Hunted

Chapter 22

Chapter 22
Everyone is looking at me like I grew three heads. I holster the gun.
"What?" I ask. Anne passes me a mirror and a handkerchief. I take the offer, eyebrows furrowed as I look into the mirror. I nearly screamed from the sight of my face. There was blood covering every inch of my face and even specks in my hair. I drop the mirror and rub the cloth frantically on my face.
Once done, we all head back down into the basement. I look down at the empty landing. Uh oh.  We head down the hall to the very back; the more important the person is as bait the farther back they are. The first door we try is locked. Tyler being Tyler decided to knock on the door. We all heard weak mumbling. I pushed my way towards the door.
"You guys stay here. I brought these guys into this, I have to do this alone." I take a glance in Tyler's direction. "I also have the strongest stomach here." Victor held back Tyler while I kicked in the door.
I stepped through the threshold, looking around the dim room. I spot movement in the far corner. I head over cautiously, holding out my hands.
"Ryder? Josh?" I say in a soft voice.
"Hero?" I hear Ryder say in the weakest voice I've ever heard. I rush over to where I heard the voice. I found him and Josh bundled together in the corner. I sink to my knees and embrace them both. I put my head on Ryder's chest, and for the first time in a while, I cried my heart out.
***
As I helped the boys up to the rest of them, Tyler rushed to his brother at first sight. They embraced tightly, the waterworks starting.
"Josh, is there anyone that we should contact for you?" I turn to him. He sadly shakes his head.
"I've lived on my own for the past few years. I used to live with my grandmother until she died three years ago." He looks down at the ground. I give a sympathetic smile as I give him a hug from the side. He returns the smile. "But, I hear that your life hasn't been the best either." He gestures to the still crying Ryder. I turn and glare at him for a second; I'll deal with that later. We head out to the getaway car that was being driven by an emergency recruit; we call him Rat.
"Let's get out of here, Rat." He nods his approval. Once we make it back we come up with a plan about catching Cam.
"Anyone have ideas?" I nod to Anne when she raises her hand.
"What about you contact him as bait to lure him out while all of us are hiding. Then we get answers from him." Everyone but Tyler agrees.
"Absolutely not." He states bluntly. We turn to him. He shakes his head. "I already nearly lost one sibling, I don't need the same occurrence." I nod.
"Ty," I stare down at the table when he looks to meet my gaze. "Right now, this is the best thing we can come up with. Sorry to say but, I'd rather it be me as bait then any of you." I finally meet his pleading eyes. "I'm doing it." I leave no room for discussion as we go into details of the plan.
***
"Cam? Meet me at the place you took me on our first date if you want me." I hang up and look out the window of the gang van. We pull up outside a hiking trail leading to a waterfall. We start the long way up, and everyone gets in their place.
I stand in the cave behind the falls. The misty air fills my nostrils with every breath I take. I sit on the damp, cold, stone floor as I wait for Cam to walk through the stream of cascading water. After a few anxious minutes I stand up and start pacing around the cave, my hand gliding along the bumps and rivets in the walls. Near the end of the cave I find the carving that Cam and I did; our names overlapping one another to show our bond, our tie, to one another. I smile at the memory.
"Some good memories here." His voice ricocheted off the stone walls. I turn surprised he actually came.
"You came?" I state, astounded. He chuckled.
"I guess I continue to surprise you." I smiled, walking closer to him. "So what did you call me here for, Hero?" He questioned. My eyebrows furrowed.
"I told you to come if you wanted me." I state in a duh tone. He rolls his eyes.
"I may have some issues but I'm not that stupid." He retorts. I nod.
"I just wanted to see this place one more time, with you." I gestured to him. His face softened as he walked closer.
"I missed you Hero." He said. I take his hand in mine, running with the plan.
"I missed you too, Cam." I state. He starts to lean in, closing his eyes. I tilt my head to see Tyler and Victor each throw a knife. Both hit him in the back. His eyes nearly sprang from his head. I caught him before he could bang his head, lowering it softly. His hand grabbed mine.
"Please, don't go. If I am to die, I wish it be in the hands of my first love, my only love." Tears start to swell in his eyes. I nod my head slowly, resting down to my knees, leaning on my heels.
"You were my first love too, Cam. And for quite some time after that, but I don't feel that way now." He glances in the direction of Victor, who is talking to Tyler about his structure in throwing.
"I see the way you look at each other. I can see the love in the small things you do." I smile. He turns back to me. "Promise me one thing Hero." I nod.
"Anything Cam."
"Promise me that you will go to him. If he won't make the first move, then it's up to you." I smile at the deal. I nod my head earnestly. He smiles, lifts my hand and presses a kiss to the surface. He drops it abruptly after, a stray tear falling from the corner of his eye. My face falls as I wipe away the tear, kissing his forehead. I rest the body gently, taking away the knives from the corpse. I stand and walk toward Victor and Tyler.
"Anne called the police to collect the body." I nod at Victor's comment.
As we head to the van, I catch Victor by the arm.
"Can we talk for a sec?" I ask. He nods and stops walking. "Okay, I just wanted to say that I have liked you for a while and I wanted to know your opinion on that?" His smile came to his face, brighter than ever.
"I thought I'd never hear those words come from your mouth." He scoops me up in his arms and smashes his lips with mine.