Chasing Blue- The Final Saga (Book 4)

Chapter 43: Breaking Point

A/N: Welcome to Part 1 of the finale of Chasing Blue! It was a bittersweet experience writing the finale, knowing the series is drawing to a close. Let me know what you thought by way of review or a vote. Thanks again for reading up to this point and enjoy!

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 Final Saga-Part 1: Breaking Point

"We have to go!" Apollus shouted. The captor wobbled to his feet only to find Apollus still clutching his weapon. But Apollus was not interested in meting out justice against his captor. He likely had one thought on his mind. Get out the tower!

Apollus ran to the doorway with the captor behind his heels. I reached out to touch the shaking walls as if I could steady them. I stumbled to the doorway, swaying with the rocking room. I looked over my shoulder to see if Caius was behind me, but he and Barbarius were still on the ground. Barbarius lay crumpled, writhing in pain with every attempt to rise. Each tremor knocked him back on the blood-stained floor.

"Get up!" I shouted. Caius steadied himself as he towered over Barbarius. He gave him one last kick to his hip before limping out the room. He brushed past me as he made his escape down the winding stairs. By nature, I would have beat Apollus to the stairs by now but against all reason I stayed behind.

"Barbarius. Please get up," I cried out. I yanked his arm, only for him to slump back down. He staggered upright, clutching his stomach. I grabbed his left arm, securing it in my grasp.

I ignored his bloodied tunic as both of us scurried to the doorway with my other arm propped around him.

"Leave me be, Troy. I will slow you down. The tower is going to collapse any moment. If I die—"

"Shhh. Don't talk like that. I am not leaving you! I can help you," I protested. Before we got to the doorway, he stumbled again, pulling me down with him. Debris and dust from the ceiling rained on us. I looked up in horror as the roof began cracking. Get up! I had no choice but to drag his body across the floor just before the roof caved in. Once outside the corridor, I braced myself for the stairs. Barbarius staggered to his feet, using me as his crutch.

"Oh gods help us now. We need you more than ever!" I muttered through trembling lips.

I wanted this to be another dream. But I had no time to wait for this nightmare to end. I had to save Barbarius. That was my new mission. With him back on his feet we both scrambled down the steps. I clutched his hand, and he clutched mines.

"Whatever you do, don't let go!" I warned. He managed to keep up with me although he staggered a few steps behind. Through the chaos, he kept trying to say something but the shouts from below and the rumbles drowned his voice. As we reached the 2nd level, he let go. Before the scream could leave my throat, he plummeted to the ground below. With the stairs crumbling beneath my feet I was left with one choice. Jump. Landing on my feet, I jolted into a panic stride. In the race to the doorway, I glanced over my shoulder to see if Barbarius was behind me—

Whoosh. I collided into another man sending both of us tumbling. A cloud of dust and debris consumed us as he shoved me down. This was the end I told myself.

What seemed to last for an eternity ended in a deafening thud. A cough sputtered out my busted lips. I was still alive. The gods heard my plea. I opened my eyes to see the man girded with a breastplate fallen on top of me. I struggled to pry the crushing weight pinning me to the rubble. His face remained immobilized just like the rest of his body. I lifted his limp arms and clawed my way through the wreckage. But he did not stir. His dark vacant eyes staring into space spoke loud enough. Shuddering, I climbed my way through the smashed stones, creating bigger rips and new scratches with every movement of my limbs. Tattered and bruised, I staggered through the mounds of debris looking for my brother.