A Second Chance

Not Alone

Chapter 60

Amari could do nothing but stare at the open door on the screen. Her heart sank and suddenly the small room felt like it was getting smaller. She knew she should run or hide or just turn around at least but she could not move.

Then someone roughly grabbed her from behind. She went to scream but they put their hand over mouth. She still screamed even if it was muffled. Even if the person did not have their hand over her mouth the room is still soundproof.

"Calm down." It was Anthony's voice and he sounded annoyed with her.

Amari could not hear him all that well, the main thing she heard was the pounding of her heartbeat in her ears. Not thinking of many options she threw her head back as hard as she could. The back of her head collided with Anthony's face painfully.

"Ah!" A painful scream came from both Anthony and Amari.

Anthony released her and covered his face with his hands. She probably broke his nose; She might have even bent and/or loosened some of his front teeth. As bad as that sounds it really hurt her even more. It was not a good feeling to slam your head into someones teeth. It was worse than a head-butt.

As she fled from the room she caught a glimpse of blood on Anthony. She ran out in the hall and ran as fast as she could to find the stairway out of here. Her head was throbbing and all she could think was she had to get to Caden.

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Caden had made progress on several floors by now but his determination had not faded. Amari was here. He refused to believe otherwise.

"Rogers where did you go?" A voice came over Caden's radio.

He was an agent from ARRO.

"I'm looking for Amari." Caden replied with a stern tone.

"Caden stand down, you can't do this alone." It was Anderson responding that time.

"Please understand Anderson. I have to find her. I'm asking you as a friend to let me look for her.. Alone." Caden begged.

Anderson being accused of giving Caden special treatment because they were friends was last on his list of worries right now. At first Anderson did not reply but his voice eventually did come through.

"We'll be waiting outside." Before Caden could thank him another voice cut in right after Anderson's. "But Rivers-!" The voice was cut off. Anderson had signed off so Caden would not hear the agents with him complaining.

Caden signed off too, owing Anderson both a thank you and a sorry. As Caden was about to kick open another door he heard the bang of a different door opening. He stopped and looked around.

"Caden!" A voice shouted.

Caden's heart rate instantly spiked.

"Amari!?" He yelled back.

Caden ran around the corner of the hallway to find her running away from the stairwell. The second she reached him she wrapped her arms around him tightly in a hug. Caden hugged her back even tighter. She was alive. The thought overjoyed him and he could not help but start crying again.

"Stop I've cried enough tonight." She told him, crying with him anyway.

He laughed, he did not know why but he laughed. When he finally let her go he took her by her shoulders and shook her.

"You have to stop scaring me like that!" He yelled at her, smiling and crying at the same time.

They both probably looked like they had lost their minds but neither cared. They were just happy to see each other.

"I'm sorry." The words came out like a whisper.

She was smiling right back. He stared into her eyes. Those beautiful amber eyes. Just now realizing something was on his hands he looked down. His hands were red, covered in blood. Suddenly both of them were reminded of the serious situation at hand.

"Are you hurt?" He asked concerned, looking over her to find her injury.

Amari lifted her hand to the back of her head. She was bleeding.

"It's not as bad as you think." Amari told him.

"What happened?" Caden demanded to know.

"Let's just say Anthony shouldn't look any better than me." Amari told him.

It was like someone lit a match in Caden's eyes. They had a look in them that seemed ready to kill.

"Did he hurt you?" Caden growled.

"Not technically. It's partially my fault we're both hurt." Amari explained.

She did not want him to be so blinded by anger that he would do something stupid to get himself hurt.

"I'm not that bad but thanks for the broken nose." Anthony's voice was heard behind them.

They both looked over to face him.

"You better hope you still have that tranquilizer on you." Caden threatened, about to walk over to him.

"Wait Caden!" Amari said grabbing his arm. There was no telling what kind of tricks Anthony had up his sleeve.

"Yeah just wait a minute Caden." Anthony told him.

"You have hurt my partner for the last time." Caden was furious.

"For the record she did that to herself willingly. Apparently she felt the need to try to knock out my teeth with her head." Anthony said sarcastically, putting his hand to his mouth as if trying checking to see if any were loose.

"How about I finish the job with my fist?" Caden offered.

"Calm down Caden." Amari told him.

He felt a soft hand touch his shoulder and that's what kept him calm.

"Why are you doing this?" Amari asked.

It seemed like a cliché question but she needed to know. Anthony had a thoughtful look on his face as if for once choosing his words carefully.

"Amari, Honey," It creeped her out when he called her that and it seemed to unsettle Caden too. "there are some things I just can not tell you but I wish I could." Anthony told her in a kind tone. It was just making her uncomfortable. He acted like nothing was even wrong.

"I promise you'll find out soon enough."

"So what can you tell me?" Amari questioned.

Anthony was thinking carefully again. He clearly was making sure not to tell her certain things. Maybe he could not say because someone told him not too. Maybe Anthony was actually ordered to do this by someone. Maybe Anthony was not alone.

Everyone's together but they say three's a crowd. How long do you think it will last before someone starts a fight? There's not many chapters left so vote and comment on these last few! 😄