Two (Countdown Book 5)

Chapter 1

Six months earlier

Defeat rushed through my veins like a poison. I felt my body burn with fear and uncertainty as I slowly got down onto my knees, raising my hands loosely above my head. The ground felt hard and tough beneath my knees, and the very air smelt like failure. 

Boston stepped in front of me, still craddling West in one arm. He gestured to one of his men, who came up behind me and cuffed my hands behind my back. He then did the same for Harvey, and we were both shoved roughly into the line. 

Boston raised the gun once again to his nephew's head. 

"Call Mackenzie down," he said calmly and quietly. "Don't tell her that I'm here, or I will kill the baby. Tell her that you've found something suspicious. If she tries anything, I will put a bullet through this boy and then I will kill his mother." Boston moved to stand behind Jess, who was pale and shaking. 

I swallowed hard, trying to bottle my rage and fear. "Mackenzie!" I called, failing to diguise the shake in my voice. "Hey, Kenzie, I've found something!" I yelled. 

"Coming!" she called back, and I heard her footsteps echoing throughout the empty, silent school. 

"You're disgusting, you know that?" I spat at Boston. "That's your nephew, don't you even give a damn about that?"

"Another word, and I will follow through on my threat." he said dangerously. A second later, Mackenzie appeared in the doorway of the hall. 

"What-" she stopped abruptly when she took in the scene. Then, she tried to back out of the room. She turned and ran, but two of the Hunters went and ran after her. I could hear them running throughout the building, and hoped that Mackenzie would be okay. 

Nearly two whole minutes later, one of the Hunters came back, carrying Mackenzie. He had his arm wrapped around her waist and was lifting her into the air as she kicked and screamed. When they were back inside the hall, the Hunter put her down. She started towards Boston, but he raised the gun, and aimed. 

I expected him to aim for West again, but instead he pointed the gun straight at me. 

"Do you want me to put a bullet in your boyfriend?" he asked coldly. Mackenzie stopped. "Get on your knees, hands behind your head." She was quickly cuffed and shoved into line next to me. 

"What happened to the other guy?" Boston asked the Hunter that had returned, a curious look in his eye. 

The Hunter just shook his head. "She kicked him down the stairs, sir. He's seriously injuerd." 

"But not dead?" Boston said, as though this was some consollation.

"Not dead, sir." the Hunter confirmed. 

Boston nodded. "Good." he turned to us. "You can take the gags out now." he said. The other Hunters walked around the room, taking the gags out of my friends' mouths. At first, nobody spoke. Wyatt was too stunned and angry to say anything. The other Elementals were too scared, having never had a run-in with Hunters before. 

It was Jess that finally spoke. 

She looked scared, but her eyes burnt murderously. "If you hurt him, I swear to God, I'll-" she began in a tone I'd never heard Jess take before. 

"You'll what?" Boston let out a low laugh, bouncing West up and down slightly. West looked confused, and his face screwed up like he was about to cry. "Are you going to kill me, Jess? Aw, I thought we were friends." 

Jess called him a few words that I'd never heard Jess say before. 

"I'm not going to hurt him." Boston assured us.