The Shadow Circle

Chapter-27

"Kestrel?" One of them asked in a whisper. Ryo? What was Ryo doing here? Was he a double agent?

"Fuck." Another voice cursed. It sounded like Kai. "Stand up."

I can't you moron!

My legs dangled listlessly under me. My cheek throbbed with pain, and my hand? My hand felt like lead. It wasn't even hurting anymore and that made me scared.

"She's in shock," Kai said. "Kes, can you hear me?"

Of course I can hear you dumbass. Why did you leave me here?!

"Definately in shock," Ryo muttered. "Kai! Her hand!"

What?! What happened to it?

Kai held it gingerly. "The cut is to the bone. I don't think it went further. Fuck, I'm sorry, Kes."

"Let's go," Ryo said. The two of them ran out of the gate with me between them. They walked into a system of dark, desolate and entirely unfamiliar corridors.

"No..." I choked out.

"What happened?" Kai asked frantically. Somewhere down the line, I had fallen into his arms.

"Nakamura...knows you're here... Kaito."

Ryo and Kai shared a panicked glance.

"How do we get out?" Ryo asked.

"Where are Elizaveta and Julian?" Kai asked.

"Outside, waiting for us. We can't even sneak out, not with her drugged. Not with Nakamura looking out for you."

No! Don't you dare leave me. I'll tell everyone you're the Prince.

As if hearing my thoughts, Kai pulled me closer. I rested my heavy head on his chest. I was so sleepy. Kai can handle it. Let me sleep.

"What about the back exits near the sluice gates?" Kai asked.

"Those are the gates Nakamura uses," Ryo said. "The military are guarding the front. Kestrel is losing consciousness, by the way."

Am I?

Kai held me closer. "How do we get out?" Kai asked.

He stopped running. We were in another dark room. I forced myself to blink. Kai sat down, laying me on the ice cold floor with my head in his lap.

He looked at Ryo. "What now?"

"Help...me.."

Kai pulled me up so that I was resting with my back to his chest. I studied the room. Crates, crates everywhere. The room was drier than the rest, even though I could still hear the occasional drip drop of water.

"Where?"

"Where the arms are being stored," Kai whispered, looking around us. "He won't look here, you're safe for now."

"Nakamura knows you're here, Kai." I said. Woah, I felt lightheaded.

"Yes," he said. He sounded defeated. "He does."

"He's going to kill you," I giggled and poked his chest. "He was going to traffick me, you know?"

"Was he?" Kai asked dispassionately. He looked around for something. I crawled away from him, careful of my injured hand.

"What is she doing?" Ryo asked.

"How the fuck am I supposed to know?" Kai asked.

"Nikolai, how are we going to kill him?"