Page 119 of The Devils They Are
My fingers skim the packaging, still perplexed. It's brand new, unopened. I have no idea how repairs are supposed to be completed in a few weeks because judging by the state of what I've seen, it's nowhere near done.
Because maybe they don't intend to finish it…
I scan the library, pausing for a brief second to look at Hunter. He's glancing down an aisle, fixated on something.
"What is it?" I ask, moving next to him.
Through the dark, I flash my light, spotting something out of place. There's a giant hole in the floor and as we approach, I realize it's a trap door.
"Where does that go?" Hunter questions, peering into the hole.
I shake my head. "I have no idea. I've never seen it before."
Old memories run through my mind. All the visits to the library, wondering how I missed a trap door. If it was hidden, it was done well.
Bending down, I start unbuckling my heels. Hunter's eyes widen in disbelief. "You can't be serious?" he huffs, looking between the hole and my hunched over body.
"What if that's how they broke in?" I offer, annoyed. "Someone could be down there right now."
"You don't even know where it goes. It might not be safe," he snaps back. "You really want to go underground in a burned-out building?"
Kicking off my shoes, I straighten up. "This probably means nothing to you, but this place is everything to me."
"Don't be stupid, Duchess—"
His words are cut off, both our heads spinning toward the library doors. The sound of metal clanging echoes outside, like a pipe was dropped heavily on the floor. We both freeze, listening intensely, and when more banging comes, I abandon my shoes, taking off toward it.
"Bexley!" Hunter snaps behind me. But even his use of my real name doesn't deter me.
Someone is here.
Chapter forty-three
Hunter
Damnthisfuckingwoman.
I want to strangle her. Even as I call out to her to stop, she refuses to listen, running barefoot through ash and broken bits of building.
At least she's easy to spot in the darkness, the red sequins on her dress reflecting the little amount of light in here.
Taking off after her, I catch up quickly, nearly colliding into her back as she pauses in the hallway, head turning rapidly.
"This way," she breathes, and I'm not entirely sure it was said to me as she charges off toward classrooms.
I hate that I know the layout of this place. Dad had blueprints in his office of the existing structure as well as the reconstruction plans. I studied them meticulously, learning everything I could about this academy in case I ever needed the information. Perks of being dragged into this mess, I suppose.
I just didn't think I would need it forthis.
Spencer stumbles a few times, trying to lift the long hem of her dress which gets caught on numerous things. Her feet must be in Hell, but if she's stupid enough to run through here barefoot then that's on her. I'm not saying she should have kept her heels on, but I guess we didn't really have time to change into appropriate attire.
Sounds of banging keep echoing further away, and as much as I hate to admit it, she's right. There's obviously someone here and we need to find out who.
Judging by the way the noises keep moving ahead, they know that we're here too. I just hope that they are fleeing and not leading us on a wild goose chase. Maybe our presence has scared them, and they will abandon their efforts to commit arson. But the stubborn woman running next to me won't accept that—she wants to hunt them down.
My cell buzzes in my pocket but there's no time to answer. It's likely Rylan and Tai, responding to Spencer's text messages and trying to find out what the fuck is going on.
I have no idea what they see in her. She's insufferable and a pain in the ass. But for whatever reason, they seem to like her now—or her cunt at least. I still don't agree with it, but I have no choice but to honor our Wolf Pack.
