Hunted (A Sinners Series Book 2) (25 page)

Cole peers through the cloudy glass one last time, his hands loosening on his gun. He sets his gun down on the corner of the couch, carefully moving around the furniture as he makes his way toward where I stand at the wall.

“Who are they?” he asks, placing his palm against the cement blocks.

“Sinners … like me.”

“You mean, like us,” he says in a firm tone. I tilt my head toward him but his eyes are glued to the names on the wall.

Mollie Bayberry, Gluttony.

Sam Buckwalter, Wrath.

Kelsey Miller, labeled Lust. I’ll never be who they say I am.

I can totally relate to that.

Naif Gwinn III, Greed. Midwest. I lived in a bomb shelter underground for five years with my family. When we came out, we were all accused by people we didn’t even know. When they came for us, my parents fought the guards and were shot in front of me. I lost everything. I ended up in hell. But I met others inside and have survived living here for two years. I don’t know how some days. I wasn’t greedy before, but I would kill others for food now if it meant I’d make it one more day.

Kimberley Drajogvic, Lust.

Ben V. Shunnemaker, Pride. It’s who I am.

My fingers shake as I strain to read all the names. Some of them leave messages related to their sins, others write just their names and brands. I can hardly believe my eyes as I take it all in.

Jerry Piagentini. I was born here. I don’t remember my parents. I grew up on the streets, working odd jobs for guards to make enough to eat. I’ll probably die here. Life is hopeless.

Kristen Dayspring, Lust. From High Society, formerly known as NYC. I was accused the night of my 18
^th
birthday by my best friend. I had a party while my parents were away, and she was jealous of the gift her boyfriend got me. I liked him, I’ll even admit to wanting him … but it wasn’t worth it. I never got to say goodbye to my mom and dad. If you ever meet them, tell them I love them.

“Did you know her?” Cole asks.

“No, I don’t recognize the name.”

Cole lapses into silence, and I wonder what he’s thinking.

“After Keegan left, I wasn’t allowed out much. I think my mom was afraid of losing me too.”

“Huh, isn’t that ironic,” he says quietly.

“Yeah, tell me about it. Keegan forgave her for everything before he died … Sometimes I wish I could do the same. But I’m still angry with her for sending me here. How can I not be?”

“Lexi, you can’t hold on to that anger,” he says. “Trust me. You might end up doing something that later on you’ll deeply regret. Forgiving someone who hurt you is hard as hell to actually do, but in the end, it brings you the kind of relief you need to move on. Like when you close a book, so you can open up a new one. I have no clue where that weird metaphor just came from.” He gives a small chuckle.

I laugh at him. “Well, I can’t bring myself to do that just yet… but forgiving also applies to forgiving yourself.”

Cole’s jaw twitches as my words silence him. He looks away, swallowing hard.

Suddenly, my mind flashes to a quote from the book Alyssa read before her death,
The Last Silk Dress
. It’s in one of the scenes where the daughter, Susan, tries to rationalize her tumultuous relationship with her mother. The words come back to me, hitting me like lightning.

“And it was too late for me to decide that I could forgive her for anything. Or hope that she would forgive me. She didn’t want my forgiveness. She didn’t want me.”

“It’s no wonder Alyssa thought of me when she read that book,” I whisper to myself. I wish I knew where it was now. I shake my head and turn to watch Cole, but he’s completely caught up in reading the various stories written on the wall, his hand stretching out to one in particular.

“Hey,” I say. Cole’s head snaps up as he drops his hand from the wall.

“Yeah?”

“Do you think there’s anything here to write with? There’s something I need to do.”

He presses his lips together for a moment. “Let me see what I can find.”

Cole’s eyes jump around the room. Zeus lifts his head from the couch as fluff topples from his head. Everything’s a mess. Blankets and clothing are tangled on the floor. Zeus has shredded the pillows beyond use. One of the end tables is overturned, and crudely made silverware is scattered around the living space in front of the couch.

“Here, found something,” Cole says. He strides over to the corner of the room, flicks a quick glance out the window, and picks up a black marker. “How about that, sucker?” He flings it to me.

“Perfect, thank you.” I catch it, unscrew the cap, and then I reach up to my tiptoes to find space for my name. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Cole watching me closely. I lean my head back and begin writing.

Lexi Hamilton, Lust. In love with Cole Veneti, a former guard. Falsely accused, but it no longer matters to me who they think I am. Brands don’t define who you are, you have the power to decide that on your own. I might be damaged, but I’m not broken. Believe me, you can overcome anything short of death.

When I finish, Cole’s waiting, holding out his hand. His jaw’s set, and his brown eyes focus with intensity. I hand over the marker and watch as he easily stretches up and begins to write.

Cole Veneti, unbranded, but I’ll be damned if I don’t deserve to be branded with every one of the seven sins. Former guard turned resistance member with Zeus, the best dog you’ve ever met. Lexi Hamilton rescued me from the hellish life I was living. I’m sorry for the past, but I hope to redeem myself this time around. If we manage to band together and stop hating each other, then we can beat the system. NEVER GIVE UP HOPE.

He stands back, rereading his words, and I take his hand in mine. We don’t speak, but I feel stronger standing here, just holding his hand. Just having him by my side blows my mind. Evil brought us together, but love makes us whole.

Someone nudges our hands, and I look down to see Zeus gazing up at us. I can’t help laughing. Cole and I let go of each other, and I squat to Zeus’s level while taking his face in between my hands and allowing him to lick the side of my face.

“We didn’t forget you, you’re part of our family,” I say. Then Zeus burps, and I cringe away from his mouth. It smells like fish. “For that, I might just disown you, though.”

“How about we go downstairs and take a look around?” Cole suggests. He picks up his gun and focuses on the mission again. “If it’s clear of guards we should head back to the underground. As soon as we can.”

“Cole, before we go, I just want to say you’ve already redeemed yourself … I think you should know that.” He lifts his eyes to mine, and the pain that radiates through them takes me aback. “Whatever secret you’re keeping from me, you need to get it out, otherwise it’ll consume you … and us.”

His posture tightens, and his hand flexes at his side. “Soon … I promise, okay?” His shoulders slump as soon as he says it.

I wipe my hands on my pants and straighten my shoulders. He’s right, we should go, but I hate not knowing what’s eating him. If something happens to us, I don’t want anything left unsaid.

Cole traverses the steps lightly and slowly. Zeus scampers down behind him, and I bring up the rear. Cole turns around and raises his eyebrows at me, waiting on me to follow.

I take one last look at the wall where we told our stories. It’s in permanent ink—our commitment to each other and to the resistance. I can’t help wondering what Sutton would think about our small band of revolt members being in the Hole. Or how he’s holding up. Or if he’s okay. Then I feel the building shudder.

“Cole?”

“Yeah?”

“Did you feel that?”

“Feel what?” he asks half-heartedly, poking his head out the doorway.

“The walls; they’re shaking.” I hop down the last step and put my hand on the wall.

“Well, that’s never a good thing.” He leans out the door as he scans the alleyway. The air’s stagnant and heavy with moisture. Sweat pours off my forehead. “It’s clear,” he says. “Let’s go.”

I hear a sound like a thunderclap. “What is that?” I ask in a shaky voice.

Zeus barks, sprinting across the room toward Cole as our eyes meet in a moment of panic.

“Get down!” Cole says as he dives to the floor.

Dust and ash billow around us. I fall to my knees, covering my head with my arms, pressed against the wall. Crashing and banging echo all around. When I try to breathe, my lungs fill with particles and dust, making me cough. My body trembles, but I can’t move.

I brace myself as the walls come down around me. A slab of concrete lands next to my head, and I begin yelling. “Make it stop!”

The earth shakes beneath me, and I press my fists against my head. When it stops, I’m still squeezing my eyes shut. All I hear is the sound of my heartbeat thrashing in my ears.

“Lexi!” a voice yells.

I cough, twice, three times, and raise my head. A layer of gray ash covers everything. I pull my shirt up over my nose and try to breathe.

“Lexi, answer me,” Cole says with panic in his voice.

This time, I shake my head, and I hear him clearly.

“I’m here,” I say. “I’m all right.”

I cough again, wondering what the hell happened. Slabs of concrete encircle me like a cocoon. The wall I crowded against is still standing, miraculously. I thank my lucky stars Cole’s alive. We’re both alive.

“Where?” he asks in a panicked tone. “I don’t see you.”

“I’m … ” I don’t finish.
Where am I
?
Trapped
. “Against the back wall. I think.” When my eyes come into focus, I reach out and touch the concrete that surrounds me. My skin is clammy, and I clutch my throat. “Oh my God. Get me out, get me out … Cole, please get me out of here!” It feels like the walls are slowly moving closer to me and soon I’ll be a pancake. My heart pounds as a sharp pain shoots across my chest.

“Don’t worry; I’ll get to you,” he says.

“I’m going to have a heart attack.” I dig my nails into the back of my neck and clench my teeth so hard, I’m afraid they might break.

“No you’re not. Close your eyes and just keep talking to me.”

Zeus starts scratching away at the concrete that surrounds me. He whines and whimpers, and he moves all around. I hear him digging and breathing hard, trying to get to me through the pieces of cement floor.

“Zeus, good boy. Let’s find our girl,” Cole says, as Zeus continues to tear away the debris.

I retreat into the fetal position and cover my face with my hands. I swallow hard, only to gag on the dust ball that’s stuck in my throat. It’s an awful feeling. Gagging, gasping for air, and fighting the panic filling your lungs. I want to be brave. I want to be found. I don’t want to die.

“Okay, Lexi, you have to calm down,” Cole says. “I need you to help me out here. I know this is difficult for you, but try to think about me and not your fear.”

My lips and chin tremble. I am starting to hyperventilate. “Get me out.” I scrape my hands against the floor, and debris cuts into my skin.

“Working on it,” he says. “Listen to me. I need you … to open your eyes just for a minute, and see if you’re able to move anything.”

“Are you serious?” I ask, but it sounds like I’m blubbering.

“Yes, focus on my voice and do it.”

“But what if … ”

“I’m not going anywhere without you. Even though you can’t see me, I’m right here.”

Opening my eyes, I’m immediately lightheaded. The room spins, and I see black spots. “I’m going to pass out.”

“Oh hell no. Don’t do that. Breathe, deep breaths … slow deep breaths. You’re strong; you can do this.”

My arms shake when I try to move a piece of cement; my muscles feel like jelly. I try again but with no luck.

“It won’t budge,” I say.

“It’s all right,” he says in a not-so-calm voice this time. “Just give me a minute to think. There’s no need to panic.”

“Too late.”

I run my hand down the wall, and sweat makes my fingers slip off. Ash covers my arms and hands, making a thick, filmy layer on my skin. I taste the thick, dry paste coating the inside of my mouth.
Yup, here we go. I’m going to puke
. I turn and heave, but only saliva-thickened ash comes out.
That’s new.

I pull my legs to my chest and rest my forehead on my knees. I hear Cole moving chunks of concrete. But then I hear someone or something moving around on the other side of the back wall. The movement stops.

“Cole,” I say through my clenched jaw.

“Yeah?” he asks, slightly muffled.

“How long?”

“Not sure,” he says.

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice some of the rubble moving in one little area, and then Zeus’s paw breaks through.

“Zeus.”

I scoot forward and reach out to touch him, wrapping my hands around his paw. His pads are rough, almost like sandpaper, and his nails are worn down to almost nothing. He whimpers, and he doesn’t pull back his foot, almost like he knows I need a paw to hold on to.

“Not good.” Cole grunts, and I hear something scrape across the floor. A giant crashing noise follows. “Damn it,” Cole says.

“Now what?”

“I’m not gonna lie,” he says. “This might take a while.”

I say nothing in response. Zeus whimpers, and I hold on to him. On the other side of my prison, Cole’s feet drag back and forth. I imagine he’s working as fast as he can, but from my end, nothing looks like it’s opening up. I close my eyes and hum a tune to calm my nerves.

Pretty soon, I notice it’s getting darker. The sun is setting.
How long have we been here?
I try shifting my position, but my tiny cell doesn’t allow me to stretch out my aching legs. I lick my lips, but my tongue’s dry and scratchy.

“Cole?” My voice comes out raspy.

“What?”

“Can you hand me your water?”

“How?”

“Through the hole Zeus made.”

“Huh? Zeus made a hole?”

“Um yeah, I’ve been holding his paw.”