Elodie's POV
I wasn't taking any risks, especially not when my boyfriend's life was in the hands of someone else. I lowered the crossbow.
"Now, put it on the floor. And empty your pockets."
I did what I was asked, slowly lowering myself to the ground and taking out my dagger, a packet of chewing gum, and Kieran's ring. I was hoping I'd have the chance to pick up that ring again but right now the only thing on my mind was saving Luke. He looked terrified, his emerald eyes pleading with me. I felt sick.
"Now tell your pretty friend over there to stop aiming her bow at me."
I turned to look at Cara and gave her a saddened look, she placed her weapon on the ground also.
After a while, the guard smiled.
"I never thought I'd be the one to catch Elodie Blue. We've been looking for you quite a while, haven't we?"
I scowled and spat at the ground in front of me.
The guard looked me up and down before bringing out a walkie talkie with the hand that'd previously held the gun.
"I have the girl. What do I do about the others? There's no way I'm restraining all three of them." I watched, terrified, adrenaline pumping through my veins as he pulled the gun back out with his other hand at pushed it into the side of Lucas's head who let out a petrified whimper. "Alright," He smirked, "I'll do just that."
Luke now had both hands available, the guard holding the gun with one and the walkie talkie with the other, the only thing stopping Luke from running was the pistol aimed at his skull. I took this as an opportunity.
The guard didn't see me reach into my pocket. But Luke did, and I watched as hope replaced the tears in his eyes. In my head, I counted down from three and said a prayer that it'd go exactly how I'd pictured it. I started running towards the guard, full speed. Balling my hand into a fist at my side. The other one clutching something.
Thankfully, the guard did what I predicted he would. He suddenly turned the gun to point it at me.
He fired a shot. But I was ready and just before he had done, I'd pressed a little red button on the device in my hand and out had sprung the shield Luke had given me. Bulletproof. Lucas saw his opportunity and pulled himself out of reach, quickly elbowing the guard in the side and delivering a quick punch to his face. He was completely knocked out.
I slumped down, running a hand through my hair and breathing heavily. Luke ran over and wrapped his arms around me, muttering a series of 'thank you'. Quickly in pursuit was Cara who pushed herself into the hug.
"Elodie I've never seen you do anything like that before. That was incredible." Cara whispered, squeezing my hand.
We did it.
Within three minutes we were gone, bundling ourselves into the car and starting the engine, fleeing before any backup came for us. Luke quickly pulled out the tracker and checked on Kieran, letting out a sigh of relief when he realised that he'd stopped. Possibly to sleep, or maybe because he'd reached some kind of destination. I smiled as Cara leant against the car window, tracing the raindrops with her finger.
We were on our way to find our best friend.
***
Bryony's POV
We finally arrived at the camp around 9:30. Pitch black enveloping the entire area. It was only when we saw the distant light of torches and somebody approached us to shake Kieran's hand did I then start to feel safe, welcome.
We were given a large hut for all three of us. One double bed and one bunk bed. Obviously, Noah and I took the bunk beds and Kieran very quickly collapsed on the larger one. All three of us immediately falling into a deep sleep, completely shattered. Our bodies drained of their energy.
***
Elodie's POV
We drove for so long. Somewhere just under seven hours which was then longest car ride I'd ever been on before. I wasn't entirely sure how Luke had managed to keep his eyes open and focused in front of him. Cara and I had been in and out of sleep, both prepared to be woken up to fight and also relaxing with the sense of relief that we were nowhere near the guard's setup anymore.
Around the 6:30 mark, Luke stopped on the side of the road. He shut off the car and gently tapped my shoulder to wake me up. I did the same with Cara and then there we stood. Two red dots next to each other on the tracker. Staring out at what seemed like a little campsite with torches illuminating the area.
It was 4am, so chances remained that everybody was asleep. The three of us made the collective decision to sleep in the car and attempt to find Kieran in the morning. So, that's what we did, Luke and I curled up in the backseat and Cara leaning against the window in the front.
***
Kieran's POV
At 9am on the 21st October, I woke up to shouting. Resulting to groaning and attempting to roll over in the comfortable sheets. But then realisation hit me like a truck and my eyes flew wide open.
I knew that voice.
I threw on the nearest pair of shoes I could find and pushed open the front door, stumbling out into the bright daylight and scrunching my eyes shut to adjust to the light.
And then there she was. Arguing with one of the workers. Demanding that somebody show her to me, a pink forming on her cheeks as she threw out witty comeback after witty comeback. I smiled.
"Hey Elle, are you blushing?" I shouted, staring at her eyes as hers looked me up and down and her jaw dropped.
And then she was running to me. I picked her up and wrapped both arms around her, spinning her around in my embrace.
"Hi roof boy." She whispered into my arm.
"Hi Ellie." I smiled.
Usually, she would've thrown me to the ground for calling her Ellie. But now she just let out a sob and buried herself into me further.
Cara came running over after, throwing herself at me.
"C." I said, kissing her head. She just pulled me in closer and smiled.
Lucas eventually wandered over, shaking hands with me and then giving in and the two of us hugging and us both laughing.
A couple minutes later, Bryony and Noah were out of the door, arguing over something or other. Immediately stopping when they saw Elle, Cara and Luke and running over to them like I'd done minutes ago.
It'd never felt so good to be reunited with the people I loved.
Things were going to be okay.