NALEDI’S POV
My heart shook at the sight of them, placed in a locked cage.
I needed to get the keys! I turned around and headed towards the direction the guard took the lady. I found them easily. The sound of a woman choking took me straight to them.
I knew I shouldn’t have, and what I was about to do might jeopardize our mission tonight but I did it anyway. I pulled out my gun and shot the bastard in the head.
I watched the man drop dead over the woman he’d forced to swallow his shaft. He fell on his knee with deathly widened eyes before he slumped on the poor woman who screamed at the sight of his dead body.
Awakening the entire people.
When I killed that man, I thought with the silencer in my gun, I’d be able to get out of it easily. What I didn’t count on was the fact that I might be scaring the same people and person I sought to protect.
And that my whirlwind decision-making might cost me my life.
I rushed towards the woman and covered her mouth, motioning her to keep quiet with my eyes but it was no use. The others were awake now and they were causing a ruckus. Everything was over.
I formulated a quick plan, deciding it was best I got on with my plan and not cry over spilt milk. I rushed to the dead body, searching him until I found a bunch of keys. Muttering some curse words under my breath, I snatched them and headed for the cage where Flora and her mother now lay awake and frightened.
“What the hell happened?!” Marcus came in looking deranged, “We’ve been surrounded!”
I kept trying the keys as I spoke, “I killed a motherfucker who thought it wise to abuse a woman in order to satisfy his dirty needs. It frightened them and shit went straight to hell.”
“Are they?” He asked when he came closer, seeing Flora and her mother who looked at us like we were the devil.
I nodded, finally getting the key. I connected eyes with her mother as I spoke. “I need you to trust me.” I whipped out the picture and handed it over to her. “We need to get out of here.”
She took a brief look at the picture and relief flooded her face. “She can’t walk. They broke her legs, she can’t walk.” Her voice was full of pain as she said the words.
I looked at Marcus, knowing that was about to be a big wrench in our plans.
“We’ll carry her to safety.” I said, “We are surrounded and probably found out so it won’t be easy. But I need you to put your faith in us, up until the end.”
She nodded in understanding and that did it. I opened the cage, threw away the lock and helped them out. The mother came out first, then she helped her daughter out, her joints had been snapped in two.
Marcus came forward and took the lady. Taking her in his back despite the pain we knew she felt being put in that position with a destroyed joint.
“I’ll lead,” I said and for the first time, Marcus didn’t argue. “I’ll help you from here.” He said and we began our trek.
“Drop them!” A voice commanded and light flooded the place. “Drop them and drop your guns! You are surrounded.” The voice boomed in the air, inciting fear in the people. “You must be foolish to come here!”
I heard the clicking sound of guns, and I could tell they were all targeted at us. There was no way out. My heart beat loudly, pounding against my ribcage. I couldn’t die. I couldn’t let these people die. There had to be something I could do.
“Move forward.” Marcus piqued and I turned to look at him, I shook my head but he stood firm.
Did he have a plan?
Clueless to whatever it was that went on in his head, I continued my walk and a gunshot fired, scratching my left arm. The bullets were laced with wolvesbane. These people knew what they were doing.
“The next time would be your head. DROP THE GIRL AND GO ON YOUR KNEES!”
The night sky was dark and gloomy. A perfect representation of how I felt at that moment. Everything had been a waste. At that moment, I sorely wished I had told Caellum, and asked for his help.
Then these people would be free. I wouldn’t be in this condition then.
Just when I was ready to give up, a loud blast of fire surrounded the place, its fierceness one I’d never seen before. Chaos erupted and the entire atmosphere was sizzling hot with burning flesh and the wails of people.
“Naledi! Run!” I heard Korah’s voice amid the fire.
She was behind the fire!
Charged with adrenaline and a will to live, I picked up my gun and shouted, “Everyone! Follow me!”
I didn’t need to speak twice. I regained my posture, shooting every threat in sight and collecting their gun. Together with the entire captives, I walked through the fire, while Korah made a path for us in the midst of it all.
Soon enough, we marched out of the place and were outside the camp.
“My Lady!” Korah said, taking some of the guns off my hands. “You are hurt!”
I shook my head. “We need to leave here quickly. We don’t have much time. Go stay at the back, protect the people!”
She nodded and disappeared from sight. Doing exactly as I’d asked.
The atmosphere was hot and the fire still raged as we trudged towards where the car was. Unfortunately, the car couldn’t contain us all. The people were too much to take care of.
I met Marcel’s gaze in worry. We couldn’t leave them out here. And we needed to get out here before the day’s light. Flora wasn’t looking too good either.
“Go. I’d lead them to the main road.” A voice piqued from behind me, it was Flora’s mother.
I shook my head, “You are in no condition to lead them,”
“Just take my daughter. Take her to Donna and everything will be fine, tell her I’ll come when I’m finished here.”
I didn’t like this idea one bit.
“I will join her.” Marcus volunteered. “Go with Korah and if the Alpha asks of me, tell him I’ll be there soon. Take the car and Flora to safety.”
Although I was gutted by the thought of leaving them here, there was no choice. We had to get going. I nodded in agreement and soon, we were speeding out with Flora in the backseats.
We got to the packhouse by dusk, Flora had fallen asleep and I couldn’t believe I’d done this. We drove into the compound and sure enough, Caellum was waiting for us. I stepped out of the car, ready to explain when some men surrounded us.
“Welcome to hell. Bitch.” Arturo stepped out with a smirk on his face, Matteo right behind him.
One look at Caellum and I could tell something was terribly wrong.