Three (Article 5 #3)(79)

I believed him.

A groan behind me drew my attention, and both Tucker and I froze. Still with the gun aimed on the door I crawled backward, keeping my head low.

The first thing I saw was Jack, or what had once been Jack, his long body splayed out across the floor as if he’d been tossed there. Under his legs was someone else. Someone whose pale face was turned to the side, revealing a head of light brown hair, matted with blood.

“Sean?” I kept my eyes on the door but crouched low, close to his face. I gave his arm a firm shake and he groaned again. He’d been shot low in the shoulder, but from the looks of his shirt had bled significantly.

A bullet zipped overhead, implanting in the back wall. Tucker swore.

With one arm I shoved Jack’s legs off of Sean’s, and pinched him as hard as I could beneath one knee.

He gasped, coughed weakly. The tears burned my eyes. I was so overcome with relief I nearly broke down.

“Sean!” My voice cracked. “Get up right now!”

“Ember?”

“Up!” I ordered. He struggled to get to his elbows. His eyes found Jack and wandered around the rest of the room before falling out of focus.

“Three,” he said faintly. “They know where the doctor is. We’ve got to get back. Becca’s…”

The screech of metal behind me, and someone burst through the back door.

I jerked my gun around, and felt the sob strangle my breath when I saw Chase.

“Ember!”

“Here,” I said. He dodged between the bodies, eyes going wide with horror before stooping beside me.

“DeWitt didn’t send anyone,” I said.

“You sure about that?” His voice was cold, and his intention made my blood run cold. This couldn’t have been Three’s work. This had to be the MM.

“Good. You brought backup,” mumbled Sean. His eyes began to roll back.

I pinched him again, this time in the crook of his elbow.

“Ow!” Sean shook his head.

“Jesse?” Chase asked me.

“Last I saw he was running for the shipyard.”

His lip curled back as he saw the way my shirt was sticking to my side. “You’re hit.”

“Just glass,” I told him. “I’m fine.”

He looked as though he didn’t believe me, but nodded anyway. “I’ll clear the back for you. It’s a straight shot into the woods; we’ll meet back at the car.”

“You hear that Sean? We’re running,” I said. “Get ready.”

He groaned as Chase hoisted him to his feet.

“Wait,” I heard Tucker say from the other side of the counter. “Wait, I’m almost … wait, okay?”

Chase flinched, his eyes cold and hard.

“We can’t leave him,” I said.

“Once you’re clear, I’ll come back for him.”

“Chase…”

His hand cupped the back of my neck and drew me forward, smashing his lips against my brow. He was gone too soon; when I opened my eyes it was to see his back as he dodged toward the exit.

I ducked under Sean’s arm and we hobbled after Chase. When we were in the doorframe, I wiped the sweat off my hand and replaced the gun, then made sure my friend was tight against my side.

“Ready?” Chase asked.

I glanced to Sean. He inhaled through his nostrils, face beginning to flush in patches.

“Now or never,” he said.

I nodded.

Chase stepped out on the crumbling concrete step and aimed directly into the woods. Shots came from the roof, and then someone called, “Hey! They’re back here!”

Without hesitation, Chase ran to the side, spun, and fired up at the roof. Sean and I sprinted toward the tree line. We hit the bushes with a crash, barely staying upright. I told my feet to keep moving, and they pedaled on, tearing through the vines and flimsy roots. Sean stumbled, then regained his footing, shoving forward.

I grabbed his arm. “Keep going,” I said. “There’s a truck three miles south where the road ends. I’ll meet you there.”

He looked like he would object, but when I pushed him, he turned and stumbled away.

“Come on, Chase,” I whispered. Gripping the gun I ducked behind an overturned refrigerator someone had left out here years ago. Chase was back inside the building now; I could see his shadow move across the room.

Ten seconds, I told myself. I would give him ten seconds to get out, then I was going back after him.

Nine.

Eight.

Seven.

Six.

Chase sprinted through the exit, head down. Someone rounded the side of the building and began firing, and Chase dropped, rolling across the ground.

I jumped to my feet. Just before I crossed into the open, Tucker broke through the door and ran to Chase. He bent and grabbed his shirt, pulling him up.

Another shot, only this one from around the side of the building. Automatically, I ducked low, but my mouth fell open in shock when I saw Jesse firing toward Chase and Tucker.

No! I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t find my voice. Jesse was making a mistake. Tucker was with us, he’d been imprisoned.

Tucker fell to his side with a blunted cry. He gripped his thigh and drew his knee to his chest.

Jesse disappeared around the side of the building again.