Chapter Sixty Noah

The Resistance team entered, taking in the devastation on the other side of the door. For a moment, they were silent.

Then Evelyn took charge.

After that, everything was a blur. Ruth was prioritised, dispatched to the hospital on a stretcher immediately. Someone slapped a pair of handcuffs on Hammond, before sending her in the same direction. Danforth and Diane's bodies were covered with sheets while various medics and technicians came in to check on the rest of them.

Noah found himself being examined by Carol, the technician who had planted the tracker on Faith. She was very thorough, bending close to him, looking in his eyes, checking his pulse and blood pressure, running her hands over his body looking for wounds.

"I'm okay," he insisted.

Once she was satisfied he was only suffering from shock, she agreed to let him go.

"Rest," she advised, her eyes kind. "You've been through a lot."

He nodded, a sense of relief descending as she backed away. He looked around for Faith, but didn't see her anywhere. With a surge of panic, he pushed his way outside.

There were people everywhere. He was surprised to see some drudges among the rescue party. Rowan and Arden smiled at him as he passed, their masks absent.

Three of Danforth's guards were being cuffed and marched off down the hallway. One lay still on the ground. Noah averted his gaze. He had seen more than enough death for today.

He had begun moving towards the lift when a hand closed around his arm. Turning, he found himself face-to-face with Paulo.

"We came as fast as we could." His brother scanned him anxiously. "You alright?"

"I'm fine," he managed.

"You don't look fine." Paulo squinted at him. "Things go bad in there?"

"Yeah." Noah shrugged. "Danforth's dead though, so I guess, in the end…" he trailed off.

"Yeah." Paulo dropped his gaze. "Goal achieved. But not as peacefully as we'd have liked."

"What happened out here?" Noah frowned.

"Quite a lot." Paulo took a deep breath. "Let's see. The academy principal killed herself."

"What?"

Paulo grimaced. "She was trapped in her office at the school when the protesters invaded. Locked herself in." He sighed. "By the time they broke down the door, it was too late. She'd taken a whole stash of pills. Though it might have been a blessing. That crowd was pretty mad." He gave a low whistle. "I know what would have happened if they'd found her alive."

"I…" For a moment, Noah struggled to find words to make sense of it. "She…"

"Jacob's dead." Paulo did nothing to soften the words. "Sarah too. And Avery." He sighed. "The other Resistance team found them inside the second warehouse."

"Really?" Noah tried to take it in. "All of them?"

Paulo nodded. "Seems like they tried to ambush Danforth. It didn't go so well for them."

More death. Noah swallowed hard.

"Was that sound… Did it…" He tried again. "I mean, did your team destroy the warehouse? The drugs?"

"We did." Paulo lay a hand on Noah's arm. "Though not before we removed the bodies. Jacob and his crew will get a decent burial."

"Really?" Noah was impressed by his brother's respectful attitude. "That's one good thing. What a mess, though."

"It looks that way right now." Paulo leaned forward, his eyes earnest. "But we did it, brother."

Noah frowned. "Did what?"

"Ma and Ella and that Blake woman saved the academy girls. Kemp and Charlie calmed the riot. My team destroyed the rest of the drugs. Your group defeated Danforth." Paulo slung an arm around Noah's shoulder. "There's still a lot of work ahead, but we changed things today. Together."

"Guess you're right."

"Damn right I'm right." Paulo's tone was proud. "Eremus stands a fighting chance now."

Noah closed his eyes. When he opened them, Paulo was smiling. "Flynn would be proud."

Noah's breath hitched in his throat. "He would."

"Saw Ruth on her way out." Paulo changed the subject. "Medics said she's going to be okay."

Suddenly, Noah couldn't speak. With a sensitivity he rarely showed, Paulo stepped forward, closing his arms around his brother. For a moment, they stood together, quietly drawing on what was left of one another's strength.

Noah was the first to pull away. Around them, the hallway was emptying of people, but there was still no sign of the girl he was looking for.

"Did you see Faith anywhere?"

Paulo nodded. "She could barely stand, what with the drugs they gave her, and then the shock. They took her to the hospital right after Ruth. Charlie went with her."

"The hospital?" Noah swallowed hard. "But she… she can't…"

"She'll be fine." Paulo leaned close. "Listen, I know that place has bad memories for you both. But Danforth's people aren't in charge anymore." He pulled Noah into his side. "They'll look after her."

"Maybe," Noah turned to face his brother, "but I need to see her. I have to make sure she's okay."

Paulo jerked his head towards the lifts. "Then what are we waiting for?"