UNPROTECTED

Part Nineteen

Connor's POV 

Nothing could describe how scared I was as Delia left us all. 

None of us knew how this fight would turn out: would we make things worse or just destroy everything? I never wanted to have the rest if the bombs set off for fear of what that would make me - I never asked to become a murderer, just a helping hand. 

I could smell the fear that the others had - it was pungent. The way Alina looked at Delia when she left, the way Marcus had looked at her also; even though they were wearing balaclavas that were distorting most of their faces, you could imagine from the way their eyebrows had formed the looks that were on them.

But something had to be done.  

"Right, I think it's time we paid the Ministry a little visit. Half of you are to stay here: we don't want any more deaths than there need to be. The rest of you, come with me." Trying my best to look confident, I cautiously led my half of the team towards the area of which the first bomb had been detonated and it was utter carnage. 

Blackened walls lay crumbling on the floor whilst steaming files and electrical equipment lay down. Some things were still on fire, the light from it magnifying the fear and dread of what was to come. 

Taking cover, we sat on the concrete ground and waited for more news. 

What seemed like an eternity later, Delia returned, empty bags in her hands. The delight that formed in Alina's eyes made me feel a monster to have brought any of them with me. 

"Psst, Connor?" Ryan sniffed from behind me. 

"Yeah?" 

"I know a place where we can stay warm as well as be ready to fight." I wondered how he knew this sort of information but it slowly dawned on me that he had lived here for as long as I had, making him knowledgeable in this all. "The slump yards." 

The slump yards were a risky place to go. Old hooligans and pedophiles slung in the dark alleys of the forgotten warehouses that were now used a training areas for survivalists. It offered shelter but not guaranteed safety - but then again, out here, we were in the open with much more chance of being discovered. 

"Lead the way." I reluctantly agreed. 

Safety was more important to me than war.