The second warning rang out. One more to go before curfew. They would have to be off the street by then or they’d be found.
Rowan had questioned how they would leave the colony after they found Tobias as there was only one entrance and one exit. His reply had been underground. She was unaware of the tunnels that ran beneath the colonies, an ancient maze that was sealed off and, for the large part, unknown.
As the number of people in the street grew fewer and fewer, Rowan’s anxiety grew greater and greater. “Silas,” she said at one point. “I’m scared.”
“I know,” he said, squeezing her hand and walking them down an alley and to a small door at the far back of the building they sought to enter. “We’re here now,” he said. “Be as quiet as possible. At this point, we need to not be seen.”
She nodded as he pushed the door open. It was unlocked, just as they had been told it would be. The stale scent of a room closed up too long was nearly overwhelming. Rowan looked around, but the room was in darkness, the only light that from the street behind them. She turned to Silas who scanned the space, apparently found what he was looking for, and closed the door, shutting out the last of the light. Taking small steps, she followed him across the dark room. He felt around for a moment until, with a creaking, low sound, he pushed another door open and they stepped out into a corridor. This space was not as dark, at least she could make out the stairs at the end of the corridor. The floor and walls were tiled in what looked to be centuries-old tile, similar yet much more worn and filthy than the room she had been washed in before that horrific medical exam. The memory sent a shudder through her.
“Pay attention now. This is our exit,” he said, counting the doors that lined one side of the corridor. “This one,” he said, pushing the third one open and stepping inside. There, he found the latch on the door that seemed to be part of the floor and pulled. It was stuck and it took some moments before he finally pulled it open. He then stopped and looked around, spotting what he was looking for. “There behind you is a lamp to light your way. You get down here, grab it, and close this door behind you. You’ll have a head start at least and I don’t think they’ll be able to track you underground.”
“Why do you keep talking like this is going to happen? We are going to leave together. All of us.”
The look on his face gave away the fact that he was unsure. Or more accurately, that he was fairly certain it would be one or two of them leaving, not three.
“Let’s go,” he said.
* * *
Silas had considered taking Rowan back to the settlement and forcing her to stay behind. The only reason he had brought her with him was that he was running out of time. Tomorrow was the day they wanted her back. And given the growing uprising, it was his place to be here and fight too.
A part of him thought about retaliation against the settlement if they were to fail tonight. But if everything went according to plan, there would be no retaliation as both Norrin and Amro would be dead.
“Here,” he said, tugging on her hand when they had ascended the stairs and were at the threshold of two corridors. “There’s a room down here for special prisoners.”
Silas took an eager step but she pulled him back.
“It will be heavily guarded,” she reminded him.
He nodded but tried again to step forward. Again, she tugged and shook her head. He knew she was afraid but he was too close. He considered sending her back but if he were captured, his son would have no chance if not for her.
“Silas, what if you’re right? If he’s there, he won’t be alone. There are too many holes in the plan.”
“I can’t leave him here. I have to try.”
She looked down the corridor and he could imagine her fear, her hesitation. But she straightened her spine and nodded. “Let me go. I will distract them and you can go inside and get your son.”
“No. Not an option,” he said, taking her hand and leading her down the hall.
She was right, there was something going on down here. Light poured into this corridor from another hallway at the far end. Sound of talking came from there, then a shrill laugh that made Rowan stop. Silas glanced at her, recognizing who was laughing. Looking behind her he chose another dark corridor and pushed her into it.
“You wait here for me. Watch for us,” he whispered.
She nodded, her eyes wide with worry. Taking a moment to pull her in for one tight hug, he kissed her forehead for a long moment, closing his eyes, savoring the scent and warmth of her. Perhaps his last. He steeled himself then and turned to go without looking back. He was nearly to the corridor when the sudden sound of movement, of heavy footsteps moving fast sounded. He made it out of sight just in the nick of time when six guards turned the corner and marched down the hallway. They went in the opposite direction but he waited all the same, not taking a chance on being caught when he was so close. Only when the corridor was silent again did he turn to walk out and it was then that he was met with a hard knock to his back propelling him forward, barely giving him time to catch his breath when the men who had attacked him rushed him, tackling him before he could make a move.