Page 21 of Dismantle & Prevail

The rain starts to fall again, and I use it to my advantage to move through the field. The wind and rain drown out the sound of crunching leaves beneath my feet.

My entire body is a ball of nerves and I push down the bile threatening to rise in my throat. I need to be brave. I'm not the scared little girl that I once was.

I can do this. I can fucking do this.

As I reached the side of the house, I let out a sigh of relief.

One step closer.I can do this.

I round the backside of the house, my hand moving to the handle of my gun resting in the waistband of my soaked jeans.

My head is on a constant swivel as I reach the white door and I crouch down so I’m not seen through the glass window.

Slowly, I creep up high enough to peek inside and what I see shocks me.

The same guard I saw walking outside moments before is sitting next to a locked door, fast asleep. His gun is on the ground next to him, his arms crossed over his chest and his head hanging back. I swear I can hear his snoring through the door.

My hand moves to the door handle, and I curse under my breath as it opens with ease.

Quietly, I make my way inside and stare down at the guard who is dead to the world.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. This is who has been standing in the way for two months?” I murmur.

Don’t let your guard down. This could be a trap.

I nod to myself and clear my mind, knowing exactly what I need to do.

Not giving myself a moment to think, I bend, my hand moving to the sheathed knife I have on my ankle, my eyes never leaving the sleeping guard and my ears listening for any hint of movement.

In one fluid motion, I grip the knife, rise to my full height, and swipe the blade against the guard's neck, flashes of crimson coat my vision. His eyes flash open and he tries to speak, but all he can conjure is a gargle.

I feel a sadistic smile spread across my face as I watch the life drain from his eyes and blood fills his mouth, making it hard for him to breathe.

Once again, I scan my surroundings and see a set of keys clipped to his belt.

I’m coming for you, Ari.

Using the back of my hand, I swipe the blood from my eyes and lean down so my mouth is next to the guard’s ear. “No sleeping on the job.”

My voice is barely above a whisper as I release the keys from his belt and watch the last remaining moments of life drain from his eyes.

Before moving to the door, I make a quick scan of the area. I wait for a hoard of people to come running, because surely this is a trap, but I’m met with only silence.

I make quick work of the door and stand to the side as I push it open.

It would be my luck that I get shot just a staircase away from rescuing Ari.

When I’m met with silence once more, I quietly place my foot on the first step, and allow the door to slightly close behind me.

Creeeeak.

The wooden steps echo in the dark basement and I know for certain if someone is hiding in the shadows, I’ve just given myself away.

Using the small amount of light coming from the crack in the door, I slowly make my way down the steps and as I reach the last step, a putrid smell overtakes me.

Bile rises in my throat as what I can only describe as death fills my nose.

Fucking hell. Where is that smell coming from? And where is Aries? Is this a dead end? It can’t be.