Beyond Reach, page 31
part #3 of True Calling Series
“Back off,” I say, shoving him with both hands.
“I remember my first crush. Couldn’t keep my hands off her either. But seriously dude, now’s not the time,” he says eyeballing Cal.
Hyper-aware of everyone’s eyes on us, I flush bright red.
“Firstly, this is not some stupid crush. I love Ariana, and we’re planning a life together. Secondly, never, ever compare me to you. And thirdly, stop talking like an ass, you’re just embarrassing yourself,” Cal replies.
“No need to lose your cool, I’m only trying to impart some brotherly advise,” Jaden says, slapping Cal on the back.
“Save it for someone who cares,” Cal responds.
Feeling his muscles tense underneath me, I tap lightly on his chest, drawing his attention back to me. Aggression still lingers in his tissues, and it doesn’t take much to bring it to the fore. “Just ignore him.”
“You listen to your little woman there, Cal,” Jaden says, gesturing with his thumb in his hand. Cal flinches and his jaw clenches.
“Knock it off, Jaden,” Commander Remus says, staging a timely intervention. “Let them be. If they can derive some comfort from each other at a time like this, then who are we to rebuke them.”
Cal and I exchange raised eyebrows. “What’s changed his tune?” I whisper.
“Damned if I know.”
Twenty minutes later, it’s finally time to say our goodbyes to the Clementia living quarters. Can’t say I’m sorry. We file out of the entry hatch one at a time. Draped over Cal’s back, Deacon lets out an involuntary snore. I stifle the giggle that rises up my throat.
As we wade through the long grass, I gaze up at Novo, shining brightly in the night-time sky. I’ve given little thought to Mom and Lily today. I wonder where Dad is, and whether he’s reached them yet. So much hangs in the balance, and once again, everything is at stake as we flee into the night.
Looking at Cal—tenderly carrying my brother—I am consumed with love. Rising up, I lightly kiss his cheek. He grins and winks at me.
Footsteps slacken as we come out of the grass. Commander De Luca has brought our little group to a stop. “Once we’re in the tunnels, we need to act normal. So talk, laugh, look relaxed, or we’ll give the game away. We shouldn’t meet much traffic anyway. When we reach the hangar, Commander Remus and I will head in first and check it out. Once it’s clear, we’ll send a signal. Right, let’s move out.”
Forced conversation bounces off the walls as we walk briskly toward the hangar. We pass a few soldiers on our way, but no one seems to think our little band of misfits looks out of the ordinary. As we pass the hospital, my feet take on a life of their own. I stop abruptly, and Ruby plows into me, unable to react quickly enough.
“Jeez, Ari, some warning next time?” she says, rubbing her chin.
“Ariana, there isn’t time,” Cal says.
“I just need two minutes.”
Commander De Luca appears in front of me. “Is there a problem here?” he asks, looking from Cal to me and back again.
“No problem,” I say, eyeballing Cal. “I need to say goodbye to Zane. I’ll catch up.”
He takes a second to think about it. “Be quick.” He ushers the others forward.
Cal’s face is set in a hard line, and I feel a twinge of guilt, but I don’t have time to agonize over it now. “Go. I’ll be right there.” I don’t stop to look behind me as I step into the hospital.
His soul sings out to mine the minute I enter the room. A warmth spreads through me as I sense his presence. Dim lights flicker off the walls, casting dark shadows on the ground. Isla looks curiously at me. “Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere else?”
“I want to say goodbye.”
“Of course. I’ll step outside.”
Her fingers are wrapped around the door handle when I call out to her. “Thanks for staying to look after him.” She looks up at me through thick eyelashes and simply nods her head.
“Zane?” I ask, as I approach his bed.
“Ari? Why are you still here?”
“We’re just leaving, but I wanted to say goodbye properly.”
Leaning down, I press my lips to his forehead. Shocked at the heat emanating from his skin, I pull back, heart beating furiously in my chest. He feels so warm, so alive, and the enormity of all he stands to lose cuts through my heart.
“What are you doing, Ari?”
“I’m so sorry, Zane. For everything. I’ve been so selfish, only thinking of myself. And I haven’t treated you right. You can’t die, because then I’ll never be able to make it up to you. You’re too important to me, and I care about you so much. So promise me that you’ll hang on, that you won’t give up.”
“Trust me, I’m not planning on leaving this world yet.”
“I’m gonna hold you to that.”
“I love you, Ari. Always and forever. Never forget.”
“I won’t forget.” My voice cracks on the words, but I hold it together.
“Take care of him,” I tell Isla, as I walk out of the room.
Cal is pacing outside in the tunnel, smoothing his hand back and forth over his hair. “Come on, quick,” he says, grabbing my hand and running. As we round the corner toward the hangar, the distinct sound of gunfire echoes in the empty tunnels. “Damn, something’s gone wrong.”
Approaching the entry point, we spot the others hunkered down in a corner. “Please tell me you have weapons?” He shakes his head in frustration. “We’re total idiots.” To be caught out a second time without any way of defending ourselves is more than foolish.
Rising up, I peer through the small glass window and spot Commander De Luca and Commander Remus sheltering behind some scaffolding, trading shots with a group of three soldiers who are advancing toward them from the middle of the hangar. I ignore the tugging on the back of my shirt as I look around, scouring the area for anything that can be of use. Then I spot it. A cargo load of khaki-colored boxes stacked one of top of each other. I’m ninety-nine percent positive that those boxes contain what we need.
My nose skims Cal’s as I pivot around. I whisper my idea and his mouth twitches. Expecting some kind of lecture on how this isn’t a safe plan for me, I’m startled when he nods his agreement. I crouch down and address the others. “Keep down, wait for our signal. Don’t move, no matter what you hear.” Straightening, I nod at Cal. Then I take a deep breath and push the doors inward.
I stagger noisily into the hangar, clutching my stomach and screaming at the top of my lungs. “Help, help me, please.” Letting my legs go out from underneath me, I crumple to the floor, lying on my side as the gunfire halts and the soldiers exchange suspicious looks. The gentle breeze at my back indicates that my diversion worked. “I need a doctor,” I cry, arm outstretched in front of me. They conduct a quick confab. All the time I’m writhing on the floor and moaning as if in excruciating pain. I’m definitely overdue an Oscar, I think.
A soldier is dispatched to come to my aid, while the others take turns pointing their weapons simultaneously toward me and the area where Commander Remus and Commander De Luca are hiding out. I daren’t look their way, assuming they’ve copped this is part of some plan.
Hovering over me, the soldier leans down. “Miss, what appears to be the problem?”
“My baby!” I wail. Tears glisten willingly in my eyes. Then I hear a loud, shrill whistle, and I spring into action. Swiftly raising my legs, I plant my feet firmly against the soldier’s torso and shove him backward onto the concrete floor.
“Hey, you, stop that!” one of the other soldiers says, running toward me. Gunfire opens up from the side, and he squats back, joining his colleague as they retaliate.
Switching my attention to the soldier in front of me, I crawl forward as his weapon clatters to the ground. I lunge toward it as shots ring out behind me. Urgent footsteps advance as I grab hold of the weapon. Springing up, just as the soldier clambers to his feet, I point the weapon at his retreating back. “Don’t move or I’ll shoot!” He stops and turns slowly, just as Cal appears alongside me. Without hesitation, eyes blazing ferociously, Cal raises the butt of his weapon and rams it forcefully into the soldier’s temple. His eyes flutter wildly and then shut as he collapses in a heap on the ground. He’s out cold.
Grabbing my hand roughly, Cal sprints forward. As I run, my weapon is trained on the soldiers in front of us. Commander De Luca and Commander Remus advance forward. “You’re outnumbered, drop your weapons,” Commander Remus demands. Slowly, bending at the knees, they place their weapons on the floor. “Kick them away,” he instructs, and both soldiers oblige. Commander De Luca dips down, lifting both weapons and slinging them over his shoulder.
“We’ll get the others.” Commander Remus acknowledges me with a quick nod as he removes a length of rope from his pants pocket. A loud, whirring sound vibrates around us, causing the floor to shudder gently underneath my feet. Then I notice Agent Leena giving us the thumbs-up from the cockpit of the stealth-craft.
Cal and I sprint back to the entrance door and yank it open. The others scramble up quickly. Clutching Deacon’s hand, I race toward the stealth-craft and thrust him forward, sticking tight to his back as I rotate around and scout the area for evidence of other soldiers. But Ben has effectively covered our tracks, and there’s no sign of anyone approaching. Commander De Luca and Commander Remus finish binding the rope around the soldiers and sprint toward us.
Everyone is seated and harnessed as Commander De Luca moves to the front to aid Agent Leena in the cockpit. The stealth-craft sways gently and then floats upward, as we begin our ascent. Warm hands press into mine, and my head dips down toward Deacon. “Hanging in there, buddy?”
“Yep,” he says quietly before leaning against my shoulder. Patting his hand, I squint up at Cal. His leg brushes mine as his foot taps nervously beside me. When he turns his head, his skin is flushed as he looks solemnly at me, then he breaks into a wide grin. He leans in close. “We did it.”
“We’re not out of the woods yet, and that seemed way too easy.”
We’re all jolted forward as the stealth-craft maneuvers out of the compound and glides upward into the pitch-dark night sky.
A couple of hours into the journey, I’m still trying to force myself to relax, but I feel a dreadful sense of unease. “Zane?” I tap his mind.
“Ari. You got out safely, thank God.”
“Yes, but I can’t shake the feeling that something’s not right.”
“How long till you arrive?”
“I’ve no idea how much further we have to travel. How are you doing?”
“I’m okay,” he says, after a very long time.
“How are you really doing? You can tell me.” I resist the inappropriate urge to laugh. I’m the only one he can talk to, the only link to the outside world, and I didn’t even stop to consider whether the connection would work long distance. I left him there to fend for himself. I’m a pathetic excuse for a friend.
“I’m scared, Ari. It feels like I’m falling, deeper and deeper, and the further and further I drop, the tighter the pressure feels on my chest. I can hear voices and sense movement around me, and it’s so frustrating not being able to respond to that.”
What do you say to that? How can I even begin to reassure him? Because words are inept. I feel like I’m utterly failing him. “Don’t give up hope. I’m going to get you out of there. I swear.”
“I know. I feel so tired, Ari. I’ll catch you later.”
Cal’s watching me intently, his expression tightly restrained. “You can hear him out here?”
“Yeah.”
“Your connection truly runs deep, doesn’t it?” I shrug my shoulders. Cal sighs loudly. I know this can’t be easy for him, especially with his heightened hormonal state. It wasn’t as if I missed the way he reacted back in the hanger, and I still shudder when I think of his actions in the penitentiary. Aggression has been so deeply embedded into his psyche that it’s always ready and waiting for an opportunity to rise to the surface. So I understand how challenging it is for him to show this level of self-restraint. It just makes me love him all the more.
“Is it getting any easier for you? To control the anger?”
“It doesn’t overpower me in the way it used to, but it’s barely containable in a situation like back there. It’s taking all of my will power to keep it on lockdown,” he admits.
“Can I do anything to help?”
His eyes glow icy, silvery blue as he looks at me. It’s a look that could be perceived as deadly, as much as it’s smoldering, but all it does is turn my insides to mush, and I have to remind myself that we’re in public. My emotions are all over the place, and I know at some point I’m going to have to try and work out how I really feel.
“Not at this moment,” he says cryptically, before flashing me a brilliant smile. It’s suggestive in the extreme, and I can’t help but flush bright red. You’d think I’d be used to this by now. Blushing all the time is so embarrassing. My head flits quickly around, hoping no one else has noticed. Everyone is otherwise preoccupied, either napping, or whispering quietly among themselves. Until they’re not.
The fireball erupts from nowhere.
It’s as if everything happens in slow motion.
One second there’s earth-shattering silence, and then it descends into complete chaos.
CHAPTER 26
Screams and shouts fill the air as we plummet downward at high speed. Fire is raging in the top corner of the cabin, and thick, dark gray smoke floods the space and coats my lungs. A steady stream of icy wind hits me from behind, and it’s only then that I notice a small, gaping hole in the side of the craft. A large, piercing alarm bell rings out from the cockpit, and I can hear frantic cries of terror.
“Ariana!” I distantly hear Agent Leena call out. “I need you!”
Little fingers dig into my hand, and loud sobs are now clearly audible at my side. Deacon! “Are you hurt?” No answer. Reaching for him, I shake his shoulders. “Deacon, please, are you okay?”
“I’m scared, Ari!” I almost sink into the chair at the sound of his tiny voice. He’s okay, thank God.
“Ariana.” I whip around in my seat at the sound of Cal’s voice. I can scarcely make out his shape. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Agent Leena needs my help. Can you look after Deacon?”
“Of course. Go. Be careful.”
Releasing my harness, I stagger to my feet, and I’m immediately accosted by a warm blanket of heat. Sweat beads cluster on my skin and roll down my back as I move toward the upper cabin area. Agent Leena seems to have regained some control over the stealth-craft as we’re no longer descending rapidly downward, though we’re still tilted at an abnormal angle, bumping along unevenly.
Feeling my way along the side of the cabin, I edge slowly forward in the direction of the cockpit. My eyesight is virtually blacked out, so I don’t see the slumped form on the ground before I trip and stumble over it. Oh no! Pushing up on my hands, I lean back on my knees. There isn’t time, or air, to check on the person, so I force my natural instinct aside and crawl forward on all fours. The smoke is dense and heavy up here and my lungs burn. Tearing a piece from the hem of my shirt, I hold the cloth over my mouth. My throat feels dry and coarse as I haul myself up. Swaying slightly, I stretch out in front of me and feel the door to the cockpit. I grip the edge of the doorframe, but it’s wedged shut. Thrusting my hand in the tiny gap, I shove it back forcefully until there’s enough room to squeeze through.
The cockpit waits in a layer of hazy smoke. It’s not as condensed as the cabin, but visibility is still compromised. “Ariana, we’ve lost control of the automatic pilot. We’ll have to land her manually. Commander De Luca is unconscious. I need you to take over.” Moving quickly, I lift Commander De Luca’s head up from the control panel. Blood gushes from a deep cut on his forehead, and he’s out cold, but still warm to the touch. Knowing I don’t have the body strength required to drag his unconscious form out by myself, I shunt him to the side.
I lower myself down into the half-vacant seat and try to get my bearings. “What do you need me to do?” I inhale deeply, resting my hands on my lap.
“Correct the pitch, and keep an eye on our altitude as I prepare for descent.”
Placing my hands reverently on the yoke, I pull it toward me and bank right, as I simultaneously apply slight back pressure to prevent the airplane from losing altitude. I glance up at the primary flight display. It confirms that we’re level but traveling way too fast. “Airspeed indicator is off the charts.”
“I can feel it, we’re going to have to do this fast,” she says, pulling back on the throttle as the nose dips sharply. She presses a variety of drag devices in an attempt to slow us down, but we continue rocketing downward. Keeping a firm hold on the yoke, I struggle to keep our movement steady. “Be ready to engage the gear handle.” I place my hand on the stick just beside my knee. “Now, Ariana.” Pulling back on the handle, I feel the movement underneath as the landing gear deploys.
Wide vacant fields loom larger and larger in front of us as we plunge downward, and my heart beats wildly. Agent Leena brings the nose up at the front and releases the throttle. The power reduces to idle. As the craft levels at the tip, we drift precariously over the barren fields beneath us. Placing my hand on top of the rudder panel, I feel the strain as the landing gear touches down. We rebound off the ground in a rapid succession of vomit-inducing bounces, and my head jerks forward, slapping into the dashboard.
When I come to, my head is embedded in the control panel and a dull pounding throbs in my temples. My throat feels red, raw, and coarse, but I’m alive, and there’s a lot to be said for that. Gingerly lifting my head, I feel a trickle of blood as it seeps over my left eyelid. I wipe it with the back of my hand and conduct a lightning quick survey of the scene. Agent Leena releases a quiet moan as she wakens, cuts and abrasions lining her skin. We lock eyes at the same time. “You okay?”
“I think so, you?” She nods her head.
