Chasing The Forbidden

Chapter 7

Glimpse of Betrayal

"Sophie, open yours! Sit with me! Nolan's voice sliced through the fog, raw and urgent. As they pressed against my shoulder in an attempt to halt the bleeding, his hands shook.

I moaned, every inhale a stinging sensation of agony. I whispered, "Stop screaming." "I have nowhere to go."

His laughter was quivering, a mixture of terror and relief. You truly terrified me.

"I should have let him shoot you," I said, the smallest smile pulling at my lips in spite of the pain. "You're trouble."

His eyes softened; for a moment, it was just us, no anarchy, no blood, no enemies. Then why would you front the bullet?

I didn't respond. Not able to. The truth was too twisted in feelings I wasn't ready to deal with. Rather, I turned away to concentrate on the flickering overhead light. Changing the topic, I added, "You owe me."

"Anything," he exclaimed rapidly. "Just keep alive."

My chest tightened at his vulnerability in his words, but before I could say anything, I heard footsteps. My body tightened, and Nolan saw right away. His hand went to his rifle.

"They're coming back," I said, horror snarling at my throat.

His voice sharpening, he added, "Not if I can help it." "Could you move?"

Gritting my teeth against the misery, I answered, "I think so." I stood with his assistance, slanted mostly against him.

Nolan replied, his tone intense, "We have to leave here." Julian wouldn't stop till he had what he wanted.

And just what is that, precisely? I inquired, hatred tingling in my voice. "Because he already seems to have everything."

Not everything, Nolan murmured, deepening his eyes. "Not you."

I stopped, his comments striking me more forcefully than the gunshot had. I cautioned, "Don't." You are not free to say things like that.

"It's the truth," he continued, his voice soft now. "I have made mistakes, God, so many mistakes, but losing you was the worst.”

I shook my head, and tears started to sting my eyes. Nolan, this is not the time.

His frustration bubbled over. "When is the time, Sophie?" he asked. "When will I have the opportunity to share with you my regret for everything I did. How much I?"

He stopped, and both of us turned to face the noise. Now the footsteps echoed off the concrete walls, nearer.

Nolan said, dragging me along, "Move." We ran into a small passage, and the shadows consumed us entirely.

I questioned, my voice quiet but desperate, "Where are we going?

"At the rear there is a service exit," he said. "We might have a chance if we could get it there."

"Might?" I said, staring at him squarely. That's not reassuring.

"I'm doing my best here, Sophie," he said with a tense edge. Unlike what I had in mind for any of this.

"Clearly," I said, but I let him lead me nevertheless.

The sound of voices got louder, Julian's authoritative voice over the others. "Search for them!" They could not have gone very far.

Nolan tightened his jaw as he turned over his shoulder. "We have less time here."

We came to the end of the corridor and discovered a corroded metal door. Under his breath, Nolan cursed and reached for a knife to try to pry it open.

Hurried, I said, my heart thumping in my chest.

Gritted teeth let him say, "I'm trying."

Now the sounds were shockingly close, and I could see Julian's men's shadows on the wall. Desperate, I reached for a piece of broken pipe on the ground without thinking.

" What are you doing?" Nolan widened his eyes and inquired.

"Buying you time," I said, turning to face the approaching peril.

"Sophie, no!" he yelled, but it was too late.

The first man rounded the bend, his rifle raised. With all my force, I swung the pipe, surprising him and knocking the weapon from his hand. He staggered back, yelling, but I kept going. Adrenaline drove me into another lunge at him.

I heard the metallic groan of the door opening behind me. "Sophie, let's go! Nolan yelled."

I turned to follow him, but a second man showed up, yanking me back from under my arm. I shouted out, straining against his hands.

Nolan arrived right away, and his fist crashed against the man's jaw. He took my hand, dragged me through the door, and slammed it closed behind us.

As we staggered into the hallway outside, he shouted, "Are you crazy?" "You could have gotten yourself killed!"

"I was trying to be useful." I turned back, cringing as my shoulder hurt flared once more.

"By getting yourself captured?" he said, his voice heavy with concern and rage. "That's not going to help, Sophie. That's carelessness.

"Look who's talking," I said, but I lacked the will to fight more.

Jolted into action by the sound of the door being wrenched open, Nolan threw an arm around me, helping me go as fast as I could manage.

“Where now?” Breath coming in frantic gasps, I asked.

“There’s a safe house a few blocks from here,” he continued. There will be safety for us, temporarily.

Though I had no better choices, the word "safe" seemed like a cruel joke. We carried on, the noises of pursuit getting softer behind us.

When we at last arrived at the safe house, a run-down apartment tucked behind a row of abandoned buildings, Nolan pushed the door open and led me inside.

"Sit," he said, pointing me toward a battered couch. "Let me look at your shoulder."

I answered angrily, "I'm fine," but the weariness and anguish deceived me.

"You're not fine," he remarked, his voice free of debate. Let me assist you. Just let me.

I gave in, too weary to fight. The stillness between us became weighty with unspoken words as he attempted to bandage and clean the wound.

Finally, I spoke out against the quiet. "Do you ever think we will ever stop running?"

He stopped his hands hanging above the bandage. "I have no idea," he said. But I swear to you this: I will do all it takes to keep you safe.

I gazed at him, trying to find any dishonesty in his face. But all I saw was authenticity unvarnished and honest.

“You can’t protect me from everything, Nolan,” I said quietly. And I'm not clear about whether I want you to.

His gaze met mine, causing the earth to momentarily halt. With his voice hardly above a whisper, he said, "I'll never stop trying."

The brittle moment was broken before I could reply by the sound of breaking glass. We both turned toward the window, where a little gadget was smoldering on the floor.

"Get down!" Nolan yelled, dragging me to the ground just as the gadget burst in an almost blind flash of light.

The last thing I heard before darkness consumed me was Nolan’s voice, crying my name.

The instrument was what? Who put it there? And can Nolan and Sophie withstand the threats looming in all around them?