Chapter 5 :Brittany & Samantha- Dancing with Danger

5

Brittany

Dancing with Danger

I was leaning up against the door of my car, on the phone with my contact who was back at our shop we called “The House”. And while it technically wasn’t an actual shop, it's what we called it.

It was one of those things, that we came to you, not the other way around—yet at this moment in time, I had to resist the urge to go there myself. Not like I couldn’t since I was the leader, but this situation required my more immediate attention.

“It’s all over the place now.” I was telling the voice that I was speaking to on the other end of our phone call. “Even the news is eating this up. For fucks sake Vaughn, they said the Military was getting involved.”

“This is disturbing indeed.” Vaughn replied over the line. “We have to get ahead of this, before it spirals out.”

“We may not get the chance.” I told him gently. “The connections I'm seeing, are the same one the girls are seeing as well; they think and feel that Elizabeth is involved.”

“They’re trust their gut, or do they know?” He really pressed the question on me. “We know how they get—feeling wise.”

“Convenience is something they’re seeing, and when they add everything up so far, along with the mysterious visit with Liz and Liv, it’s a little inauspicious if you ask me.”

“It is,” He agreed, but the way his tone was from all my years of knowing him, told me he wasn’t convinced. “Yet the incident with Julian and Sophie—it cannot be overlooked.” He paused.

“Hence why we’re taking this path Vaughn.” I stretched my neck from side to side. “I have a feeling that we missed something the first time I had the girls spilt.”

“Is D there with Kait?” He asked not sure whether what we were hearing earlier about a runaway was true or not. “She’s here. It's all a mess with her. She chose to not tell mother dearest, and now…were here.” I exhaled a sigh. “Though, that relationship....”

“Was pure toxic.” Vaughn finished for me. “And that’s putting it lightly.”

I wouldn’t use that word” I chewed on my lip. “But what were you or anyone else able to find on this rave site?” I asked him to change the subject.

“You’re not gonna like this,” he said over the line, and I could hear him clear his throat. “This place you're at now,” he said as I looked at the building before me. “It's the same one that Kait was at prior when she found D.”

I let out a shrieking gasp. “You’re fucking kidding me!?” I stared down the building again, trying to take its features in, and as I did everyone was watching. “Are you sure about that?” Typically, I wouldn’t question Vaughn, but this...

This just didn’t add up.

“I’m absolutely correct on this,” He started. “And at the same time, I can’t explain to you the why. It’s like the past 48 hours have been drastically altered somehow, or someone managed to magically change what the place looked like in that timeframe.”

Well, fuck, this wasn’t good. Maybe the girls were on to something. Yet at the same time, how could someone get here faster than us? It took us at least an hour and half driving.

Were they using alternate methods to get around?

“Can you do me a solid?” I asked him, and when I said that, somehow Sam caught it, and looked up at me, our eyes meeting. She too could sense a change.

“Sure, whatever you need.” He replied instantly.

“Can you do a dark search for any unusual activity or maybe some magic portals that were open recently and if they left a signature trace?”

He was silent for a moment; and then he replied. “What are you trying to conjure up exactly?”

“For the moment,” I replied, sighing. “Nothing; but I'm throwing a dagger into the darkness, trying hit something. Anything.”

“I should also remind you.” Vaughn went on, as my mind tried to wander. “Your contact is there. I was able to pull some strings; wasn’t easy but given the severity of the situation, I felt it was warranted.”

Fuck, why did I have to be reminded of him. Anyone but him. Anyone!

As I mentally pulled my hand away from slapping my face, I had to remember what was at stake, and what we could learn. If anything.

“You don’t seem happy that he’s involved.” Vaughn caught me again. “If at all.”

“It’s... It’s not that.” I stuttered, trying not to stumble over my thoughts. “I’m sure you remember what I told you about him.”

“You think he would really try to do that again?” Vaughn poked at my defense I was trying to put up. “After all these years.”

I didn’t want to start a kerfuffle with Vaughn, but this was sticky situation and we needed information.

“It’s him.” I said as word vomit, and without thinking. “Anything Is possible.”

“I think you told me about the time where you left him high and dry, and ultimately did him dirty.”

God Damn. Did Vaughn really go there?

“Don’t remind me,” I huffed. The one thing Vaughn knew about me over the years I had known him—he knew how to get under my skin. Sometimes it was a good thing. Sometimes, like now, it wasn’t.

"My question to you though is this: Can you work him for information?”

“I worked him once before for information.” I informed the manly voice. “I can certainly do it twice.” Then I paused, drawing a breath, trying not to draw or reflect on that painful memory. “He understands where we stand on each other. Even if it has been over a decade from the last time, we worked together.”

I looked up at the nightclub that had magically popped up. The name didn’t exactly strike me as Royalty, but then again, what did these days?

Honestly, not much.

Royal Hookah Lounge. The sign read; however, the outside, totally didn’t feel welcoming. Instead, it felt ominous.

The hairs on my arm were standing straight up in response to the dark presence that seemed to be at least in there, for the moment.

“So,” Kait spoke up breaking all my wild running thoughts. And thank God she did, who knows where they would have gone. “Was Vaughn able to relay anything useful?”

“Was he able to confirm why this place had a sudden change?” Dimitria added on.

I shook my head in disappointment. This wasn’t technically a dead end, but hopefully, it was another road down the path of destruction.

“Vaughn can’t explain why this building just materialized out of thin air over the last 48 hours. “And that’s the most perplexing part.” I paused, looking at the building, and then sighed. “But more to the point, he also assured me that my contact was here as well."

I got a slanted glance from Kait, with her glasses tipped at the bridge of her nose. “Are you fucking kidding me?” She let out a groan of annoyance. “That contact? Are we talking about the same person?”

I nodded in agreement. “Sadly, we are.” I sighed. “This…isn’t easy for me, believe me.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake.” She swore in contempt. “I swear to fucking God…” she touched the bridge of her nose. “I can’t with this one….” she paused, shaking her head. “No. No. Just No.”

“Vaughn felt he was needed.” I told her. “He thought that…” I hesitated, biting my lip. “He could help.”

“Blimey,” Sam spoke up, letting her British accent slip. “Did he really?” She groaned at the end.

“Let’s go,” I waved for them. “We’ve wasted enough on the outside. Now it’s time for going in.”

Sam and Kait joined me at my sides, while Lauren wrapped herself around Kait’s slender frame; Dimitria easily cozied up to Lauren and snaked her way between Lauren and Kait, where they kissed each other for both pleasure and passion.

I had Olivia and Erin off to the side, with Drea and Callen flanking us and protecting our backside.

“Brit,” Drea spoke up. “I know we trust him with our lives, as we all do.” She went on. “But can we really trust this information your contact is supposed to have?”

“It’s been a long-time honey,” I admitted to her. “I haven’t really told you much about that.”

“You don’t have to—” She waved off my thoughts with her hand. “Its personal and private. You’re entitled to it.”

I got down to a knee, and locked eyes with hers. “My feelings for him, for this—are all over the place.” I looked down at the ground, trying to gather what emotions I could; and when I felt like I had them again, I looked back at her. “We need this. We need information. If he has any, even a little bit to use, we need to take. There isn’t time to turn back.” I paused. “You saw what happened to Kait. To Dimitria. If they think, if they even suspect that she’s behind this, then we trust them. We trust each other.”

“What did you call it back in your time when you went in dark?” Drea asked, hinting at the girls.

“We called it—Dancing with Danger.” Kait spoke up. “Since basically, that’s what we’re doing. We’re walking into this completely blind. We don’t know what to think---let alone what to expect. The danger is real. The risk is too high; but so is the information we could gain.”

“You’re important Drea,” I leaned in and softly kissed her on the lips. “As is everyone else. Don’t doubt yourself for a second, when we go in there, okay? Trust everything, we do, just as you have.”

She nodded in agreement. “I haven’t wavered from you yet.”

As we all walked in, the scent was exactly what one would expect from a hookah lounge, filled with various scents. Some stronger than others. Some being far too strong for my taste. However, thankfully, in these lounges, you could also bring your own, including weed.

Decorated around the entire floor plan of the building, I saw what resembled ancient mummy like statures, and then as soon I looked again back towards the dancing lights and tables.

They also had the music extremely loud, and everyone seemed to be lost in their sea of happiness and dancing. However, as we got through the door, Sam had nudged my ribs hard.

“Brittany,” she whispered to me to the point where only me and Kait could literally hear her. “Can you do a head count for me on the statues here. I want to be wrong,” she eyed one suspiciously. “Although, I don’t think I am.”

I could sense the anxiety her tone. And she was right to be nervous, especially with what happened only hours ago.

I counted silently, making sure to count each one. Including the ones, we had just passed.

One at the entrance. And then I saw another one directly to Kait’s left. Then I saw four, one in each corner of the building. Then I saw two more by what looked like the stage. Which gave me six.

Another two more by what looked like the emergency exit, which had given me 8.

So, where were the last ones hiding?

“They were outside, on either side of the door.” Dimitra, her eyes had been scanning the area just like me. “That gives us ten.”

“Shit,” Sam cursed hatefully. “This isn’t going to be a pretty ending then.”

“Why?” Kait asked her.

“These are a unique set of zombies.” Sam explained, like she had met a few. “And before you ask, yes I have.” She uncoiled herself from me and pulled closer to Kait. Almost like she was scared. “They’re Draug. Ancient zombies from Old Norse that have unparalleled strength and can grow on a whim.”

“You know this how?” Kait asked, furrowing her eyebrows.

“Almost getting killed by a few tends to do that. A few have tried to kill me during my time on Asgard. It’s not pretty. At all.”

Well, that certainly made our situation just a tad bleak, nevertheless, when it came time to deal with them, we would mostly have to improvise on that.

I found a table that was decent for us, and the others brought more to tack on to mine, and then they took their proper places, as they pulled the vapes out and took drags to keep their sanity in check.

I wanted to blend in as much as humanly possible as we could get away with it. I wanted to my damnest to avoid making a scene. Although, I fancied that whoever was here trying to pull the strings, wanted nothing more than to exposure us.

I saw my contact approach, and as he did, I told everyone to blend in the best they could. This guy was my own accord.

My own way to play the cards.

I had to be tactful here. I saw what happened when force was used for information, and this would be a blood bath if it went wrong.

These zombies were aiming to be just that, and maybe more.

I got up from the table and met him half-way. He was just as beautiful as I met him then, as he was now. He stood almost exactly tall as me, towering in at five feet and ten inches, where I had the edge was an added two inches making me six feet tall. His green eyes shone brightly in the dim filtering of the surrounding.

He was wearing a nice suede suit, with an unbuttoned cotton shirt underneath. His jeans were also a brand I couldn’t recall, but I sensed that they completed the look well enough.

He always kept his hair short. Even when we were working together, he would do everything he could to keep a clean look.

“Brittany,” he said politely as he walked towards me, embracing me in a tight bear hug. “It’s been far too long. How have you been?”

His eyes stared deep into mine, and I knew I couldn’t hide it. I never could hide anything from him, yet, at the same time, I couldn’t stand him.

“Fine.” I straightened up, clearing my throat. “I came here because I need your help.” I gestured to the girls who were all blending in, while keeping watch. I could see Sam and Kait taking turns watching. Waiting. “They, need your help.”

“My help?” He spoke as he blinked his eyes a few times, completely confused. “Come.”

He moved in front of me and gestured to come back to the tables with him. I followed him and kept an eye on the surrounding. Watching everything as carefully as possible.

He sat down in front of me and smiled sweetly. “Now,” he asked, curious as to why I had picked him, out of everyone else, when he knew the reason. “How can I assist my old comrade?”

“Adrian,” I started, trying to control my emotions. Blasted, he was right. I was going to be emotionally involved again. It happened every time we came in touch with each other. “I, we, need your help.” I pulled out the file from my pack and put it gently on the table. “These attacks on the rave, the ones in your territory, do you know anything about what’s happening?”

I watched him as he thought my question. Even if my emotions weren’t entirely in control, he knew I knew business. I always did.

“What are you looking for exactly?” His suave Italian voice came out in reply. I could tell he never lost it and tirelessly worked to make sure it was polished, just like now. “I don’t seem to understand the intention here.”

“I’m asking, if you’ve seen anything unusual.” I reinterned. “Anything, that you or your circle wouldn’t categorize as normal activity for your area. Activities, that have been putting- "

“Okkay,” He responded, gesturing with his hands finally understanding where I was going. “Now that you mention it, there has been this activity that no one in my area has been particularly okay with, and to be honest, I’m inclined to agree with them.”

“What’s been going on?” I questioned, trying to probe more.

“You mentioned these raves. There was one not even three nights ago. The weird part was this rave felt different. The people who attended were…different.”

“Different how?” I craned my head to the side in the direction of the girls, hoping to see if they would catch on. “Did they seem dangerous? Unnerving?”

“Dangerous for sure,” he said, with a hint of dread. “However, it felt like some of the ravers, were…well they didn’t seem human.”

As soon as he said that the girls picked on it, and my vibe as well, nonchalantly joining us at the table, sitting on either side of me.

“Oh,” I said as if I was about to cough. “Forgive my manners. But Adrian, meet Sam,” I pointed to Sam who was on my left. “And Kait.” I pointed to Kait who sat at my right.

“Her,” Adrian pointed directly to Kait, as if he knew her from somewhere but couldn’t place his finger on it. “I remember her from somewhere, I don’t’ remember how or why.”

“I don’t see how you could.” Kait’s accent once again coming out, trying to swoon him. “I’m not entirely difficult to forget, well,” she laughed. “Unless you’re at the end of my blade, then I could see why you would choose to repress your memory.

He started blushing at her beautiful voice, becoming slightly infatuated. “Now I knew why your hard to forgot. Your so dreamy, so delicious to look at. I wonder how many people have- “

I kicked him hard from under the tables, which caused him to flinch and refocus.

“Focus here Adrian,” Sam said, snapping her fingers on him, causing him to come back to reality Her eyes were intense and serious. “She’s mine, and not interested. And honestly, you’d probably not even survive the night with her.”

I nodded in agreement with Sam on that. There were nights where I swore Sam didn’t make it through the night, but she did.

“You were about to tell me about what you knew?” I went back to questioning him.

“What I know,” He cleared his throat and straightened his shirt. “Isn’t much. In fact, I don’t see how my information could potentially help you out at all.”

He was playing coy and hard to get, and now, after he tried to flirt with Kait, I was getting to the point of having enough.

“Adrian,” I spoke with a huffed, annoyed tone of voice. Now he was beginning to provoke me. “What. Do. You. Know?”

I started to move from the table, and in my haste, harshly bumped the table, which caused the file I brought with me, to fall and the contents of what were inside, scattered all over the floor, which Kait carefully picked back up and held onto.

“Adrian,” I hissed, now getting mad, ready with a butterfly knife of my own. “Tell me! Now! Who’s behind this?” I put the blade to his throat, and then with my free hand grabbed the collar of his suit. “Who put you up to this?!”

At this point, Kait and Sam had their swords both drawn, and their tips pointed steadily at Adrian’s throat, who now gulped down a dose of fear.

“Okay,” He said as his voice rose a level just from the shiny steel that was firmly pointed at this nape. I had him scared, and he knew it. I hadn’t done it to him before, but he also sensed I was all about the business of information right now. I didn’t have time for his little charades. “There’s….” He stammered, trying to put coherent thoughts and words together. “There’s someone. Actually, more like a group of people.”

“Tell us!” I snarled. The girls pushed the tips closer to his throat. “I can’t tell them to stop, if I don’t get the information, they will, and they will be less enthused about having to extract it through their means.”

“They came to me, three days ago.” He blurted it out so hastily, that he was trying everything to not run over his thoughts. “There were three of them. All women.”

“What did they look like?” Kait snarled, getting annoyed with this cat and mouse like exchange. “Do you remember?”

“They…” He continued to stutter. Still panicking from being threatened. “They wore hoods that covered them completely. I didn’t see much of their faces. They came to hours after the first rave here. “They said they needed my building so they could move some things in. They….” He was hyperventilating at this point, since I sensed, that if he had mentioned any of their names, he would be killed. “They told me that as long as I stayed silent about it, they wouldn’t harm me, and then….” He paused again, trying to breathe. “They dropped one hundred thousand dollars at my feet and then they started moving in the statues you see now.”

“Why did they pick this place?” Sam asked, retreating her sword slightly, looking around as if she had sensed someone or something else. “Wait…Hold on...”

She pulled her sword back towards her, keeping it close, but not entirely tucking it away. “Someone else is here.”

“That’s the other part.” Adrian said, trying to calm down. “They bought someone else into the mix. A male. He’s been working here, in the back, but lately, he’s also been quite a problem.”

“Problem how?” Kait asked, while keep an eye on her partner’s moves. “What has this guy been doing? What trouble has he brought?”

“He’s been drugging the women here. And then when they pass out, he sneaks off with them, and does appalling acts with them, against their will.”

And then, like that, it clicked; and Kait sensed it too.

Brittany,” She started, realizing the horror that we just learned. “Two days ago, when I was there, at the rave with Lauren, I sniffed some of the drinks. They had been tampered with.”

“So, he was doing it then too?” Adrian, asked, now woefully worried about what he had dragged himself into unwillingly.

“He must have.” Kait confirmed. “He must have used the first rave as a testing ground, and now that he’s perfected it,” Then she quickly looked over towards Erin’s direction. And then spun on her heel. “Olivia’s not on the dance floor.” She spoke with paranoia. “She was here when we all arrived.”

I motioned for Drea and Callen to instantly search for her, while Kait skipped back to the table where her modified vape was at and sniffed it.

“She been drugged.” She confirmed, throwing it in the nearest trash bin. “He got to her, through her vape.”

I refocused on Adrian. Now trying to make sure that he was safe. “Hide. Hide and then when it clears, get out of town,” I let go of him, and then tried to survey the surroundings.

Once again, this felt odd. It felt like someone wanted us here. They wanted us to take their bait, and now, regrettably we had.

I watched him try to make a run towards the back entrance, however I watched as he collided into someone, who roughly threw him back in our view, and then I heard him scream.

“No please!” He begged. “I did what you asked. I brought them here. Please, please don’t kill me. I have a family.”

He was forced out into the dancing section of the building, with a knife to his throat, and when we saw who it was, the other two instantly readied themselves.

“Pity,” the woman spoke with extraordinarily little emotion in her voice. “You had gotten so far. Yet…” She stabbed straight through his back. “You failed to live for our cause.”

“Noooo!” I cried, tears coming out, which now made me vulnerable. “Adrian!”

Without thinking, I rushed her, and tried to make my way to him, hoping that I could still save him, but when she saw what I was doing, she used some of her dark magic and knocked me back…

∞∞∞

Samantha

As soon as Brittany took the blow from the dark magic that Julian used, I knew we had to act. I had to make sure that she paid a price.

“Drea, Callen,” I called for them, taking the charge now. “New orders.” I pointed to an unconscious Brittany. “Brittany is out cold, tend to her. Now! Kait, Dimitria and I will handle this.”

At first, they hesitated, and then they realized that Brittany would have handed them the same order if I or Kait had been knocked out. They rushed to her side and knelt to check on her and see if she was breathing, when they gave me a thumbs up, I focused on what was in front of us.

Kait had her back to me, with her sword still drawn. “Do you think we can do this?”

“It’ll be rough,” I told her straightforward, not even trying to hide a hint of dread in my voice. “We can do this though.” I looked at her now, smiling. “Together.”

“Together.” Dimitria smiled coming up to my side, where with the three of us, formed a triangle.

Julian had finally showed her devilish beauty in full force now, having lost the scarf she was wearing from earlier. Next to her, was the mystery male that Adrian was mentioning; the one who suddenly started here after the women dropped off the loads of cash.

At first glance, he looked short, but then when I really focused on him, I saw that he was roughly the same height as Julian, his black hair and brown eyes keeping him almost perfectly concealed in the dark, until he stepped into a light that illuminated his feature.

He wore a regular tee shirt with cargo shorts that ended right before his knees. He was also clean shaven and looked like he knew how to take care of his body, however, not quite a fit person.

I saw, and so did Kait, that he wore a necklace around his neck, but I couldn’t be sure if it was the same one that Kait had told me about from our past conversations, and she also didn’t want to assume.

“You can go Julian,” He spoke with such control and command that it made me wonder who really was in control now. “I alone, can handle three annoying women. You already removed our greatest obstacle. Their leader. Now, I can handle the rest.”

So, they were working together. Figured. It seemed almost too much to not bank on at this point.

“Forgive my leader. Her impatience and thirst for revenge drives her beyond obstacles, that she would not otherwise be able to break through.” He spoke, and again, I felt that commanding voice that was also alluring.

There was something enchanting about him, and yet at the same time, something exceedingly dangerous.

“However, where are my manners.” He said, as he walked down the steps and approached us. Which told me that he had been watching all this time. He had listened all this time. “My name is Joshua. And I have been given permission to play in this game along with my masters, however,” he paused and smiled like the devil, almost sensing that he had us cornered. “I can assure you, that tonight, the only ones who walk away from here, are myself and Julian.”

He walked to one of the statues by the stage and leaned on it, still watching us. “I promise, that tonight, you all will die here.” He was so confident and sure of himself.

“Where’s our sister,” Kait went straight for it, trying to call his bluff. “What did you do to Olivia?”

“That lass?” He slyly replied with his seductive voice. It was one that he could get you to do anything if you weren’t strong enough, and here he was trying to outwit us. “Oh, she’s one of my many victims that fell prey to my immensely powerful drugs that I’ve used to gather information. Sadly, the only thing that happens is they go unconscious so, I have to…” he played with the words. “What is you women call it…”

“So, you did do those things to those poor women then?” I shouted, getting heated. Now I was getting angry, and I fell for it since he took perfect advantage. “What did they ever do to you?”

“Everything!” He retaliated, becoming visibly heated because of what he had been supposed “caught” doing. “I seek to find and make the Valkyrie mine. I intend to make her dark and turn her into not only an instrument of destruction, but an obedient wife that I can have full control over. And neither of you...” then he suddenly stopped when his eyes locked onto Kait’s. “Will be able to stop me. Not even you Kaitlyn Alexis.”

At that instant, she gripped her sword tighter. A better question was---how did he know her name?

“Or you, Samantha Retina,” He fiendishly laughed, knowing us by name. “And yes, I do know your names. Courtesy of my master.” He touched the statue, and at that moment, I felt the ground start to move beneath me, and I knew that he had started the process of waking the Draugar of the underworld. “But please,” he laughed again. “Make this entertaining and attempt to take me on. Once you get past them that is.”

The Draugar started slowly coming at us, however, now they hadn’t grown. Not that would matter since their growth would only complicate matters.

“Draugar,” He commanded them all. “Kill the Valkyrie and her girlfriend. Tear this building apart.”

And just like that, he dashed away as they started to surround us. We were severely outnumbered and almost equally outmatched. Kait and I alone couldn’t handle these many on our own, nevertheless, we would have to manage.

“He’s really starting to tick me the fuck off.” Dimitria huffed and blew a piece of her hair out of her way. “I want to get ahold of him, myself.”

“D,” I hissed. “No. Not after the shit you pulled earlier.”

“I have an idea.” Kait spoke up sparking my curiosity. “But we’ll have to play this perfectly.”

“I’ll follow baby.” I assured her. “Just take the lead.”

She rushed into them and swiftly slid underneath to where their weapons barely struck her, with her telekinesis, she forcefully pushed one, into another, and as she did, I took my chance and hacked at what parts I could cut off, trying to slow them down.

Dimitria followed suit and took on one, on her own. While she wasn’t quite as lithe as Kait was, she made up for it with her agile quickness and her magic, which she was using to slow them down along with the combination of her swordcraft. In between attacking and dodging, I was amazed that D was easily able to keep up with the zombies, and then also use her bodyweight to crush one to pieces, where I saw it dissolve away.

Kait rushed back to me however this time, my hands met her and threw her up like a springboard, where she flew over me, spinning until she landed on another Draug where she then proceeded to slice her way through until the head came off or till, she broke through what would be their chest.

As she did that, I also worked my way onto one, jumping onto one who had noticed, and started to use my blade to bring them down, however as I almost through, the Draug reach up and held me until he could throw me down.

Crashing hard into the table wasn’t my first idea but it had prevented any more damage from being inflicted upon me now. Though when I regained control of my senses, I saw that that same one that had thrown me down was still coming at me, and without hesitation, I called my magic to me, and fire leapt from my hand in the form of a ball, and I threw it at him with the best chance I had.

The sound that I heard the Draug made was just as creepy as they looked like. It sounded like it was a mix of a screech and a scream while trying to gurgle saltwater. And it continued to make that sound when the fire connected and consumed it until there was nothing, but its ashes left in the wake.

Dimitria came by and pulled me up by the hand and we both ran over to where Kait was working on another, and we both watched as it was raising its bone crusted sword with sharp jagged points was coming straight for her.

A swing like that surely would have surely knocked Julian out, and without thinking, I rushed the zombie, while Dimitra threw more of her magic at her, causing a distraction.

However, for us, it was enough, as we were able to overwhelm it and take it down.

We had only taken out four of the ones that were here. By my count, we still had six more left to deal with it. We also still had to get to Olivia and make sure that she was okay, or at least trying to shrug off the drugs that she had been doped with.

“Come on Sam,” Kait called me, as she raced up the stairs, towards where Erin and Lauren were. “We have to get Olivia and get out of here.”

I agreed with her and followed her up the stairs where we met up with the other two had been guarding it since they realized that if they tried to fight, they might try to get killed.

“Were trapped essentially,” Lauren spoke as she knew our options were bleak. “If we stay and fight, we end up dead. And if we escape, they’ll just continue to hunt us down until we are dead.”

“Oh, how right you are.” Josh’s seductive voice spoke out again, as he approached us, smiling. Like he was impressed that he knew we would overcome those monsters. “Your situation is hopeless. There’s nothing you ladies can do. Two of your ladies are out cold, and the other two tired from fighting. However, will you escape your plighted situation now. All your hope is gone; Snuffed from the world.”

“No, it’s not.” I said, gritting my teeth, knowing that there was a way out. There had to be, even if we had to make it ourselves. “We will escape from here.”

He only laughed. “I would certainly like to see you try.”

“Erin, can you carry Olivia on your back?” I asked her, not sure if my idea would work.

“Yeah, I can.” Erin replied. “I just won’t be able to fight.”

This was why Brittany had insisted on taking two cars. For moments like this, and honestly, I’m glad I listened.

“You won’t have to.” I told her. “Just trust me love. I can get you out.”

She chalked up a smile. “I haven’t quit on you yet.”

I turned my neck towards Kait. “I need you to go with them.” I begged her. “Please.”

She didn’t exactly take it. “We stick together.”

“Babe,” D spoke up. “Sammi has a point. This is a time to break up.”

Kait shook her head in resistance. “No. We’re better as a team.”

“If we stick together, we die. Please.” I begged her again. Knowing that if we all stayed, we all would die, but if I got them out, I could take this on my own, and possibly live the outcome. “I need you to trust me. She’s much too important, just like me. We need to keep her safe. Keep her away.”

At that point, she saw where I was going, and agreed. “Okay,” she breathed slowly. “I’ll do it. But you owe me. Again.”

“Consider it my debt then.” I slightly shoved her towards the steps, before following. “Now go. Make a break for the entrance.”

I watched as she made a dash with the rest of team in tow and then when it was right, I fell into place behind them.

“D!” I grabbed her by the collar of her shirt and kissed her. “Get out of here. Don’t follow the girls. Go your own way sweetie. We’ll reconnect soon.”

She quickly embraced my kiss and returned it. “Okay,” I could feel her breath on my neck, and it was warm, reassuring. “I’ll do my best to lay low.”

“Don’t let anyone capture you.” I pleaded with her.

“I’ll do my best.” She promised and kissed me again. “Stay safe yourself.” And like that, she broke away from me and made a mad dash to join the others.

“Now, where do you think you’re going?” Josh laughed sadistically, coming into view again, right behind two more Draug. “Thought you could leave so easily? You thought that” He played with us, as if we were his toys. “What you would be able to escape to tell the others of what you saw? I can assure you that I won’t allow it.” Then he turned to the Draug. “Kill them all!” He commanded.

As soon as the Draugar’ started to advance I knew that unless they escaped and ran for it now, they would never get out.

“Go!” I yelled, almost wanting to throw some of my magic at them. Instead, though Kait looked back at me and knew. She trusted me and I trusted her. “Get out now!”

I saw her make a run towards the zombie like the first time, however unlike last time, instead of attacking them, she slid under their wide, spaced out bone-like legs and then got the others to follow her lead as she helped carry Olivia out and away from danger.

“Bitch!” Joshua screamed at me, knowing that he could no longer reach them, so it was only going to be me that he had to deal with. “You’ll pay for this!”

Out from the shadows, I heard a laugh, I was getting all too comfortable with, and still didn’t like it. Julian.

“Joshua, my dear,” her coy, sinister voice spoke out in the darkness. “You can go. You’ve done quite enough for today. And there’s still more to be done.”

“But the girl- “He stammered, clearly upset.

“It’s quite alright,” Her voice was now echoing all around the room, which was making it hard to focus on her exact position. “Besides, you would only be killed by her. Allow me the pleasure.”

So, she had been here the entire time, hiding in the shadows. Typical Julian fashion; always hiding out till the moment suited her.

“Coward!” I yelled in the dark, knowing that somewhere in the back of my mind that this was useless, but could also serve as the bait. “Come out and play. Unless you’re scared to get your ass kicked again.”

“My, my” she laughed. “Aren’t we in quite a rush to die.” She came out from the shadows, she was concealed in. “Alright then,” she said, as she pulled out her sword and brought it to face mine. “Then, it’s a warrior’s funeral for one. Yours.”

And like lighting, she came at me, and I was…Completely…Unprepared...