Page 24 of Whispers and Warriors (After #2)

TWENTY-FOUR

Ringing.

Piercing Pain.

Disorientation.

The world spun wildly around Chris as he stumbled, his mind bombarded by a kaleidoscope of fragmented memories. Vivid images of roaring flames danced before his eyes, casting an eerie glow that mingled with the piercing screams echoing in his ears. He could see the faces of his brothers, their expressions of fear and confusion lost amidst the swirling chaos. It was the day when everything had irrevocably changed, a day etched into his memory with painful clarity.

Blinking rapidly, Chris shook his head, trying to clear the haunting images that threatened to consume him. The present rushed back in a dizzying whirlwind of urgency and danger. Gunshots echoed somewhere off the ship, mingled with panicked shouts and the pounding of feet against metal.

Focus, damn it , he chastised himself, gritting his teeth as he forced his mind to the here and now. There was no time for ghosts of the past, not when their lives hung in the balance.

Chris’s instincts kicked into high gear, his body moving on autopilot as he assessed the situation. An attack. Unexpected, brutal, and carefully orchestrated. His eyes darted around, taking in the chaos that had erupted on the ship. Crew members scrambled for cover, their faces etched with fear and determination.

His heart hammered in his chest as fear for Emma consumed him. The explosion had come from where she’d been, or damn close to it.

He had to find her, protect her at all costs. The image of her, soft and vulnerable in his arms just hours before, flashed through his mind. He couldn’t lose her, not now, not ever.

Chris surged forward, his muscles coiled with tension as he navigated the narrow corridors. Bash appeared at his side, his face a mask of anger and frustration. “What the hell is going on?” Bash growled, his eyes scanning the area for any sign of the attackers.

“I don’t know, but we need to find Emma,” Chris replied, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. Nothing else mattered in that moment—not the ship, not the crew, only the woman who had captured his heart and soul and his team.

Alex’s voice cut through the haze, urgent and commanding. “Chris! Chris, we need to move!”

Chris blinked, his friend’s words penetrating the fog of his mind. He turned to see Alex, his hazel eyes fierce with determination, his jaw set in a grim line. As he’d spiraled, Alex clearly hadn’t and Chris was grateful for that. He’d forgotten Alex and Bash had been with him as he’d spiraled into the past, brief as it was.

Alex gripped Chris’s shoulder, his touch grounding him in the present. “We’ll find her, but we need to stay focused. Assess the threat, then act. Why am I the only telling you this?”

Chris nodded, drawing strength from Alex’s steadying presence. He took a deep breath, pushing aside the remnants of his disorientation. This was what he had been trained for, what he had spent years perfecting—the ability to think clearly and act decisively in the face of danger.

His gaze swept over the ship, taking in every detail with a critical eye. The attackers had struck with precision, their movements coordinated and purposeful. This was no random act of violence, it was a calculated assault, designed to catch them off guard and inflict maximum damage.

Someone had known about this ship.

His eyes darted around, seeking information through the growing chaos, analyzing the possible entry points and escape routes. They needed to neutralize the threat, secure the ship, and get to Emma before it was too late. Every second counted, and he refused to let her down.

With a quick hand signal to Alex and Bash, Chris moved forward, his body coiled with tension, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. They worked seamlessly as a unit, their movements fluid and synchronized, honed by years of training and trust.

As they pushed toward the back of the ship, the sounds of chaos grew louder—shouts of pain, the clatter of gunfire, the thud of bodies hitting the ground. Chris gritted his teeth, his determination burning brighter with each passing moment.

He would find her, no matter the cost. He would protect her, even if it meant sacrificing everything he had. In a world torn apart by war and destruction, she was his beacon of hope, his reason for fighting.

And he would not let her go without a fight.

Chris turned to tell them not to split up and was surprised at what he saw.

Alex’s face contorted with frustration and anger as he scanned the chaotic scene, his hazel eyes darting from one point to another, searching for any sign of the attackers. “Damn it!” he growled, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “How did they get the jump on us like this?”

Chris shook his head, his own anger simmering beneath the surface. “Doesn’t matter now. We need to focus on finding them and taking them out before they cause any more damage.”

Bash stumbled closer, his face twisted in a scowl as he cursed up a storm. “Those bastards are going to pay for this,” he snarled, his voice rough with rage. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Alex nodded grimly, his jaw set with determination. He positioned himself beside Chris, their shoulders brushing as they stood together, ready to defend their group against any threat. Chris could feel the heat radiating off Alex’s body, the tension coiled in his muscles, and he drew strength from his presence.

The ship was in bedlam, the high-pitched tones of shouting and booming gunfire echoing through the ship. Crew members raced past them, their faces etched with fear and confusion as they sought shelter from the attack. The clatter of feet on the metal deck was almost deafening, a cacophony of noise that added to the sense of urgency and danger.

Chris’s heart pounded in his chest as he moved forward, his senses heightened, his body thrumming with adrenaline. He could taste the metallic tang of blood in the air, mixed with the acrid scent of gunpowder. The ship rocked beneath his feet, the walls vibrating with each explosion, and he fought to keep his balance.

As they rounded a corner, a burst of gunfire erupted from ahead, the bullets ricocheting off the metal walls. Chris dropped into a crouch, his hand reaching for his weapon as he scanned the corridor for any sign of movement.

If this is just the beginning, we’re in for one hell of a fight. His heart filled with dread as he saw a gun in his face, and then it was gone.

“Welcome, Boss,” Bash growled and pushed past him.

What was wrong with him? He was trained for exactly these moments, how had he missed someone get so close? Was his worry for Emma someone overriding a decade of training?

The corridors seemed to stretch on forever, each turn revealing another obstacle in their path. Overturned crates, debris, and horribly enough bleeding bodies littered the floor, forcing them to weave and jump as they pushed forward.

“Watch your six!” Bash shouted, his gruff voice cutting through the chaos. He moved with a warrior’s grace, his eyes constantly scanning for potential threats.

Alex added in, “Check your corners! We don’t know what we’re dealing with here.”

Chris nodded, his jaw clenched with determination. Emma’s face flashed through his mind, her hazel eyes wide with fear, her curly brown hair matted with sweat.

He pictured the last time he’d held her, the way her small frame had fit so perfectly against his a few nights ago. The scent of her lavender vanilla body wash filled his nostrils as if she were here. She was his everything, the reason he fought, the reason he breathed. He would tear this ship apart with his bare hands if that’s what it took to keep her safe.

As they rounded another corner, a figure stumbled into view, clutching at a bleeding wound on his arm. Chris’s finger tightened on the trigger of his weapon, ready to fire, but he hesitated as recognition dawned.

“Ben?” he called out, his voice tinged with disbelief. “Are you okay?”

A guard they’d gotten to know staggered toward them, his face twisted with pain and fear. “I don’t know,” he gasped, his words coming out in short, desperate bursts. “I was in the cabin?—”

His words were cut off by another explosion, the force of the blast knocking them all off their feet and sending Chris headfirst into a post. Chris’s ears rang as he struggled to his feet, his vision blurring at the edges. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog, but the world seemed to tilt and spin around him.

Focus , he told himself, gritting his teeth against the pain. Emma needs you. You can’t fail her, not now.

He turned to Bash and Alex, his eyes still blurry but coming back to normal. “We keep moving,” he said, his voice hard as steel. “We don’t stop until we find her, no matter what it takes.”

A deafening splash shattered the tense stillness, sending water cascading over the ship’s railing in a violent torrent. Bash whirled around, his heart pounding against his ribs as he searched for the source of the disturbance. The sudden shift in the atmosphere was palpable. Was it a new threat emerging from the depths of the churning sea, or was it a cannon that had missed the ship?

“What the hell was that?” Bash growled, his voice barely audible above the roar of the waves. He squinted against the salty spray, his eyes scanning the turbulent surface for any sign of movement.

Chris and Alex flanked him, their weapons drawn and ready. Alex’s hazel eyes narrowed, his jaw clenched tight with tension. “Could be anything,” he muttered, his tone grim. “We need to be prepared for whatever comes our way.”

Bash nodded, his grip tightening on his gun. The weight of the weapon was familiar, almost comforting, a reminder of the countless battles he’d fought and survived. But this was different, the stakes higher than ever before. Emma’s life hung in the balance, and he’d be damned if he let anything happen to her.

I failed once .

The memory of his Brooke’s death still raw and painful all these years later and despite his love for Emma washed over him as it always seemed to do.

A hail of gunfire erupted, the sharp cracks echoing through the ship like a twisted symphony. Bullets ricocheted off the metal walls, sparks flying in their wake. Bash ducked instinctively, his body moving on pure instinct as he sought cover behind a nearby crate.

“We’re sitting ducks out here!” Alex shouted, his voice barely audible above the cacophony of gunshots. “We need to keep moving, find a better position!”

Chris nodded, his face set with grim determination. “I’ll take point,” he said, his voice steady despite the chaos around them. “Bash, you cover our backs. Alex, you stay in the middle, keep an eye out for any signs of Emma, William, or Liam.”

They moved as one, a well-oiled machine forged in the crucible of battle. Bash’s senses were on high alert, his ears straining for any sound that might herald a new threat. The acrid scent of gunpowder filled his nostrils, mingling with the briny tang of the sea.

Come on, Emma, he thought, his heart racing as they navigated the narrow corridors. Where are you and Will and why does this ship feel so damn big all of a sudden? Give me a sign, anything to let me know you’re still alive. And where the fuck are Liam and Ranger?

But the only answer was the relentless barrage of gunfire, the sound of their own ragged breathing, and the distant cries of the wounded and dying. Bash gritted his teeth, his resolve hardening with every step. He would find her, no matter the cost. He would bring her back safe, even if it meant laying down his own life in the process.

Turning behind him, Bash looked past Alex and unleashed a hail of bullets, saying a quick prayer they only hit those they needed to hit.

The group pushed forward, their steps swift and purposeful as they navigated the labyrinth of the ship’s interior. Smoke and gunpowder filled the atmosphere that enveloped them. Bash’s heart pounded in his chest, a relentless drumbeat that echoed the urgency of their mission.

A scream pierced through the cacophony of gunfire and chaos.

“Bash!” The voice screamed again.

Bash’s head snapped toward the sound, his eyes widening in recognition. “Liam?” he called out, his voice hoarse with tension.

A figure stumbled out of the smoke, one hand his right shoulder, the other reaching out for support.

Liam.

His face contorted in pain, and blood seeped through his fingers, staining his shirt a dark crimson. “Bash,” he gasped, his voice barely audible above the din. “I can’t find them. Emma and William...they were in the mess hall when the attack started. Something fucking stabbed through my arm when that second explosion happened. I can’t shoot anything but the bleeding is slowing.”

Bash looked down, and no, the bleeding wasn’t slowing. Liam’s arm and leg were coated, with more oozing past his fingers every second.

A bullet whizzed past them, followed by a snarl from Alex. There was a scream as the bullet struck someone Bash couldn’t see.

Bash’s stomach dropped, a cold sense of dread washing over him. He exchanged a glance with Chris and Alex, their expressions mirroring his own fear and determination. “We’ll find them,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. “We’ll bring them back, no matter what it takes.”

Liam nodded, his jaw clenched tight against the pain. “I’ll come with you,” he said, straightening up with a grunt of effort. “I’m not leaving them behind.”

Chris shook his head, his tone brooking no argument. “No, you’re injured. You’ll only slow us down. Get yourself to the room, Alex go with him and patch him up before he bleeds to death and then get the fuck back up here. We’ll handle this. Where’s Ranger?”

Liam looked like he wanted to protest, but a fresh wave of pain washed over him, and he sagged against the wall, his breath coming in short, sharp gasps. “The room, I shut him away tight. Emma’s room, not ours.” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “Just... just bring them back, please.”

Bash nodded even though Liam spoke to Chris, his eyes fierce with resolve. “I will,” he said, his words a solemn vow. “I swear it.”

“Let’s go,” he said, his voice low and deadly. “We’ve got a job to do.”

As they moved deeper into the ship, toward the mess hall and the unknown dangers that awaited them, Bash’s thoughts were consumed by one thing and one thing only: finding Emma and William, and bringing them back to safety. No matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice, he would not fail them. He could not fail them.

“Finally,” Chris damn near hissed and waved his hand a second before dodging a bullet. “This is fucking insane,” he choked on smoke but kept pushing forward.

Bash’s grip tightened on his weapon, his knuckles turning white with the force of his determination.

Bash gritted his teeth, his patience wearing thin. “We don’t have time for plans,” he growled. “Every second we waste, Emma and Will are in danger.”

“On three,” Chris said, his voice barely above a whisper. “One... two...”