Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 150878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 754(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 150878 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 754(@200wpm)___ 604(@250wpm)___ 503(@300wpm)
Based on my travel time and descent, I estimated that I was very close to the front gate. That was confirmed when I spotted the roof of the guardhouse.
I moved swiftly around the back of the small structure, and then stood on my tiptoes to look inside. There was just enough light cast by the lanterns nearby to see that Asher was tied to a chair. He spotted me, his eyes widening as he beckoned me for help by gesturing with his head.
I ducked down again and moved quickly among the shadows to the front of the building, peeking around. The guards were there, but their backs were to me. I kept my eyes on them, my heart thundering as I opened the door, praying it wouldn’t squeak, and slipped inside. I released a gush of breath and then I ran to where Asher was, going down on my knees behind him and beginning to untie his bindings. “The guards are compromised. They surprised me in my sleep and tied me up,” he whispered. “I was able to grab one of their walkie-talkies—”
“That was intercepted. This place is being taken over by Leon Lee and a group of armed men you might have heard being let in through the gate. They plan on evicting the elderly by force, if not others too. Leon says they’re not planning on shooting anyone, but I don’t know if that’s true. They’re unaware you have any weapons here though. Freddie and Layne are gathering as many of your people as they can. They said you know where to meet.”
Once Freddie and Layne alerted a few, they could all begin spreading out quickly, already knowing the lay of the land, every row in all the gardens and each wall and terrace. Even the elderly were on their home turf whereas the invaders were not. It was a huge advantage.
The rope came loose, and Asher began freeing his hands. “I never trusted that guy,” Asher hissed before bending forward to untie the bindings at his ankles. “He acted like he owned the place the first day he arrived. They’ll be sorry they ever attempted this. Are you with us?”
“No. I’m not staying. I have somewhere else to be.”
His gaze hung on me for a moment. “If you belong somewhere else, don’t give that up. I won’t forget what you did for me. For us. Thank you.” Asher pried up a floorboard and took out a large black bag. He reached inside and pulled out a handgun. Then he stood and grabbed something off the top of a shelf and handed it to me. I took it. A key. “Do you know how to ride a dirt bike?”
I remembered the bikes that Asher and Leon had used to take Layne and me up the hill that first day. How was I going to get one of those past the guards though? “It’s been a while,” I said.
“Come on.” Asher pulled in a breath and then unlocked the window at the back of the room. This window was older than the one I’d escaped from and didn’t swing open. Instead, he raised it slightly, pausing when it let out a creak. I cringed and looked over my shoulder as though I could see the guards through the wall. But when I heard one of them laugh loudly at something the other said, my shoulders lowered in relief. Asher raised the window higher, pausing and then pushing it up enough that we could squeeze through.
He stepped aside and I crawled out a window for the second time that night, grateful that this one didn’t involve a descent. Asher was right behind me and we both stood, listening again before he whispered, “I have my own bike that’s parked outside the gate, behind some trees on the left.” Oh. Outside the gate. It was where I was willingly heading, but the phrase itself inspired a ricochet of fear. “Wait for the two shots and then come down to the gate. I’ll open it for you.”
I opened my mouth to ask about the two shots but then realized what he meant. He was going to ambush the guards and kill them. Which was necessary. They’d betrayed the entire community. Instead, I said, “A bike is valuable. What if you need it.” It was probably what they used to go out and obtain all the weapons and ammunition they’d been able to score while others searched for food. It was why they had a fighting chance now. Each vehicle was a matter of life and death.
He glanced behind him and then back to me. “Have you ever heard the phrase, ‘burn the boats’?”
Burn the boats? What? “No.”
His mouth gave a small quirk. “Look it up someday.”
“I’ll google it as soon as I can.”