The Goblin Warrior (Beneath Sands Book 2) by Emma Hamm (100 books to read txt) 📕

failures, because she was going to wipe them clean. Now that she saw what her own people would do to the goblins, Jane knew clearly that both sides were wrong. There had been enough blood and death to last a lifetime.

Now, she simply wanted to get everyone home and attempt to forget that this had ever happened.

Willow held open a door at the end of the hall and Jane pushed harder at the gurney. Freedom was right though those double doors. Bursting through, she breathed a sigh of relief. They had made it. She could see the light at the end of the tunnel, literally.

Until she heard the shouting. Catherine dropped to her knees with her hands placed behind her head. From the corner of her eyes, Jane could see that Luther did the same.

But she was so close. She could see the sand that the wind had blown into the tunnel. That was her freedom, surely she could make it?

A man in a white uniform blocked her path, weapon raised and pointed at her head.

The gurney slowed as she pulled it backwards, breath slowly exhaling from her lungs as she remained standing. Her eyes did not move from the man holding the gun. Jane would not get on her knees for these people.

Slow clapping echoed in the tunnel. The sound hit sharply against her ears and Juo stirred underneath the sheet.

“Well done, Miss Penderghast! I do believe I have not yet had the pleasure.”

The voice was smooth. Confident and loud, even his voice oozed a confidence that Jane did not want to turn to see. Whoever this man was, he was not someone she wanted to meet.

She turned on her heel to lock eyes with the grey haired man walking through the door she had just burst through. The black boots on his feet reflected the light nearly as much as the blinding brightness of his white suit. In fact, those black boots were the only color on him.

His skin was parchment white. His lips were nearly colorless. The white hair on his head was slicked back and perfectly in place.

“I think I’d remember if I have met you.”

The smile that stretched across his face made a shiver curl up her spine. Too wide, that smile was too wide. It looked as though a gash had been cut through his lips to force a mockery of happiness.

“I’m sure you would have. Now, you’ll have to come with me, my dear.”

“I don’t think I have to.” Jane’s quick retort was emphasized by her body pressing against the gurney.

“I think you do.” His boots clicked on the floor as he ambled towards her. “You see, I know you’re here to free that creature laying on the table behind you. And I know that you have more of them waiting outside the City for you.”

She swallowed hard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I know you came in here thinking to recreate a heroic rescue and save the people who kept you alive. It’s admirable really.”

“If you knew, why did you let me get this far?”

He shrugged. “Because I could? I wanted to see what you would do. I wanted to discover how that brain ticks of yours.”

“Well now you know. What are you going to do now?”

She didn’t know who he was, nor did she want to know. But Jane continued to place her weight on the gurney in hopes that if she pushed hard enough, Juo would be sent down the tunnel without her.

It was as good a plan as she could come up with right now.

“Ah ah ah.” He waved a finger in the air. “Do try to pay attention Jane. I haven’t gotten to the good part yet.”

“I’m not in the habit of listening to rants.” She said through clenched teeth.

“You should listen when I speak.” His fingers snapped in the air and the guards moved in towards them. Neither Catherine nor Luther struggled as they were lifted from the ground. But Willow had somehow managed to disappear.

“Do not touch me.” She growled at one of the guards.

“Come now, Jane. Don’t do anything rash.” That grotesque smiled curved along his lips once more. “You wouldn’t want to hurt the child.”

As three guards descended on her, Jane’s breath rushed from her lungs. He knew. He knew and now the game had changed. The guards pushed her to her knees as the Doctor walked up to her and tilted her head towards him.

“How?” She whispered.

“I have eyes and ears everywhere. Any scan is sent directly to my computer. I saw that little monster inside of you before Catherine did.”

She jerked her head out of his grasp when his thumb nail dragged across her cheek.

The Doctor stepped back and wiped his hand on his pant leg.

“That baby of yours will make an interesting new specimen for my studies. Along with the other three goblins of yours.”

At the same time, brother and sister started to yell.

Luther had remained compliant until he heard the Doctor’s last words. “Baby? Jane?” He started to struggle against the guards then. For the first time since arriving here, Jane saw the Luther she used to know. “Let go of me!”

She couldn’t help him. She was already struggling against her own guards while shouting, “What did you do, you monster!”

Their shouts only seemed to fuel the laughter of the Doctor as he gestured with his hands. She didn’t hear what he told the guards to do, but felt the prick of a needle against her neck.

She sagged in their arms almost immediately, struggling against the black that tunneled across her vision as her eyes closed.

12

Jane woke in what the City must consider to be a cell. The cot she laid on was uncomfortable and the white sheets made her eyes hurt. As she slowly sat up, her feet pressed against the cold stone floor. She blinked to clear her head of the fog that made her temples ache.

The walls were clear