her step out, holding his breath against the smell of filth and waste that wafted out of the dank stone room.

"Kill him too."

Jace opened Michael's cell, and spoke to Lilith over his shoulder. "Hate to ask, but I can't- cameras on either end of the hall, top corners. Same with you cell. Take them out? It won't do much, but any time we can get that they don't know what I've done is invaluable."

"On it," she said and she took off down the hall at à dead sprint, which meant she was on the other side of the hall in less than à second. He heard crunching as she crushed the cameras in her hands.

No sooner had Michael stepped out of his cell, than Jace's head was snapping to the side and pain burned across his jaw. He stumbled back and Michael hit him again, whipping his head back to the other side. His head swam and little stars flickered at the edges of his vision.

"Wait, stop-" he tried to say, and he threw his hands up to block his face and took another punishing blow to the stomach. He doubled over, and choked on bile.

Michael shoved at his shoulder hard and sent him sprawling backwards, landing on the hard stone flat on his back, and agony shot like lightning up his spine. Michael caught his wrist as he went to hit him back, and slammed it back into the concrete. Jace gasped and spit out à curse.