Trust [h.s.]

XXVI

That first signaling gunshot took a moment to register within everyone in the building. For a brief and unwavering moment, everyone paused; frozen in place as we awaited our opponents' next moves. All too quickly, however, that moment ended, and Asher's words replayed in my mind. 

"When you hear that gunshot, I want you to take out your gun, and shoot whomever is closest to you." 

With a shaky breath, I withdrew my concealed weapon. The weight of the gun felt unnatural between my hands, but my fingers closed around the grip as my pointer finger instinctively found the trigger. I had no idea what waited for me beyond the confinements of this room, but I reminded myself to be strong. 

Slowly, I tried the handle of the door. I had known that it was unlocked, but I was also aware of the two large and armed men that stood on the other side. Before swinging the door open, I paused, pressing my ear to the large metal frame. Chaos is what I heard. Gunshots and screams and the pounding of footsteps against concrete. Part of me wanted so badly to hide in this room, to curl up in the corner and wait for it all to be over. But just as fear began to encompass me, I thought of my father.

My lovely, kind, gentle father had a secret life outside of his family. He had been apart of a dangerous group of criminals without any of our knowledge. He had lied to us. He had been taken from us. Next, I thought of Asher. How he had been so stupid as to rebel. How he disappeared. How he knew Harry.

Harry. The boy whose very image both boiled my blood and broke my heart. He had known all along. He had pretended like he never knew me, never knew the worst things that had ever happened to me. All because of Volkov. The head of this crime scheme. A murderer. An insidious, atrocious being.

Never had such hatred and rage swirled through my veins. All my life, I felt victimized. I pitied myself and my circumstances. I was a secondary character in my own tale. But no more. I wanted action, and I wanted revenge.

Without another thought, I swung the door open. The guards who had guarded my room abandoned their post. In their wake was utter commotion; bodies zooming through the halls as they either dodged bullets or shot them. I knew that I had missed the initial and integral gunshot, and therefore my window of opportunity. 

From my left sounded the unmistakable boom of a gunshot, which narrowly avoided my arm as I tumbled forward with a gasp. As I looked up, I locked eyes with one of Volkov's most loyal handlers. A slight smirk spread across his lips as he aimed his gun directly at me. Desperately, I fumbled for my weapon. I knew I was much too late when he cocked his gun inches from my face. Heart in my throat, I prepared for the worst.

My eyes squeezed shut. The gunshot sounded. 

Moments passed before I could even register that I had not been hit. I opened my eyes to see the man who had intended to shoot me fall to the ground, blood spewing from his forehead at the impact of a bullet. I released what sounded like a mixture between a shriek and a groan; frozen in place as his face collided with the concrete floor. 

"Ellie! Let's go!" I looked up to see Niall and Louis, guns aimed in my direction. I gulped. Could I even trust them? They had been on Harry's side all along. Asher told me to shoot anyone nearby. Were they apart of the uprising?

In one swift motion, I stood and aimed my weapon back at them; eyes narrowing as I attempted to aim in on my target. Both sets of eyes widened in surprise by my actions, but instinctively, they too firmly gripped their guns. 

"Ellie," Louis said lowly. "Do not make us shoot you." 

"How do I know whose side you're on?" My voice sounded shaky, rattled.