The Fall of the Keepers

Chapter 20 The Hostage Situation

We took the old armed Guard vehicles down to Los Eres, parking just outside the city square. There were sixteen of us total, including Quetta, Cassian, Jasper, Vienna, and myself. Three rebels stayed with the vehicles, to ensure the escape route was protected. Each member of the team, besides us Keepers, was armed to the teeth. They entered the square with weapons drawn, forming a protective circle around the three of us. At least until we were exchanged for the three hostages, it was important we remained unharmed.

There were three and four-story buildings on every side of us, broken here and there by streets and alleyways. This was an older section of town and the street was paved with cobblestone rather than tar or cement. A fountain with a statue of a winged woman resided in the very center, empty of water for the winter months. The square was deserted but curtains rustled in windows as civilians peeled out to witness the exchange. I wouldn't have been surprised if Shane had a sniper placed in one or more buildings as well.

"Stay alert, we don't know how many of them there are."
Quetta ordered, keeping her back to our group and making a sweep with her loaded pistol.

Off to the right, I heard a car door slam, followed by a scuffling of feet. Moments later our favorite broadcaster and his camera crew of two rounded the corner.

"What is that idiot doing here?"
Cassian voiced the question that was going through all our heads.

"I am here live at the scene of the hostage exchange because you, the good people of Itova, deserve to know the whole truth. No longer do we have to be fed lies from the King or his minions, we can see for ourselves how our leaders act. The rebels have arrived on the scene and appear to be waiting for the Keepers to reveal themselves..."

"That man has graduated himself from fired to dead."
Quetta growled.

"I thought this was a free country."
I said sarcastically.

Quetta shot me a look that indicated if I made any other comments like that I'd be added to her hit list. The nearby clock tower rang out the hour with eight ominous bongs.

"It's eight o'clock on the dot."
A rebel carrying an assault rifle informed us.

"Thank you, Captain Obvious."
I grumbled under my breath.

"Ah, I'm so glad you could join us."
Shane's voice rang out, echoing throughout the square.

Our heads swiveled about, attempting to locate where the Keeper was lurking, to no avail.

"I take it you've come for the hostages, they've not been the best of prisoners, I can't be held responsible for any damage done to them."

My heart nearly stopped.

"Show yourself, you coward!"
Cassian shouted.

"Impatience will get you nowhere."
Shane chided as though he were speaking to a petulant child.

Cassian muttered something, his finger inching towards the trigger on his handgun. I hoped he wouldn't do something stupid that could get us all killed. Jasper, Vienna, and I were the only three that were facing imminent death. The others ought to walk away from this relatively unscathed.

"We came as requested. Now, where is my daughter?"
Quetta's tone was scarier than normal, which was really saying something.

"No need to get bent out of shape, she's right here."

A masked Keeper, or it could have been a Sentinel I suppose, appeared from out of an alleyway, dragging a half-conscious Glass. Her nose was bloody and her left arm was hanging at an odd angle.