Page 17 of Oblivion
Atlas lifted Storm off the bed with Indigo’s help, while Felix stood at the door, watching out for anyone coming. They placed him onto the wheelchair, while Storm groaned and bickered the entire time.
“I can walk, you know?”
“Yeah, eighty-year-old grandfathers could walk as well, but that doesn’t mean they are fast enough to run.” Indigo chuckled.
“Oh, fuck you.” Storm smiled. “At least I’m alive.”
“Yeah,” Indigo murmured, looking at me. “That you are.”
“They’re on the first floor,” Felix said. “Whoever gave them the info, didn’t tell them which floor you were on.”
“How many?” I asked, going behind them.
“Five inside the hospital, but there’s another SUV that no one came out of.”
Fuck, that meant at least ten.
“Ophelia,” Atlas started. “What are you thinking?”
“We need to use the service elevator,” I said then ran toward the door. “We don’t have much time. Come on.”
“Ophelia,” Storm warned, but if I was about to do what I planned to do, I couldn’t get distracted by him. Somewhere deep inside, he knew what I was about to do. He knew I would always put him first, no matter what, and I knew he would hate it. He would hate me for what needed to happen.
“Car is arranged?” I asked Indigo, avoiding Storm’s eyes.
“Yes.” He nodded.
“Tell them to go to the back. There’s an employee entrance. Is there anybody else on the ground?”
“Holland, Reaper and Skinny are hiding on the other side of the road, between the buildings.”
“Skinny?” I laughed. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, he’s definitely not skinny. Not anymore.” Felix laughed with me. “But the nickname stayed.”
“Okay.” I chuckled. “Tell one of them to check the employee entrance. I wouldn’t be surprised if the soldiers from the other car went there.”
We rushed out of the room, Felix in front of us, Atlas pushing the wheelchair, Indigo next to him, and me right next to Storm. Out of nowhere, his hand wrapped around mine, pulling my thoughts back to reality—away from the pain and the bleak future I was destined for.
“Sunshine,” he murmured, looking up at me. His anger was still visible, tangible even, but there was so much more that we couldn’t say right now, and I would forever regret not being able to hear those words. Questions lingered in his brilliant, green eyes, fear swirling, pushing to the front. I wanted to soothe him, to tell him it would be okay, that I would always be here for him.
“Not now, Storm.” I squeezed his hand. “Later, okay?”
“Promise?”
I wanted to scream, cry, break something, but I couldn’t. “I promise.” I knew I would have to break that promise. He didn’t deserve this. He didn’t deserve me constantly breaking his heart, but I had no other choice. None of us did.
The nurse who was in his room earlier saw us as soon as we passed next to the reception desk, her eyes widening at the sight of us.
“Oh no, no, no, no,” she said and started walking toward us. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“We’re going for a quick walk.” Atlas flashed her with his brightest smile. “You know, fresh air and all.”
“You can flash those pearly whites ten more times if you want to, but he is not allowed to be out of his room. Not yet. He is too weak to be outside, not to mention that his blood tests still haven't come back.”
“Look,” I started and pulled her to the side. “You know who we are?” She nodded. “And you know what we do?” She nodded again. “Then you should also know that there are very bad people heading this way, with the intention to hurt him.” I pointed at Storm. “Please, we really, really need to get him out of here.”
She stood there, silently, looking at me, then at Storm, and it felt as if a million years passed before she spoke again. I liked her, but I wasn’t above knocking her out if it meant getting him away from here in time. I didn’t want it to come to that, but if I had to—
