Chapter 18: Fractured Loyalties

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Their captors had soon left them alone, but the uneasy feeling in Madison's gut told her someone was watching. Someone close enough to know her movements, her weaknesses.

Footsteps echoed from down the hallway, too familiar, and her heart sank when she caught a glimpse of Will, bound and barely conscious, being shoved into the room by two armed men. His cheek was smeared with blood, and he struggled to lift his head, his eyes locking on hers as he forced a shaky smile.

"Madison..." he rasped, the sound barely more than a whisper.

"Will!" She pulled against her bindings, desperation breaking through the fear she'd been holding at bay. "What did they do to you?"

He gave a weak shake of his head. "I'll live. But we've got to get out of here." He lifted his bound hands, the rope digging into his wrists. "Think you can free yourself?"

She nodded, her fingers working against the ropes as she glanced back at him. But before she could loosen her bonds, one of the guards stepped forward, his gaze cold as he leveled a gun at Will.

"Let me be clear," the guard sneered, "any attempt to escape, and your friend here pays the price."

Madison's heart thundered in her chest, but her gaze didn't waver. "Why are you doing this?" she demanded. "Who sent you?"

The guard's smile was thin, mocking. "Loyalty is a fickle thing in this world. You'll learn that soon enough."

Just then, a loud bang echoed from the corridor, and the guard's expression flickered with surprise. He jerked his head toward the hallway, barking orders at his men. "Go. Take care of it."

More shouts followed, the sharp sounds of gunfire reverberating down the hallway, and Madison's heart surged with a mix of hope and fear. Xavier. He'd found them.

The guard nearest to Madison cursed under his breath and yanked Will roughly by the arm, forcing him to his feet. Will winced, his face contorting in pain as the guard pressed a gun to his side.

"Looks like your little rescue party is here," he taunted, tightening his grip on Will. "But I wonder—how far is your friend willing to go?"

Madison strained against her ropes, panic surging as the gun dug into Will's side. "Let him go! This is between you and me!"

The guard laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, I don't think so. You're both pawns in a much bigger game."

The door burst open, and before Madison could react, Xavier stepped into the room, his gun raised, his gaze sharp and deadly. His eyes swept the scene, taking in Will's bruised face, Madison's bound wrists, and the guard holding Will at gunpoint.

"Let him go," Xavier ordered, his voice a low, controlled growl. His tone alone held the weight of an unspoken threat.

The guard hesitated, his grip on Will faltering just enough for Will to make a move. He twisted out of the man's grasp, but a gunshot rang out before he could get far. Will staggered, clutching his shoulder as blood began to seep through his shirt.

"Will!" Madison screamed, struggling even harder against the ropes.

Xavier's expression shifted to fury, and without a second's hesitation, he fired. The guard fell, collapsing in a heap on the floor, his weapon clattering out of reach.

In a heartbeat, Xavier was at Will's side, lowering him gently to the floor as Madison managed to free herself, rushing to kneel next to him. She reached for Will's hand, gripping it tightly as his breathing grew shallow.

"Hang on, Will," Xavier murmured, his voice softened by a rare urgency. "We're getting you out of here."

Will's face twisted in pain, but he forced a shaky grin, his voice barely a whisper. "I knew you'd come through, X..."

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