Savage Heart (Wreck & Ruin 2)

I don’t wait for the body to hit the floor to turn to Hunter, rushing to the chains to see how I can get them off. Kingston pushes a key into my hand.

“Run, Isobel,” Hunter pleads, “There’s no time.”

“What are you talking about?” I rush, turning the key.

“I love you, but run now, please.”

“No.”

“It’s going to blow,” Hunter warns, “any minute.” I notice the watch on his wrist, the face cracked from his beating but the numbers on the front are counting down. Two minutes is all we had. Two minutes to get him out of this god forsaken place.

My eyes widen, my movements turning frantic. I get the first chain off and Hunter sags. We needed more help. He was too heavy to carry, and Kingston was injured.

“King, go get Lex, go get someone, we need help.” I yell, fear making my voice shake.

“I’m not leaving!” He bellows, holding Hunter but wincing when his injuries present themselves.

“If you don’t, we all die, go get help, you’re too slow!”

“Fuck,” He growls, helping to steady Hunter until he can rest on the wall while I work on the other restraint.

“Go!” I beg.

“You need to go too,” Hunter breathes, tired, “We won’t make it, but you will. Leave me and go. I’m freeing you, Isobel, from this, from me.”

“I don’t want to be without you, Hunter. I can’t.” Tears I hadn’t realized I was crying wet my cheeks, “Please. Don’t leave me.”

“Run, snow.”

“No.”

“Run!” He bellows.

“NO!” The chain comes loose. I catch him before he falls, though he’s heavy. “Help me, try to walk.”

“It’s going to explode, Isobel,” He whispers, “We’re going to die.”

“Then we go together, Hunter, because I refuse to live without you again. If you go, I go with you.”

“But I want you to live, Snow, to have your fairytale.”

I kiss him. I taste his blood and feel the swollen flesh on my mouth, but I kiss him. “I don’t want it without you,” I whisper.

I stare at him, look him right in the eye, trying to convince him that this is real.

“Please.” I beg.

He starts to move, starts to limp to the door. Kingston needed to get back now, we needed help. Somewhere in the house a loud explosion rattles the walls.

“Run,” Hunter bellows. I grab him, starting the run, practically dragging him. “To the left,” he orders breathlessly, “To the old service door.”

I follow his instructions, running down the corridor.

“Come on!” I beg, “Run!”

I never let go, even when he falls and tells me to leave, I don’t let go. I can see the service door, can see the steps to freedom and our future and then our whole world explodes in a sweltering burst of flames.