Ell Sadem

THIRTEEN: CITADEL MEN

—Kain—

I left her in her room. I know I left her in her room. Rigs didn't see her leave, and none of the security team saw her go outside. My fingers tighten around my phone, the connecting tone disconcerting; it doesn't usually take this long. I know better than to have left her alone when she's like this. She runs. She always runs. She slipped her security at the coffee shop, and she ran away the night the nightmares first started. I can only blame myself if… but the alarm system never went off.

Turning to my window, I grab a fistful of my hair and pull; something has to be wrong with the—.

“Cowell speaking.“

I nearly jump out of my skin, the detective's voice too loud in my ear. “About time you answer.“

“It's seven in the morning,“ though irritated, he doesn't sound like he's been sleeping. “You've not been easy to get ahold of yourself. We found Ella, she's safe but we're going to need to talk.“

I drop my arm, relief and dread fighting in the pit of my gut. “What happened?“

There's a pause, the quiet almost suspicious. “Come pick her up, you'll understand later.“

That is never good. That has never, ever been good.

"And Mr. Mercy, you better hurry, I've got some men from the citadel here."

Crap.

—|—

—Evan—

The sun seems unusually hot for this time of day and the stagnant air is still damp from the other day's storm. A haze settles in the distant trees and over the paths that cut between them. Far away a bird chirps a muted melody.

I try to swallow the lump in my throat as I inch in the direction of Ella and Rob, well aware of the multiple pairs of eyes passively watching my each move. The trees beckon to me, the shade promising refuge from the citadel men and the detective. I glance over at them as the detective makes a wide gesture, his voice carrying back towards me.

"What's going on?" I keep my voice down as I stop behind Ella.

She jolts hard and her eyes snap over at me, half turned. A hard frown turns her mouth down, irritation burning in her eyes. "Detective Cowell is trying to keep them from taking us somewhere, but they're not budging."

"They say it's for our protection, but we're not buying it." Rob huffs, dirt grinding under him as he shifts his weight to his other leg to look back at me. "I don't think he trusts them either."

I follow his gaze back to the group as the argument starts to heat up; none of the citadel men  cast so much as a glance back at us.

"So, if the big scary guy doesn't like these people we should go, right?" Ella toys with her ring, her face pale.

Rob says something, but my eyes catch on one of the men as his hand drifts to his gun.

Like wolves, the citadel men close in in either of Cowell's sides, surrounding him.

Ice water rushes through my veins in a flashflood of adrenaline; everything sharpens, and their voices become clear.

"It won't take much to pin their disappearing on you, not when you're dead too." Inch by inch, they tighten the noose.

I knock Ella's shoulder and lean close to her ear, "Whatever you do, do not turn back." 

She only nods.

I lock eyes with Rob and point at her.

He takes a deep breath, jaw set tight. "Co'mon, before they notice we're leaving."