Republic of Omisha

Chapter 46: Valerie

 Her side aches, but she can walk. Every step sends a jolt of pain through her side, her left side. The bullet wound is healing, but she really should be resting. She begged Clay to bring her. She has to know what's going on and she wants to help.

She stumble into the office, her arm around Clay and his around her for support. She hated staying in the med wing. She wanted to be helpful.

She looked at Eliza and Liam, who she held captive. She looks thoughtful, and desperate. Her brain is clearly ticking away, solving some problem that currently only she is concerned with.

Valerie turns to Liam. She glares at Liam. If he's scared he doesn't show it. He looks almost smug, almost like he wants to be here, in this situation.

She turns back to Eliza. "What is it?"

Eliza seems to surface from her deep thoughts. "I need help."

"Okay, sure. Whatever you need." Valerie jumps at the chance to be helpful.

"I need information that only a rebel leader would know, but they're all dead."

The way she says "dead," the way she hangs on the word makes it obvious that death has taken its toll on her and it is weighing heavily on her heart. Valerie saw the body on the ground. Eliza is clearly fighting off grief.

Eliza continues. "Well, the closest thing we have to one of the leader's is Lance."

Clay speaks up. "Didn't he try to turn the rebels on you?"

"Yes, but Sebastian was the second in command and when he was the leader Lance was by his side. He's our best shot." Eliza explains.

Valerie is left guarding Liam with Clay while Eliza goes to get Lance. Eliza wanted to go alone. Valerie didn't want to go with her anyway. Valerie only met Lance once, briefly, but one thing that she can say about him is that he is arrogant. He's power hungry and respects very few people. To those he respects, like Sebastian, he is loyal and take orders like a soldier, but to others he is stuck up and stubborn.

He's kinda like Ekon. Valerie thinks to herself. Ekon! How could they have forgotten about him? He's unaccounted for. He is currently their biggest threat.

Valerie turns to Clay. "Be right back."

He nods. Clay doesn't take his eyes off of Liam. If he was focusing on Valerie's words he'd never have okayed it, at least not without further inquiry.

She plans to interrogate Helena to see if she knows.

She walks down the corridor at a brisk pace. Her footfalls are light and silent. As she rounds the corner to the med wing, she freezes in her tracks and lets out a gasp.

Her eyes widen as she finds herself facing Helena, Steven, Karma, Ekon, and Hendrix standing over two unconscious guards. They all peer down the hall to her. Hendrick's mouth turns up at the corners to form a devilish grin. In the next instant he charges at her. Valerie screams as he launches at her, toppling them to the ground.