The Cure

XXV

They have the same dark hair, the same build, the same voice. "It's your brother? I swear!" I'm fuming and want to step on the toe of the guy that's got my arms pinned behind me. "You liar!" I spit at Reese. "You set this up! You lied to me!"

"No! I didn't, I promise." He's looking at me with those blue eyes that sparkle, I know, but I refuse to glance his way. 

"If they hurt Griffin because of you," I glower, "I'll not live until I see you dead!"

"Oh, dear," Reese's brother steps up to me and I look fiercely at him head on. "You won't have to wait that long to see him dead...unfortunately, it seems you will be going along with him. Who knows? Haim may have mercy...or a worse punishment than death. He's known for his creative mind."

"Who do you think you are?" I shout. "I'm not going to do anything you say, not after you barge in here like you're Haim himself."

"No, I may not be Haim, but I'm his right hand. Fisher Hale," he bows, mockingly, "second in command, at your service."

"You're brother is second in command?" I turn back to Reese. "I have no reason to believe you now!" 

"I didn't know he was Haim's right hand!" Reese pleads, "Honest!"

"Now, we've got to round up the rest of you, there's five right?" Fisher grabs one of the guards' guns and points it at my head. "I've shot so many of these, you know? However, I've never shot a girl. I wonder how it feels..." he cocks the gun and smiles. "Do they bleed more?"

"You sicken me," I spit at his face and he winces.

"Don't tempt me." Fisher orders the two guards to lead us out and I'm trying to look brave and unafraid in front of those that could kill me in an instant, and I know the only reason they haven't is because Haim has told them not to. 

I look on last time at Reese who is staring incredulously at the floor. I follow his gaze and come to rest upon the wire I had almost tripped on the way in. He gives me a quick look and I know what he's thinking and I know what to do. It's a risk, but it's something.

When the guards lead us forward, very carefully avoiding the wire, I lunge to the right, breaking free from their grasp. I don't need to make myself fall by tripping over the red wire; it comes of it's own accord and in a flash the room is filled with a lightning blaze of fire as the place explodes.

When I open my eyes, the room is filled with dust and ash. I've never seen so much of it before and my lungs ache with the congestion. The force of the bomb was so extreme that it threw us all off our feet and to the floor, the walls and ceilings caving in on us. I don't know how long I've lied here, crushed under the weight of plaster and drywall. I manage to wiggle my way free and stand up, looking around. I see Fisher pinned beneath a bookshelf, his glasses crushed. A few guards are trapped under desks and file cabinets but the ret have fled through the door. I can't find Reese anywhere until he's at my elbow, pushing around bits of wall, looking for something.

"What're you doing? Let's get out of here," I say.

"I need the file," he mutters. "I need...where did...can't leave without...." He gropes around, like some crazy looking for his drug, before he finds the white folder and jumps up.

"The building son fire," I tell him. "What's in the-" and my voice is choked off by the feel of hands around my throat. I gasp for air but I can already feel my head getting light, pressure forming in my nose and eyes. 

"Give me that folder, or she's dead." Fisher coughs the command at the side of my face, blood dripping onto my shoulder. I'm amazed he has the strength to manage and choke me like this.