Free Gilded Wings by Cameo Renae Page A

in the distance, the shouts of Thomas and Alex’s voices. Then, Alaine’s frantic voice yelled Courtney’s name. Her cries became desperate and sent a shiver up my spine.
    I grasped my dagger and ran for the doorway, yelling and thrusting it at an oncoming Darkling. He dodged my attempt and grabbed my legs. I hit the ground hard, and the dagger was jolted from my grasp, flying under Courtney’s bed. I wrestled with the Darkling who quickly overpowered me, and began slamming his fists into my chest.
    Freaking bitch!
    It landed a direct hit to my bruised ribs. Agonizing pain gripped my chest. I couldn’t breathe, and was forced to take short gasps for air. I wanted to call for help, but I couldn’t get the breath necessary to push any words out.
    Malachi came charging back out from the closet and dove for the Darkling, tackling him off me. They both crashed and tumbled back through the hole in the other room.
    Thomas and Alexander finally entered, and assisted Kade at the window.
    “We’ve got this man,” Thomas said.
    I couldn’t move. Pain. Sharp, excruciating pain radiated in my chest. It was nearly unbearable. It felt like my ribs were broken, but I wasn’t sure. I was surprised I still had any ribs left at all, they’d been broken so many times.
    Kade was suddenly over me, scooping me up into his arms. He took off running, out of the room, toward the end of the hall. He stopped abruptly and kicked open the last door on the left, then carried me into the bathroom, carefully laying me on the floor before locking the door behind us.
    He then went to the sink cabinet, and yanked it away from the wall. Right behind it was a small latched door. He unlatched it and pushed it open, then picked me up and carried me in, setting me back down. He then pulled the sink back into place, and closed the trap door, locking it from the inside. We were draped in pitch-black.
    I could hear him feeling around the walls. “Where the hell is it?” he muttered, under his breath. “There it is.” A flashlight clicked on and we had light.

 
     
     
     
     
    WE WERE IN A PASSAGEWAY in between the walls. It was tall and wide enough for any full sized person to stand and walk comfortably. I could hear banging and muffled growls and screams, but they seemed so far away.
    “Don’t worry. We’re safe here. These walls are reinforced with steel,” he assured me.
    I couldn’t answer him, and knew I had a look of fear and pain in my eyes. I could barely breathe, and was still trying to breathe without pain.
    “Where are you hurt?” he asked.
    I pointed to my chest, and he carefully lifted my sweatshirt. When he reached my ribcage, his eyes pressed closed.
    “Dammit. Did they break your ribs again?”
    I shook my head, not completely sure.
    “Let me get you to the safe room.” He picked me up again and carried me down through a small maze of openings. He ended at the front of a large metal door. He set me down, and as soon as he did, I collapsed forward.
    “Emma,” he gasped, catching me before I hit the ground. Gently setting me down, he then opened the door, and clicked on a light. Picking me up, he carried me over to one of the two beds, and carefully laid me down.
    “I thought I’d be bringing you down here after dinner, but I guess now is better than ever,” he said with a sad grin.
    He headed over to a wall and opened up a cabinet. “I left my vial in my room, but I think Alaine keeps some here, he said lifting a few bottles and reading their contents. “Here we go,” he said happily, unscrewing the top of a clear bottle. He made his way over to me and carefully lifted my head, then placed the vial to my lips. I took a sip, and instantly, started to feel tingly. The tingles continued down to my ribs, soon making them numb.
    “Thank you,” I said through my deep breaths.
    “I’m glad it helps. I can’t bear to see you in pain.”
    I smiled at him. “And what about you?”
    “I’m fine.” He smiled.
    “I