As I slammed the stick into drive and pushed my foot flat to the floor, I silently thanked Braxton for my multitude of driving lessons. The four tires skidded on the dirt road before finding traction, and then I was off. In the rearview mirror, dust blew up behind me and I swore, in the far distance, I saw the Four dive out of the dome. Shit. They were already after me.
I decided to not look back again. I focused on trying to recall where the airport was. We all had to memorize the map. It was part of the evacuation route should it ever be required. But looking at a map and being there in real life, not to mention being chased, was spazzing out my mind a little.
I stayed on the road until we reached a fork and I was starting to get my bearings. I knew the first turn was left, then there was another long road. It was definitely hard to orientate myself, everything looked the same. I was surrounded by huge fields of corn. I continued to take the turns, three left and two right, and then I sucked in a deep breath as the familiar supernatural symbol appeared on a small plaque, discreetly placed beneath the human speed sign. Thank eff. I sobbed my next few breaths. I was going the right way.
It took thirty minutes, but suddenly the large hangar building appeared on the horizon. I didn’t bother to look for a place to park my car, I just continued to drive until I pretty much ended up on the tarmac. There was only one plane out of the hangars, and it looked ready to roll. I screeched to a halt near the back of the wing. A quick glance in all of mirrors – I was still alone for the moment. I threw myself out of the car, leaving the door hanging open, and sprinted for the steps. I clunked my foot on the bottom step and a man appeared at the top.
“Hurry, Miss Lebron, we have to leave now.”
I recognized the golden ring he wore on his middle finger. He was a guild. Humans that helped us out; he was going to get me to safety. I really hoped we wouldn’t have to kill him afterwards. I’m sure Louis just wiped their memories.
I ran up the stairs, taking them three at a time. Once I was inside, the plane door slammed close and was secured. The takeoff procedure started immediately before I’d even made it past the front entrance. I leaned against that wall, the heavy bag hanging off my side, and took a moment to calm my racing heart. Until we were in the air I wouldn’t feel safe. In reality, knowing how crazy powerful the Four were, I wondered how I’d ever feel safe again.
“Miss Lebron?” I spun my head to find the guild man right beside me. “You need to take your seat and buckle up.”
The plane was already moving. I lurched a little as I left the wall I was hugging.
Moving down the hall – it was quite large for a private plane – I emerged in a long open room that seemed to have lots of leather chairs. And as I focused on the scene before me, I froze, and then loud and violent sobs burst from me. Mischa was in the closest chair, and further back were the Compasses. All four of them. Red hair caught my attention too. Grace, the healer witch, was off to the side.
Wait, what?
I knew it was weird that she was here, but right now I was focused on the others.
“Jessa.” Mischa’s arms came around me. “Thank God you’re okay.”
I lifted my trembling arms, securing them tightly around her, and held on like my life depended on it.
Jacob, who’d also jumped to his feet when I’d appeared, swept me away from my sister and carried me back to buckle me in next to him. “Come on, baby girl, we got you now, you can relax.”
Mischa was back in her seat and the plane had started rapidly down the runway, and then we were in the air. I managed to get my sobs under control, lifting both hands to wipe at my eyes. I’d never been on a plane, and was distracted from my crying fit by the weird sensations of blocked ears and pressure in my head.
Tyson leaned over Jacob. “Open your mouth wide and yawn.” He had to speak loudly over the thrusts of the engine.
I followed his instructions and had immediate relief.
“Thank you,” I shouted back. A few more sobs shook me, but I had them under control. I wiped away the last of the wetness of my cheeks. “What’s wrong with Braxton?” I finally noticed the way his head was lolling to the side. He looked like he was asleep.
Maximus laughed. “Well, let’s just say none of us were very happy with Louis’ little plan, but Braxton actually had to be … well, convinced. He’s having a little nap.”
I cast worried eyes at my bestie, but he didn’t seem to be in distress. His breathing was nice and even.
We ascended for a long time, and then finally, as the plane evened out and started to glide, Braxton blinked a few times before his head shot up. He raised a hand and rubbed at his temples.
“Jessa…” he bit out, looking around the space. The relief across his features when he noticed me was apparent. “I’m going to kill that fucking wizard. If anything happened to you…”
The light went off for the seatbelt sign, so I clicked myself free and crawled across the boys to hug Braxton. “I’m fine,” I said. “Louis saved me.”