| |
––––––––
TRINITY FOLLOWED INDY, Jackson and Bruno through the maze of hallways. So far, the trip had been uneventful. They’d encountered a few Servants, but none had put up a fight and they’d been quickly tied up and stuffed into a vacant room or closet. Indy stopped. Up ahead were the windows and that’s where the armed Guards waited.
“We should separate. Two of us should continue down this hallway and the other two will go through there.” Indy pointed at a side door. “It’ll lead to the other side of the corridor. We can attack from both sides.”
“Sounds like a good idea,” said Bruno.
“That didn’t hurt too badly did it?” Indy grinned at him.
“Killed me, just a little bit.” Bruno tapped his chest.
“Trinity, come with me,” said Jackson.
“Ah...” Indy frowned. “As much as I hate - absolutely hate - to say this, she needs to stay with me or Bruno. We both know how to shoot. Neither of you do.”
“I’ll stay with you.” She smiled at Indy’s snarl. She didn’t completely trust this Guard, so she needed to keep an eye on him.
“You sure?” asked Jackson.
“For Araldo’s sake,” said Indy. “What do I have to do to prove myself to you guys? Die for one of you?”
“That’d help.” She turned to Jackson. “I’ll be fine. Be careful.”
Jackson nodded and he and Bruno disappeared through the door. She followed Indy down the hallway. The Guard stopped at the corner.
“Now, we wait.” He leaned against the wall.
She flung the gun over her shoulder. Indy had given her and Jackson a quick lesson on weapons, but it was heavy and unfamiliar to her.
“So, you’re with Hugh now,” said Indy.
She nodded, giving him a look that said she was not in the mood to talk, but he obviously didn’t understand or care.
“No feelings, whatsoever, for Jethro?”
“Besides contempt and hate? Nope.”
“Too bad.”
“Yeah, because he cares so much for me.” She should’ve gone with Bruno.
“He’s in love with you.” His voice was soft.
“Right. He loved me so much he took me prisoner and was going to use me to capture my friends before turning me over to the authorities.” Her lips curled in distaste. “You and I have very different definitions of love.”
“He wasn’t going to turn you over.”
“Stop lying. I doubt Hugh will execute his brother when we win this war.”
“That’s not why I’m telling you this.” He peeked around the corner and then leaned against the wall again. “Jethro wasn’t expecting anyone to show up in the forest. He had to do something to stop Cal from taking you because the captain would’ve turned you over without thinking twice. Jethro’s plan wasn’t perfect but it was all he had. He was setting everything up to turn you and your friend loose.”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes.
“Why do you think he had the alcohol brought into camp? He was getting everyone drunk and then he was going to set you free and escape with you.”
“Stop. Just stop. Okay?” She glanced around the Guard praying the others were ready because she didn’t want to hear this. If Indy were telling the truth, then she’d betrayed Jethro not the other way around.
“Why do you think I’m suddenly fighting for your side? Jethro found out about the weapons and sent me to tell Townsend so he could warn Hugh. Jethro has given up everything and he’s done it all because of you.” His voice was a harsh whisper.
“He had Producers killed while he was hunting me. We are nothing to him but meat.”
“He lied. He didn’t have anyone killed. You can ask any of his prisoners when this is over. He treated them well.” He peeked around the corner again. “Jackson and Bruno are ready.”
“Finally,” she snapped.
“Yeah. It’s too bad you had to hear the truth. I thought you should know before you make a commitment to Hugh. I saw you and Jethro in the forest and in his tent.” He stepped around the corner.
“I had to do what I did.” She followed him.
Now, he rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right.”
“You don’t know anything, but we can discuss it later, or better yet, never.” She had to focus on the task at hand not the past or even the future. Right now was the moment that was important.
She raised her weapon, taking aim at the closest Guard, and pulled the trigger. The gun jerked, throwing her arms upward. The Guard jumped to the side. She’d missed. She grabbed one of the few spears that’d stayed in her quiver after Mirra had tossed her over her shoulder and threw it as gunshots sprayed around her. She dove for a small table, as her spear hit the chest of the Guard and he crumpled to the ground. She peeked out and threw another spear. It whizzed past the Guard’s head but distracted him enough for Indy, who was hiding behind a door, to shoot him.
Silence fell over the room. She crawled out from under the table. Five Guards lay dead. They’d done it. They’d taken this section.
“Shit.” Indy raced down the hallway.
She froze, taking in the scene. Bruno was on the floor, Jackson kneeling beside him. He’d be okay. He had to be okay. She ran toward them and by the time she got there, Indy was also kneeling next to Bruno. The large Guard had been shot in the chest. There was blood everywhere.
Bruno held Indy’s hand as Jackson tried to staunch the bleeding, but the blood kept coming, leaking out of his body and onto the floor. Her eyes met Jackson’s. It was a fatal wound. There was nothing they could do.
“Take care of Sassy,” muttered Bruno.
“Don’t say that. You’ll be fine.” Indy turned to them, hope and panic in his gaze.
She shook her head slightly. She was tired of her friends dying. She was sick of this war and this world.
“Promise,” said Bruno, blood starting to trickle out of his mouth.
“She hates me,” said Indy.
“Dying...wishes...not supposed...be easy.” Bruno chuckled and it turned into a cough. “She...wants kids. Pretends not...to. Take...care...of her.” He clasped Indy’s hand. “Promise.”
Indy nodded and Bruno sighed, the life slipping from his body. She bent and closed his eyes.
“A Guard came from around the corner. Bruno shot him but the Guard fired too.” Jackson stood, still staring at Bruno.
“Let’s go.” Indy jumped to his feet, a hardness to his features that she’d never seen. “We need to finish this.”
He was right. If they didn’t, Bruno and everyone else had died for nothing. She’d cry for the dead later. She wiped her eyes and followed the Guards toward the west side of the building. Hugh and the others would take care of the east, and then they’d meet. It could’ve been Hugh who’d been killed. He could be dead right now. She took a deep breath. Hugh was fine. He had to be. She needed to tell him again that she loved him, that she chose him. It didn’t matter if Jethro hadn’t been going to turn her over to the authorities. She loved Hugh and that was the end of the story.