Burn Into Me (Into Me Series Book Two)

Chapter Thirty Five - Parasite Eve

I kick open the door, holding my gun up as I run through, Riley hot on my back. It's creepily quiet in here, dark, musty. I take each step carefully, Jet's voice telling me to be careful ringing in my ears. Anxiety courses through my body like blood, infecting every cell. I try my best to keep my breath controlled in my chest, fully inhaling and exhaling each time. I scan the room quickly, looking for any signs of the assholes. It seems like the room is... clear?

Riley grunts behind me, the sound of his gun dropping to the floor and clattering through the air. I whip my body around to see Riley flipping some guy over his shoulder and onto the ground. My eyes widen as fight or flight takes over. A hand grabs my arm, pulling me toward them. I grab the wrist and twist it, the person screaming out in pain. I land a blow to what I assume is their face. My knuckles burn as I land another punch and manage to get the asshole to the ground. I grab zip cuffs from my belt and place them on quickly.

I jump up to my feet to help Riley with the new person that's after him now. Someone decides to turn on the fucking lights in this place, revealing four men that walk toward us slowly. They wear all black and look like they just got off of their shift at the nightclub as bouncers.

"Kid?" I say, panting.
"Gramps?" he responds.
"Right or left?" I ask, sizing the men up.
"Suprise me," he replies.

I pull one of my knives from my belt and take a few lunging steps forward, swinging it at one of them. He grabs my wrist in the air and presses down, trying to pull the knife from my grip. I drop the knife but grab it in my left hand, swinging it to land in his shoulder. He groans, stumbling back just a bit. Riley is laying into the guy next to me as we both try to juggle the two in the middle. I somehow manage to get cuffs on one of them, pushing them over onto the ground and tying their feet together quickly so that they can't escape. Riley hisses in pain as the guy cuts his arm with his knife, right through the new arm piece he just had tattooed the other week.

"Oh, now I'm really pissed the fuck off!" he rages, tackling the guy to the ground.

I get another pair of cuffs on the other dude as Riley subdues the last one. Riley makes sure that no one can manage to get themselves free as I walk around the rest of the room, checking for other people and kids. I duck between the shelves, trying to walk as silently as I can. I'm about to declare the room clear when a small pair of eyes reflect back at me, wide with fear.

"Hi," I say softly.
I take a step toward them, which they respond to by skittering further away from me.
Kid, I swear to fuck...
"Hey, I'm one of the good guys, you don't have to be scared," I tell them, crouching down to their level, trying to look as friendly as I can. "I'm here to take you home, okay?"
They shake their head no.

I swear to fucking god, we do NOT have time for this.

"I know you're really scared, but I promise you that I will keep you safe, okay?" I urge.
He stares at me, unmoving.
I sigh and sit down, crossing my legs in front of me, "Do you like superheroes?"
A hesitant nod.
"I'm like one of those. I swoop in and beat up the bad guys and save the day," I explain.
Another hesitant nod.
"Will you let me help you?" I ask.
Another hesitant nod.
"Okay, good. My name is Jackson, what's yours?" I try in my softest voice.
"Rudy," he says nearly silently.
"Rudy, would you like to go home?" I ask, standing up.
A less hesitant nod.
"Okay, let's go then-"

I'm cut off by the sound of a gunshot. I dive over Rudy's body instinctively, shielding him with my own as a sudden pain radiates in my back. "Mother fucker!" I seeth through gritted teeth, looking over my shoulder at the cunt who just shot my ass. He's running at me full speed.
Great. This is just great.
The kid is scrambling, trying to get away, crying, screaming, all of the damn things and that mother fucker is still getting closer and closer to me.
"You're okay, I know you're scared, but you're okay," I assure him, pulling his entire trembling body into mine to shield him completely. "It's okay, I got you. You're okay." I look up at the man who approaches us. "Riley! Little help?!" I panic, pulling the kid as close to me as I can.