Chapter 8

The three figures approached the back of the large building just as the first rays of morning peeked over the hills. It had not taken long for them to find the location of the Enforcer. It seemed as though he was not a very popular leader with the denizens of the local town and when they saw a chance to be rid of him, they were more than willing to point the way to Dylan and the others.

Easily dispatching the guards, Dylan signaled for them to enter the house. Once inside, they split up. Tyr took the left side of the large two-story building. Rommie stealthily climbed the large staircase that seemed to lead to the living area of what appeared to be a military barracks. Dylan went to the right and found himself in a long corridor with several doors. Heaving a deep sigh, he grasped the handle of the first door.

Beka heard the squeal of the door but did not even have the strength to raise her head and see who was coming. Not that it mattered to her any longer. One torturer was the same as any other. She only prayed that whatever they had in store for her now would end quickly. She wanted some peace. Her biggest regret was in not knowing what had become of Harper. She assumed he was dead since she had not seen him. Surely if her captor had kept him alive, the bastard would have tried to use him as leverage to get her to talk. She also regretted not being able to say goodbye to Dylan and the others. She missed them all terribly and knew they were probably grieving for her and Harper.

Dylan opened door after door without seeing anyone or anything. He could hear weapons being fired in the distance and knew his crew had found the Enforcer's men. So far he had run across no one; a fact that only increased his apprehension. Finally, reaching the final door in the corridor, he pushed it open slowly, cringing at the loud sound it made, and cautiously entered the room.

Beka felt the pain in her head increase as the door squealed loudly once more. She was momentarily confused as to the sound but all thoughts of squealing doors were pushed from her mind at the sound of a voice she had been praying to hear every day for three long torturous weeks.

"Beka?" Dylan cried out in anguish as he entered the room and saw her suspended on chains in the middle of the room.