Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 45773 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45773 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 229(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 153(@300wpm)
Once we’ve cleared out the entire floor, we head back to the laboratory Idris is waiting in.
“We got a lot,” Chance says as we hurry into the room.
Idris is already shoving pieces of torn cloth into the mouths of the bottles.
When we take everything out of the bag and place it on the table, Idris says, “Matthias, you can cut the towels into strips. Jai, push them deep into the bottles and make sure the cloth is soaked on both ends. Chance, find a box we can load the bottles into.”
We get to work, everyone doing their part. Chance finds two boxes and starts loading the bombs into them.
“There’s a group of insensates on their way to the main ward,” Chance informs Idris.
Idris’ eyes lock with Chance’s. “My brother and the soldiers will protect the ward, but let’s move. It will save lives if we can stop the insensates on our end.”
“Matthias can destroy the program. It’s held in the haven, so we’re not just going there to kill the emissaries. We need to get him to the main computer room so he can shut this shit down.”
Idris nods. “After that’s taken care of, we’ll kill the emissaries.”
Chance and Idris each take a box. I keep an eye on my dad as we hurry to the elevator and make our way to the first floor.
When we step out of the elevator, Mom is sitting on a chair by the reception counter, and Raze and Kenzo are standing in front of the closed exit doors, keeping an eye out for any enemies.
“We have bombs,” Idris informs them.
“I’ll light the fuses. You and Kenzo throw them,” Chance says as he sets his box down on the gleaming tiles.
I walk to Raze and gesture at the bag on her back. “I want three clips, so I don’t have to worry during the action.”
She shrugs the bag off, and I quickly help myself. Glancing at Mom, I ask, “Do you want extra ammunition?”
“Yeah, hand me two clips.”
We distribute all the remaining ammunition between everyone and shove the clips into our pockets. Chance hands Ethan one of his guns, so he can at least protect himself.
“Ready?” Idris asks. When everyone nods, he starts giving orders, “We stay in groups of two. Cover your partner’s back at all times. Dawn, you’re with me. Skater, you’re with Raze. Kenzo, you’re with Rachel, and Chance is with Jai and Ethan.”
“What about me?” Dad asks.
“You’re somewhere in the middle where we can all keep an eye on you.” Idris checks the clip in his gun, then continues, “First things first, we’re getting Matthias to the main computer room,” he locks eyes with Dad, “which is where?”
“The entire fourth floor,” Dad answers. “I just need to get to the motherboard. I’ll be able to shut it down from there.”
Idris gives my father an impatient look. “Again, which is where?”
“Oh, on the fourth floor. It’s hard to explain. Just get me there, and I’ll do the rest.”
Idris doesn’t like the answer, but he continues with the mission, “After the program is shut down, we’re finding the fucking emissaries and killing them.”
“And then?” Dawn asks. “Once we’ve done all of this, what happens?”
“We’ll make an announcement to the people, informing them that all the shit they’ve been fed for decades is nothing but lies,” Chance says.
“Quinlan can handle the politics,” Idris mutters.
“I want to be a part of the politics,” I tell Idris. “Make sure your brother knows that. The women need a voice to speak for them.”
“Two voices,” Dawn adds.
“Make that three,” Mom chuckles.
“God help me,” Idris mutters. “You can all take the matter up with my brother. It’s above my pay grade.”
“You don’t get paid,” Chance chuckles, slapping Idris on the shoulder. “Let’s get this night over and done with.”
Chapter 22
Jai
When we open the exit doors and step out onto the pavement, I notice how the insensates form a line behind the windows of the haven’s building across the road. The enforcers have pulled back to where the elevators are.
Without wasting more time, Chance lights the first fuse and hands the bomb to Idris, who throws it. The bomb explodes seconds before reaching the window, but the blast is enough to shatter the glass and knock some of the insensates off their feet.
The rest of us open fire on the enemy while Chance, Idris, and Kenzo keep throwing bombs.
For minutes, it’s pure madness and chaos, but finally, we start to push forward, careful of the burning debris. I stick to Chance’s side with Ethan right behind me.
Raze and Skater fall in behind us. Dad is somewhere in the middle, with Idris and Dawn. Kenzo and Mom bring up the rear.
Just as we move into the lobby of the haven, the enforcers open fire on us. I hear Skater grunt a second before a burning sensation rips through my left thigh. Keeping my right arm raised, I pull the trigger in quick succession while my left hand drops to my thigh to put pressure on the wound.