False Gods | The Prime Archives #3 ✓

twenty

After what felt like an eternity, Chase and the Exiles finally arrived in Thunder Bay. The twelve-hour drive had been rather uneventful. No Jaegers chased them down the highway. No sign of Orion plummeting down from the sky.

They were in the clear.

Still, Chase couldn't help but feel like something was breathing down his neck. He felt eyes watching his every move from the shadows in the trees outside the van. Shuddering, he squeezed his eyes shut. A could of unease hung over him; it was thick and dark like a raging tempest. No matter what he tried, he couldn't get it to dissipate. All he could do was wait for the rain to fall, for the storm to commence.

It had yet to start, but he knew it would.

He knew it would.

It was only a matter of time.

Behind him, he heard Victor's loud snores cut through the quiet night. He was leaning against the back wall of the van. Beside him, Emily rested her head on his shoulder, her mouth hanging open. Next to her, Isra used her hands as a pillow as she snored lightly. Her eyes fluttered, her small nose twitching every few seconds.

Archie was the only one awake, much to Chase's surprise. He hadn't fallen asleep for the entire trip. Even Chase had taken a small nap during the middle portion of the long stretch to Canada from North Dakota.

"We almost there?" Archie asked.

"Not sure." Andre squinted as he steered them through the bumpy road snaking through the forest bordering the beginnings of Lake Superior. "Where'd you say Shaw's lakehouse was again?"

Chase peered out the window.

The night sky was in full force above. The black expanse stretched for miles, casting everything below in a dark veil of shadows. A full moon fought against the darkness, begging to be perceived by those beneath its silvery hue.

It was so close, yet so far.

"It should be at the top of this hill," Archie said from the backseat. He had a map of Thunder Bay in his hands as he continued giving their driver directions.

Chase took another peek out the window. Bobbing lights on the other side of the lake met his eyes. He could see boats slowly making their way across the black water. Empty docks lined the wharf, populated mostly by dinghies and fishing boats. Buoys floated in the lake, their white and red surfaces reflecting the moonlight.

Yawning, Chase turned his head forward. They were nearing the top of the hill. He felt his heartbeat quicken at the prospect of seeing Director Shaw again. He hadn't been nervous before, but he was nervous now.

What would he say to him?

They were fugitives now. Director Shaw would be risking his sovereignty by helping them. Their problems weren't his—even if they desperately needed his help.

He drummed his fingers against the window. He had half a mind to tell Andre to turn around. But they had already come this far. And they needed all the help they could get if they were to rescue the others from The Acropolis.

Andre glanced at him out the corner of his eye. "You okay, boss?"

Swallowing hard, he nodded. "Yep. I'm good."

"You sure? I can tell when you're lying."

Sighing, he shook his head. "I can't help but feel like we're making a mistake. I don't want to rope Director Shaw into our mess."

Andre kept his face forward, both of his hands gripping the leather steering wheel. "We don't have much of a choice."

"I know. It's just...I don't want him getting hurt because of us, you know?"