DEVIANT [H.S.]

38 - Pain

Three stab wounds to the heart and a blow to the head. That was all it took for Caleb to die.

Harry explained it all. How the four of them made it into the headquarters safely, only to be swarmed by Patrols in less than five minutes.

How Niall and Harry were able to fight off and kill most of the soldiers, but came too late for Caleb.

How they watched Malachi get dragged away.

How Niall shot the Patrol who murdered Caleb. In the head. With no hesitation.

"It was all a blur," Harry says, wiping his brow. "One thing molded with another and before we knew it, five Patrols were dead on the floor, Malachi was whisked away by two of them, and Caleb was dead. He wasn't looking... we weren't looking."

My eyes focus on the dark floor of the club, silent sobs and cries rising from the corner of the room where Niall and Caleb's family are gathered.

Caleb meant something to me, even if he was injected with a formula and sent to me for the sole purpose of being my Protector.

This is too much. This hits home more than anything.

This is Jeriah's doing.

Caleb was dead weight in his eyes.

He didn't care that Caleb was a Protector. As Jeriah told me that night in the mansion, I am associated with Deviants and that makes me a threat.

Caleb associated himself with all of us and ended up dead.

He was the hope for his family, evidence that there is a better life for them than living in poverty. He had a purpose for his time in the Core, no matter how short.

Harry's long fingers graze over my hand, slowly intertwining my fingers with his. He doesn't speak up; we just let the crying and tears envelop throughout the room. If we don't grieve now, we won't have any other time to do so.

Wait. If the boys were ambushed at the Core's headquarters, who's to say they didn't follow them back to Euphoria?

I stand up from my chair abruptly, looking around the room.

"Serena, what is it?" Harry asks.

I walk over to the front door, my hand hovering over the handle. "We're not safe," I say quietly.

"What do you mean?" Liam cuts in, standing up next to Harry.

I slowly open the door, hesitantly peeking my head out to survey the street. A commotion comes from the left, the direction of the headquarters. My eyes peel towards the noise and my stomach churns with what I see.

Three rows of Patrols are marching straight for Euphoria. But that isn't what scares me.

They're carrying cases of gasoline.

I slam the door shut before they see me, pressing my back against the surface.

"Serena, what is going on?" Harry asks again, running over to my side.

"We need to get out of here... we need to get out, now!" I exclaim, rushing towards the back of the club.

Liam strides over to me and grabs my arm before I can make another move. "Serena, what is happening? Why do we have to leave?"

My gaze shoots from Liam to every single face here in the room. If they can't read the fear in my expression, they'll hear it in my voice. "Patrols are on their way here, right now. They're going to burn this place down with us inside if we don't get out now!"