Crossfire ~ {Book 2 in the Emerald of Annihilation Trilogy} #Wattys2017

Chapter 21 ~ Risks

3rd Person P.O.V

Dylan, Mark, Jay, Amber, Henry, and Lily sat in the empty dorm room. The girls' roommates had left for a couple hours on a "girls night out." They would be home before the curfew, but Lily wanted this done before the team set out on their 'Mission' 'Quest' Whatever you wanted to call it. 

"What are we going to do?" Henry asked, his blue eyes holding a slight pang of fear. Lily turned her head to Mark, who nodded and slid a small scaple out of his pocket. All eyes turned towards the small knife. 

"Wh-what is that for?" Jay gulped. Lily didn't answer. "Turn around, Mark." She ordered. Mark nodded, and sat on the ground, his back facing her. Mark lowered his head; exposing his soft, pale neck for Lily to see. Dylan then realised what the scaple was for.

"Lily! No! Wait!" Lily glanced up at her boyfriend, her eyes holding determination. "It's fine, Dylan. I know what I'm doing." Lily turned to Mark and placed her free hand over her neck, grazing her finger over the small red mark on his neck where beneath that, lay the tracking chip. Sweat began to form on her neck and forehead.

If she messed this up, it was over....for them all. And it would be another thing she would blame herself for, for the rest of her life. 

"Lily?" Mark glanced up at her, turning his neck as he did so. Lily nodded. "Sorry..." Lily carefully slipped the knife under the first layer of skin on Mark's neck. "The skin on the back of the neck is very soft." She explained, working the knife under the chip, and putting her other hand out. "Tweezers...." Amber handed her the tweezers. Lily clamped the thin tweezers onto the chip and eased it out of Mark's neck. A sigh of relief escaped her lips.

Lily placed a wet gauze over Mark's neck. He reached up and held it in place himself. "That went well." Mark grinned. Lily could tell from the amount of wincing he did while she was slicing his skin it hurt. But it wasn't as bad as it could be.

Dylan sat down in front of Lily next. "Me now!" He grinned up at her with his playful, innocent, puppy eyes. "Dylan...." Lily rolled her eyes. "Hurry up!" He demanded, pouting and pointing to his neck. 

~ A few Hours Later ~

"There." 

Mark grinned proudly as he held the blinking circuit board in his tweezers. Lily looked up, her hand over a gauze of her own on her neck. Dylan grinned. Everyone had had their tracker removed. The small tin plate held six, blinking, small tracking devices that were covered in blood and skin tissue. 

"It's a good thing we got these things out before they became linked with our blood veins." Henry mused. If they had.....we would have had no chance of living. Either cut our blood vessel while trying to get them off and die, or have Houston flip the switch, and we all die. 

Jay blew out his breath, rubbing his neck tenderly with his finger. "This is worse than Deathnote......" Amber snickered. "Not even close, bro...."

~ ****** ~

Jay, Lily, and Mark stood with the rest of the chosen recruits in front of the large truck as they waited for Jack and Alex to show up. They had not spoken since last night. The night where they had taken out the trackers. They knew that if Marcus Houston found out, they would be dead meat for sure. 

"Recruits!" Alex's voice startled the young spies as they were not used to her demanding, brain-washed-evil side. Lily lifted her head to see her mother walk up. Her Uncle by her side. Jack Rodger looked good for his age. He was a good 51 years old but he had the face and looks of a 31-year-old man. His energy and stamina were one of a 20-year-old. 

Lily bit her lip in worry. If they were ever to go up against her turned family members, they would definitely have a challenge with her uncle. He was even more trained than her mother. He had been in the army when he was younger. And according to her mom, had been enlisted in the Force as well.

A sigh escaped Lily's lips as she put together their odds. Not so good. Dylan had come to her earlier to say goodbye. He had told her to stay safe. And she had told him to do the same. "-Got that?" Jack's voice roused Lily from her daydreaming. "Yes, sir!" They all hooted. Jay stayed close to Lily, a little frightened and worried. 

Lily could tell he was scared to be away from his sister. Lily knew Jay was a sensitive kid. Amber was tough, and she made her twin feel safe when he was near her. Lily held Jay's hand, and squeezed it, letting him know she understood and was there for him. 

"Let's go!" Alex shouted, climbing into the passenger side seat in the black truck. Jack slid into the driver seat, while the teens scrambled into the back. Lily sat next to Mark and stole a glance into his eyes. 

She could tell he was at least a little bit nervous and frightened. Mark had always been the one who had been strong and supportive. He had been her shoulder to cry on. Her refuge when life was tough. She had thought before, that if she hadn't met Dylan, she probably would have dated Mark if given time to developed feelings for him. 

But now he looked uncomfortable. Scared almost. It made her wonder if she had been right in bringing him along for this ride of a lifetime no one was sure they would live through. Lily's eyes shifted to Jay, who was next to Quinton, and Trevor. behind her. 

He looked stone-faced on the outside, but Lily knew he was dying on the inside. Over the last two months, Jay had transformed from the bubbly, little innocent, vulnerable kid, into a gunslinging, street smart, semi-tough, and dependable young man. She was impressed and proud of him. But at the same time, guilty....

But it was too late to turn back now. Lily turned her head and stared out the window. She had to make sure everyone made it home safely....

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!! I know it's been a while! I've been dragged down by school and exams and tests....But I hope to be updating soon!