From Darkness Comes - Book 2 in the Ash and Ember Series

The Sect

Vega stumbles backwards. Her face filled with utter shock. I wasn't the only one who didn't see that coming. The rest happens so quickly I don't have time to register what's going on.

One of the guards grabs Vega while Rona cuts the ropes binding my ankles. The doctor with the thick rimmed glasses that sliced Jovie open rushes past me for the door, right as I'm freed. I pick up my chair and whack him with it, knocking him to the ground, unconcious. By the time the other guard has figured out what's happening, the first guard has his gun pressed to Vega's temple.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he says.

I recognize his eyes. He's the one who hit me over the head when I arrived and the one who said he searched me but left my knife. I don't know why he's helping us.

"Put your gun down," he orders.

The guard hesitates, looking at Vega for direction. She signals for him to do as he's told.

Rona picks up the gun and walks over to Vega. She towers over her. I didn't realize how tall she was when I was in the chair.

"I stabbed you in the lateral lower quadrant of your abdomen," she explains. "You won't die...yet, but you will if you don't get help in the next hour. You might have a little longer since you're a mod but I wouldn't risk it if I were you. So it would behoove you to help us," Rona states very matter of fact. Vega's face fills with rage. She doesn't like being told what to do.

I race over to Wyler, rip off the gag and free his wrists using my knife. He rubs at the raw, red wounds then hops off the table, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close to his chest. He backs up and looks me over, checking to make sure that I'm ok.

"I'm fine," I say. My response placates him for now. He grabs my hand and takes me over to where Rona stands in front of his sister.

"Now, let me tell you what's going to happen," Rona continues. "You're going to give us access to whatever we need and if you don't, we kill you immediately."

I glance between Wyler and Rona, carefully watching the two of them, unsure of what's happening here.

"Who are you working for?" Vega demands to know. "Whatever they're offering I'll double it." Vega sputters, spitting out blood.

"I'm part of the Sect," she replies, smiling.

"Impossible! We killed you all."

Rona looks her in the eyes without saying a word.

Suddenly it comes back to me, that name, The Sect. That was the group of people from Environettix that had gone rogue on Earth. How did they wind up here? How did I not know? How did Cassius and Vega not know?

"Guess I'm not the only gullible one," I throw Vega's words to me back in her face.

"What do you plan on doing?" she asks mockingly. "Whatever it is, you'll never succeed."

"Well I guess there's only one way to find out. Now move."

"Wyler," she says turning to her brother. "Are you going to let them do this to me?" she asks without any hint of sarcasm in her voice as if she doesn't realize the irony of her statement.

He lets the silence linger in the air.

"I would have helped you, Vega. Ever was right, I do love you, but you were right too. I love her," he looks at me then turns his attention back to Vega. "And I can't forgive you for trying to kill the woman that I love. You might be blood, but I don't trust you. I won't make that mistake again."

Rona nods her head slightly in the direction of the guard. "Take care of him."

Wyler and I scan the room. There's a small stack of zip ties that they were planning to use for the two of us. Wyler drags the guard over to a pole near the edge of the room and zip ties his arms around it. I follow suit and pick up the unconcious surgeon by his legs, pulling him across the cold floor. Wyler ties him up to another pole a distance away so that they can't work together to free themselves. Before we leave, Wyler punches the guard in the face, knocking him unconscious.