Page 52 of The Hollowed
Myra knew they weren’t safe yet. There was still a long road ahead before she could let her guard down. But for a moment, the struggle felt worth it. Every mile so far had led to this small marvel, and being able to share it with the two boys she cared forthe most was a blessing unlike anything else.
Chapter 22
Alejandro
“That’s it,” Alex said after double checking the map in his lap. Underneath the afternoon heat, a tower of concrete stood surrounded by a stone gate half its height. From this distance, it was hard to be certain but he could swear he saw the silhouettes of guards stationed at either side of the entrance.
“We made it,” Luci said from beside him, her tone a mix of relief and disbelief. She glanced at him for only a second before turning her eyes back to the road.
Alex forced a small smile, but the words sat uneasily on his tongue. “Let’s wait until we’re inside before we start celebrating,” he replied, careful to keep his tone neutral. He didn’t want to sour the moment, but he knew better than to let his guard down now. Not when safety wasn’t something he could promise.
Luci turned to him again and responded with a shaky nod. It wasn’t in agreement exactly, more like acknowledgement. He caught it and left it at that.
Alex didn’t want to take this from her. Even he was surprised they’d made it all the way from New-Chicago to Arizona in one piece, but as much as he wanted to celebrate that victory, there was a pit lodged deep in his stomach. He couldn’t shake the thought that this wasn’t the end of the fight.
It was just the start of another one.
The closer they drove, the more the gate seemed to grow until they were all Alex could see. The guards at the top moved to lift their rifles, and then one of them raised a megaphone.
“Pull over and cut the engine! Step out of the vehicle — keep your hands where we can see them!”
If the aggressive tone the guard used wasn’t enough, the way he waved his rifle in their direction left no room for doubt. Alex felt every muscle in his body go taunt. He forced his expression to seem calm for Luci’s sake, but he was nervous, relief slipping into panic once again.
“Do as they say,” Alex whispered to Luci before his hand brushed hers for the briefest moment. With that, he opened the RV door and stepped out first, making sure he was the one in front of the rifles.
Luci followed. Luna pressed against her leg, and Alex could see that she was resisting letting out a growl. The sight of weapons fixed on them made Alex’s chest burn, but he kept his stance controlled and his voice clear as he raised his hands.
“We’re not a threat!” he called up, loud enough to carry. “We were sent from Sanctum Medical to deliver special cargo.” He jerked his chin toward Luci, praying they understood
before things escalated.
One of the guards pressed a hand to his earpiece and spoke, but Alex couldn’t make out the words. Every second stretched painfully long as his eyes stayed locked on the rifles. Every instinct screaming to put himself between them and Luci.
Finally, the guard’s posture shifted, though his weapon never lowered. “Orders confirmed,” he responded through the megaphone. “You’ll be escorted inside, but make any sudden movements and you’ll regret it.”
The gates groaned as they began to open. More guardsemerged with weapons raised, circling them like predators.
Alex moved closer to Luci, his hand brushing her arm in a way that could be mistaken for casual, but it wasn’t. It was his way of promising that no matter how many guns were pointed at them, no one would lay a hand on her or Luna without going through him first.
Past the gate, the guards guided them through a narrow hall and into a room with bare walls and a metal table. The harsh lights above them buzzed. It smelled of blood and steel, the kind of place designed to strip people of comfort as much as their weapons.
“Stand against the wall,” the lead guard barked, motioning with his rifle. “Both of you have to be searched.”
Alex shifted closer to Luci instinctively, putting himself half a step in front of her. “If we were infected you’d know. We wouldn’t have made it this far.”
The guard’s expression didn’t budge. “It’s protocol,” he snapped. “Both of you strip.” His gaze moved to Luci. “Starting with her.”
Alex’s heart dropped to his stomach. “No,” he said. “That’s not happening.”
The guard’s rifle tilted up daring him to make it a fight. For a second, Alex considered the cost of putting himself between Luci and that command.
Then Luci’s hand brushed his arm. “Alex.” Her voice was quiet but calm. “It’s fine.”
He looked at her, searching her face. He wanted to argue, but the plea in her eyes kept him still.
Luci wanted to keep him safe just as much as he wanted to protect her.
Alex said nothing else as he clenched his fists and helplesslywatched as she pulled her backpack off her shoulders and her sweater over her head.