Fear

46 • The escape

The decision was made. There was no turning back. I had to get Emily out, and I had to do it tonight. The weight of the plan rested heavily on my shoulders as I made my way to her room. Every step I took felt like I was walking a tightrope, the tension in my body strung so tight that I could snap.

I knocked on the bedroom door a little less softly than I'd planned. I tried my best to suppress the panic inside, just so that she wouldn't immediately know. When she opened it, the sight of her calm face almost undid me, her soft hazel eyes looking up at me in confusion. She had no idea what was coming, no inkling of the danger that loomed over us.

"Ty? What's wrong?" she asked, concern flashing in her eyes as she took in my serious expression.

I stepped inside and closed the door behind me. "Emily... we need to leave. Now. There's no time to explain everything."

She frowned, confused but compliant. "Okay... What do I need to do?"

"Get dressed in something warm and pack a bag with essentials. We're going somewhere safer."

Her eyes widened, but she nodded, quickly moving to grab a backpack from the wardrobe. I could see the questions in her eyes, but she didn't voice them. She trusted me, and that trust, among other things, was what kept me grounded and sure of my plan.

I watched her dress, glancing briefly at the bedside clock to check the time. My mind raced as I went over the plan again and again.

Jack and Nate were already in position, ready to escort us through the corridors. We had to move quickly and quietly. Any hesitation could've cost us.

"Ready," Emily said, pulling me out of my thoughts. She was dressed in layers, her bag slung over her shoulder.

I took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "Let's go."

We moved swiftly through the dimly lit hallways, the silence broken only by the sound of our footsteps. Emily stayed close to me, gripping my arm. Jack and Nate joined us at the entrance to the old corridor with their guns, their faces grim and focused.

"This way," Jack mumbled, leading the way. Nate brought up the rear, his eyes scanning behind us for any signs of danger.

The old building was colder, the air thick with the scent of damp stone and dust. My father built the institution 16 years ago upon the remnants of an old wartime bunker in the middle of Canadian nowhere. Being hidden underground, he used it for storage initially, until he started using it for the Cartel's dealings, hiding drugs and hostages. The old bunker still remained as he'd left it.

Emily glanced at the door down the corridor, her eyes widening slightly as a hint of recognition crossed her features. I got the feeling she knew this place. I admit, letting her walk around the place unattended wasn't my brightest idea. I had a feeling she'd find the exit sooner or later.

We stopped in front of the door, and I turned to her, my heart aching at the fear in her eyes. "I'm going to blindfold you. It's for your safety. You can't know any details."

She started to protest, but I silenced her with a gentle touch. Reluctantly, she nodded. I tied the blindfold securely around her eyes, my fingers brushing against her cold skin. "Stay close to me. We'll be out of here soon."

Jack pushed the door open, his hand on his holster, ready for anything. Almost immediately, a gust of freezing wind hit us, carrying with it the heavy scent of salt. The sea seemed rougher than usual. The waves battered the edges of the island, making it impossible to travel by boat.

Emily shivered, her grip on my arm tightening as we stepped into the open air. The sound of our footsteps crunching in the snow seemed impossibly loud in the stillness of the night.

We moved quickly, the cold biting through our clothes. I scanned our surroundings, every shadow and wave in the distance setting my nerves on edge. There was no sign of X's men, but I couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched somehow.

Emily's breathing was shallow and her teeth rattled, her fear palpable as she relied solely on me to guide her. "Ty, w-where are we going?" she whispered, her voice shaking as she shivered uncontrollably.

I leaned close to her ear, my voice low and urgent. "Somewhere safe." She nodded and clung to my arm tighter.

We trudged through the snow, the helicopter coming into view. Its blades were already spinning, the sound blending with the howling wind. I helped Emily climb inside, her movements hesitant and unsure as she felt her surroundings with her hands.

"Don't say a word," I instructed, my paranoia spiking. "Just stay quiet."

We settled into the back seats, and I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close. She clung to me, her body trembling. The helicopter lifted off, the ground falling away beneath us. The sound of the blades was a constant, ominous drumbeat overhead.

"Ty," she whispered, her voice muffled against my chest. "I'm scared."

I pressed a kiss to her forehead, my heart aching. "I know, Emily. But I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise, on my life."

As we soared through the night sky, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and fears. This was only the beginning. The real fight was still ahead, but I would face it head-on. For Emily. For our future.

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I knew something was wrong the moment Tyler walked into my room. The look in his eyes, the tension in his body-it all spoke of danger. I trusted him implicitly, but the fear gnawed at me as I hurriedly dressed and packed my bag.

We moved through the corridors in silence, my mind racing with questions I couldn't ask. When we reached the old part of the building, recognition hit me. He saw the look on my face. I think he knew I'd seen it.

The blindfold was unexpected, but I understood his reasoning. I tried to calm my racing heart as the freezing wind hit us, the scent of salt sharp in the air. The sounds of a very rough sea and howling wind, and snow crunching under our feet overwhelmed me, but I clung Tyler's arm tightly. He was my guide.

"Ty, w-where are we going?" I whispered, my teeth rattling as I shivered uncontrollably.
"Somewhere safe," he said. I hugged his arm tighter, trying my best to stay calm, but I was so afraid.

In the helicopter, I huddled close to him, snuggling my face in his chest to ground me in his heartbeat. "Ty," I whispered, my voice trembling. "I'm scared."

He held me tighter, his kiss on my forehead a promise of protection. "I know, Emily. But I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise, on my life."

As we flew through the night, I tried to hold on to that promise. I tried to believe that we would be safe. But deep down, I knew that our journey was far from over. The real fight was still ahead, and I could only hope that we were strong enough to face it.

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