Alex sidestepped behind me, putting me between him and the last machine as his head gestured for Nira to go toward the steps. I felt her brush her hand down my hair before she slunk her body out, and pressed her back flat against the front of the machine. She looked around her, ensuring this first floor was indeed vacated, save for a homeless person wrapped up in blankets who had chosen to try to sleep in one of the sunken rectangles on the floor. I didn’t see movement, though, not even a sign of breathing, as I looked at the prone body on the floor. While I couldn’t even see a face for the coat and hat and blanket, to tell if it was male or female, I guessed it didn’t matter, as he or she was probably not with us anymore.
There were enough windows broken out that it all smelled like the outdoors. I prayed the lack of dead body smell was a sign that the person was just a deep sleeper rather than gone for good. I didn’t need that kind of sign along my way. My brain was doing well enough on its own, filling with thoughts of what could happen, and not in the positive thinking vein I’d strived for. Images came unbidden into my mind.
My body tensed and jumped, making my shoulders move in a violent shiver as the image of my Lex, lifeless on a floor, struck my brain. Alex pushed against me, sandwiching me between a wall of fur and a wall of chilled metal machinery. He tried to comfort as best he could. I knew that and grew grateful for it, though my stupid brain went down a path best left unthought-of.
What if we came all this way, risked all of these lives, only to die in a trap? What if I find Lex and Vivian and Riker dead anyway, or they are murdered right before my eyes? What if they capture me? What if before that happens, I have to watch all of these amazing creatures who came here with me tonight be ambushed and hurt?
I believed at that point that I would rather sacrifice myself. Without Lex, in this state, I didn’t want to go on. But, this doom and gloom line of thinking was getting me nowhere but closer to hyperventilation. My nails dug into the palms of my hands as my fists tightened in the pockets of my jacket. I had to find my way out of this. I had to find him alive. I could feel him alive. I had to believe that was correct. So, once again, I tried to center, to calm even if just a little, and to find more positive thoughts.
Taking a deep breath, getting the scent of Alex, I brought to mind memories of Lex and I together. So I tried to talk myself into the idea that it would be that way again. In my mind’s eye, I watched him kiss me as he had in real life. I let my body recall the fierce way he held me to him when we were close. These fleeting thoughts were interrupted by the blur that was Nira, moving over the floor and up the first flight of steps.
Chapter Four
Shortly after the blur of Nira disappeared up the steps, her body moving beyond the stairwell to the second floor to be hidden from our view, I heard a thud, like bodies colliding. A growl followed shortly after, the hiss of air between teeth so loud it traveled to us, tickling up a chill along my spine. Alex instantly nudged me with his muzzle, proceeded by a toss of his head toward the stairs, letting me know I needed to follow him. We moved quickly, me literally following his tail, as in that I held the fur of it in my grasp so as not to lose him.
When we got to another machine, him again, pushing me with his body until he had me between him and the machine, and I came to an abrupt, albeit forced halt. Now on the opposite side of the room, I followed where he looked, stretching my neck out to see around the machine even with him blocking me in. Even from this new angle, not having his night vision, all I could see were two shadows moving about at the top of the stairs.
In seconds, though, the two shadows moved quickly out of our line of vision again, the one in human shape, Nira, being drug away by the one in wolf form. My breath caught and held as I listened for what would come next. I remembered the agreement Nira and Alex had made. No matter what, if one of them was taken or hurt, the other would stay with me rather than come to the rescue. I couldn’t even tell him to go, to break his sworn promise, or someone would hear us. I mean, obviously, they knew we were there, but what was the point? He wouldn’t go anyway.
At this point, it wasn’t about me. I had to ignore my instincts for the greater good, to save others. I’d been reminding myself of that need all night. Me going off half-cocked on my own instincts, my own needs, would only serve to endanger us all. I had made a pact with myself that I would only follow, only obey their orders. They had the experience, knew far better than I. Still, I trembled against the cool metal, my shiver having nothing to do with temperature, as the massive fur ball on my other side felt a hundred degrees or more. I took a deep breath, his scent bringing me a miniscule amount of comfort.