Arrow of Artemis (The Brother's Grimm, #1) [PUBLISHED]

Chapter Six: Diverging Paths | ✓

 My eyes widened slightly at the sight that met us as we passed through the doors. There were men and women in lab coats, moving effortlessly around the large room with their files and clipboards. There were machines stationed by lab tables. Men with guns, who looked dead behind the eyes guarded the entrances and exits with straight faces. I watched as one set of doors opened, people dressed in white coats walked through with a man fastened down to a gurney. He thrashed back and forth, eager to free himself from his restraints. A couple of technicians turned toward the commotion but for the most part everyone carried on as it was a normal occurrence and perhaps it was.

I moved a step closer to Niklaus as I watched them wheel the gurney through the room and out another set of doors. I felt completely exposed before these people, like there was a big sign blinking over my head to tell them I was infected with some kind of disease that may or may not be turning me into a monster. Niklaus reached back with his hand and latched it around my wrist, "Remain calm and follow my lead..." He released me but a part of me wished he hadn't.

He began to walk deeper into the room not making eye contact with anyone. I made sure to follow close on his heels, keeping my gaze focused on his back. I could hear my blood rushing in my own ears as my heart pulsed steadily in my chest. I began to contemplate all the events that had brought me to this moment in time. If there was some way I could go back and choose a different path...a path that allowed me to remain an ignorant college student whose worst fear involved being lost in the vacuum of space. If that were possible, I'd happily do it.

We were about halfway to the next door when an alarm erupted through the room. I cringed at the high-pitched wailing, my ears seeming much more sensitive to the sound. Lights above the exits pulsed red and I knew enough about society to understand red flashing lights were never a good sign. Niklaus's posture became a bit more rigid but he remained on course as the people around the room became more frantic in their movements.

I expected the guards at the door to stop us and demand some kind of ID but instead with a small nod from Niklaus we passed right by them and through the doors. We moved into another set of halls which were in chaos, filled with men in black, ushering doctors and other workers towards appropriate locations. Niklaus moved us into the small crowd that was making moving towards elevators. A few people squeezed in between us creating a wider gap between our bodies. Soon, more and more frantic staff were pushing in between us. I felt myself beginning to panic as he seemed to get closer to the elevators as I seemed to be slipping further away.

I gasped in surprise as a hand latched onto my arm and ripped me free from the crowd. I came face to face with another man in black who was looking down at me with a heavy scowl. The acidic taste of my fear burned the back of my throat as my heart thundered in my chest.

"Where do you think you're going, cadet?" The man growled down at me as more people rushed by to the elevators.

I swallowed a whimper, "I...well, I was..."

"There you are newbie!" Niklaus's voice sent a wave of relief through me. I could feel his firm presence at my back as he surely towered over me. The man looked to up at him with a subtle change in his stance, feeling intimidated.

He cleared his throat, "I'm glad you found her in this mess. I was told to have her help me escort these people through to the upper level." He sounded seamless in his lie.

The man looked between us for a moment before releasing his grip on my arm, "Well hurry up. We are going into lockdown mode. Keep a better eye on your cadet." He scolded.

Niklaus lowered his hands onto my shoulders, squeezing them gently, "I won't let her out of my sight. Thank you for finding her." The man only sent a scowl in our direction as Niklaus turned us and moved us toward the elevators. The heat from his palms soaked through the cotton shirt I was wearing, "Are you trying to get all these people killed, Loren?" He growled at me under his breath. I let my eyes scan the crowd nervously and shook my head slightly in response to his words.

"The beast is very close to the surface and the moment I couldn't find you he was ready to tear through all these worthless meat bags to get to you. Be more careful..." I understood he was talking about the creature that lurked under his skin. I shivered as my mind was filled with the memories of the way he had torn through the men before and the way I had wanted to tear through them.

He squeezed us into the small confined elevator, all of us squished up against each other. Niklaus tightened his grip on my shoulders and I could tell that he was antsy about being stuffed in the small metal box with all the humans or worthless meat bags as he had called them. I reached up and covered one of his hands with my own, giving it a gentle squeeze as the doors closed. I was willing to do anything to settle the beast, if it meant escaping this place.

The ride up was filled with anxiety. I was happy that the shirt I wore was black or else these people would be able to see the sweat that was building up on my lower back. The thing was none of these people knew that they were trapped in a small space with a man who could at any moment turn into a ravenous beast. I clenched Niklaus's hand tighter in mine as my imagination ran away with my bloody thoughts. When the elevator stopped and the doors opened I breathed a sigh of relief.

We followed the flow of people as they moved into the foyer of the large building. I turned my face to see the exit was within fifty feet of us. I could see the sun shining brightly outside and people in their cars driving by completely unaware of the monsters hidden floors below us. Niklaus made sure that we were near the center of the flow so that we looked inconspicuous. I almost cried with joy when I felt the rush of cool autumn air hit my face.

There were firemen and other first responders outside directing the flow of people from the building. As we passed them I waited for whistles to blow and for men in black to drop down out of the sky and apprehend us. Except we passed them without consequence. I looked back over my shoulder toward the building before Niklaus pulled away from me, moving away from the flow of people once we were clear of the facility.

A small bubble of laughter passed my lips, "I can't believe that actually worked..." His eyes fell to my lips for a moment before moving back up to meet my gaze. I stared up at him, "Well, you're free now...I guess this is goodbye. Do you have anywhere you can go?" I questioned.

He tilted his head as if confused by my question, "Where are you going?"

I gave him a look, "Well I..." I pressed my hand to my chest, "am going to my sisters because I'm sure she is just freaking out."

"You can't go there, Loren. That is the first place they will look for you. These people..." He looked like he was trying to find the right words, "They won't stop until your dead or back in one of their cells."

I felt my mouth go dry at his words and I looked around us anxiously. He took a step forward towards me and somehow his being closer made me calmer, which was crazy considering everything I knew about him.

"Don't worry, Loren. I won't let you end up back in that place." He spoke in a gentle tone.

I peered up at him, "What am I supposed to do? I'm not equipped to deal with things like this. I can barely handle the stress of my midterms. Maybe I should have just stayed like they wanted me too..." I reached up and ran my hands through my tangled hair.

His eyes darkened, "My brother doesn't live too far from here. Once we are there I am sure he will allow you to use his phone to call your sister." He explained, ignoring my previous statement.

I nibbled on my lip nervously as I tried to decide what was the better option. I didn't know anything about Niklaus other then he could turn into the wolf man, and that he'd helped get me out of that hell hole in one piece. What if he couldn't be trusted? I eyed him up and down silently contemplating.

As if knowing my internal debate, he stepped closer to me, "Trust me, Loren. I only want to keep you alive..." He held his hand out towards me, waiting patiently for me to take it.

Something inside of me stirred at his words and I found myself leaning towards him, "You better not make me regret this..." I whispered to him as I place my hand in his.