Travis struck him across the face. "That's blasphemy!"
His eyes darkened with fury as his chest rose and fell. Harrison stood still but a red mark began to appear on his face. Crystal broke from me and reached for her father but the look Travis shot her stopped her.
"There is no point in prolonging this," Travis said, turning to Flynn.
There was no time left. We were going to die and there was nothing we could do to stop it.
Crystal hugged me closer, closing her eyes to shut out the reality around her. The fear in her features made me feel helpless.
Don't be scared,I told her.I will be on the other side waiting for you.
She shook her head and opened her eyes to look up at me. The pain in the depths of her eyes took my breath away.
I love you. If I can't spend a lifetime with you, I'll settle for an eternity.
I swallowed hard, hating that our lives were ending but taking some solace in the fact that it would be together.
Travis smiled at us. I wanted to be able to rip him into pieces but I stopped myself.
I released Crystal and she looked at her father, taking his hand in hers. The look they shared was touching and sad. They would not have the time to get to know each other.
When Travis and Flynn walked to James, he looked at them with defiance.
"We may let you live if you beg for your life," Travis offered. He stood back with his arms crossed as he gave James the chance.
"Go to hell," he spat at him.
He knew there was no way they would let him go.
"I gave you the chance but now it's time to make you pay for your association with these people," Travis said. He looked at the surrounding Keepers. One grabbed me from the back. Another grabbed Crystal.
It was like a steel vice-grip, and as hard as I struggled it wouldn't budge. Defeated, I looked at Crystal. She struggled and the Keeper couldn't get a firm grip on her. The blond Keeper stepped forward and grabbed her. The other keeper moved to Harrison, who didn't try and break free. He seemed to have accepted his fate.
Travis and Flynn stood in front of James, who stood tall and refused to cower in fear of his coming demise. A Keeper stood behind him.
"Flynn," Travis said to the Keeper.
I should have killed him when I had the chance,I told myself. Flynn gave a slight inclination of his head as he accepted the unspoken order.
He flexed his hands as he took a step closer to James. I wanted to protect my best friend but I couldn't. Helpless, all I could do was watch.
"Don't make it quick," Travis instructed.
I swore under my breath. Flynn's eyes met mine for a moment before he gave James his full attention. The first swing of his fist was too quick for James to dodge. It hit him in the face and sent him reeling backward.
James' hand went to his cheek and he looked at the Keeper with determination.
My heart began to race as I watched every slight motion between opponents facing each other.
The next hit from Flynn's fist connected with James' stomach. This time the force of it winded him and he fell to the ground. Instinct pushed me forward to help him up but all I could do was watch with growing horror.
The sound of a car approaching didn't get my attention until the gates swung open. Everyone turned to watch it drive into the property.
From the looks the Keepers were giving each other, they weren't expecting the arrival. James got to his knees, clutching his stomach. His breath was labored as he watched with us.
It was a black SUV. The darkened windows made it hard to see the driver. It stopped just short of us.
"It looks like we have a visitor," Travis said. That familiar feeling of dread stirred in my stomach.
