Page 210 of Knox Academy Omnibus
Movement out of the corner of my eye draws my attention to the stage where the board members had congregated. In the wings, where black curtains once hung, I spy the material in tatters on the ground. For a moment, I think it was just thescraps fluttering in the breeze of the blown-out windows beyond that caught my eye. But then I see it.
A body. Trapped under a lighting rig which has come crashing down. A body which is still moving.
My gut twists. I need to find my family. But?—
What if it’s Grandfather? He was standing in that area when I last saw him.
I hesitate.
I have to check it out.
Chapter Forty-Two
Sawyer
I strain with everything I have in me, but I can’t lift the metal lighting frame which has me pinned to the ground. I’m pretty sure I was out cold before it came crashing down, otherwise it probably would have killed me.
Kalen comes rushing over, white as a sheet and covered in blood. I’ve never been so happy to see him.
“Fuck, I don’t know if I can lift this on my own,” he says in a panic, calling out to anyone who can hear.
A few initiates come running and they lift the metal from my body. I move slowly to make sure nothing is seriously wrong. Searing pain screams down my right shoulder and through my arm. I can live with that.
“Have you seen any of the others?” I ask, pulling my arm tight into my body through gritted teeth.
“No, I lost Slate in the explosion...or maybe it was Onyx? I don’t remember.”
“Okay, let’s go see if they have gathered with everyone else. Jasper and Frost were on security tonight.”
I watch as Kalen walks; he keeps shaking his head and his balance is slightly off. He has a damn concussion. He’s limping too, carrying himself stiffly and clutching his side so I’d also guess at some fractured ribs. Fuck it.
We move outside and then around the building. Frost is yelling out orders and everyone is assembling together. He is sorting them into groups: those who are injured are on the grass, while Jasper is looking them over, someone else is finding any initiates with any kind of first aid or medical training.
“Frost, have you seen my brothers or Amelie?” I ask.
“Slate was here but went to look for Amelie I think. We haven’t seen anyone else. The building has been cleared, there’s no one alive still inside.”
Fuck.
“Kalen, when was the last time you saw any of them?” I turn to check with him.
“I...I was going after Amelie, but then one of the twins was helping me, and then you…”
“You need to get checked over.” Frost frowns.
“Fuck no, I’m going to find my girl!” Kalen whines.
“We’re going to find her. Make sure there are ambulances here,” I tell them.
“Already called. Half an hour, then you and Kalen meet back here. We can regroup.” I nod at Frost, agreeing to his terms. He’s giving us thirty minutes to find her and the rest of the family. I can work with that.
Kalen and I head further down the gravel driveway. It’s getting dark. I pull my phone from my pocket and see that the screen is smashed, but the flashlight still works, luckily, It doesn’t offer much visibility, but enough so that we can search.
“Do you think they’re okay?” Kalen asks, breaking the silence.
“They will be fine. Amelie probably ran off and the twins are with her already, trying to convince her to come back.”
“The twins...one was with me, I think.”
