Shattered World (Shattered #3)

Chapter Six

M urphy’s words struck a chord in me and, for the first time since the trains, tears sprung to my eyes. I wasn’t an idiot. Even as we trekked across the country, even as we learned more answers, I still knew we couldn’t save everyone.

But that didn’t stop my heart from breaking for every innocent person that would die. For all the people that never stood a chance.

“Why not tell them all?” I choked out, trying to hold the tears back. “There’s what? Thirty people here? You’re telling me thirty people can’t fit inside those bunkers?”

My voice rose as anger swelled through me and Matthew sat back down, reaching a hand out to me. I evaded his touch, not wanting the comfort of a stranger.

Sighing, he ran a hand through his graying hair. “And these thirty people know thirty more people. And so on, and so on. When they all show up, what do you expect them to do?”

I wanted so desperately to have an answer to his question, for even one of us to have a solution, but the silence was the only answer we needed.

“Why are you telling us, then?” Mina whispered, the sadness in her eyes doing nothing to help the tears in mine.

Again, Matthew let out an exhausted sigh. “I shouldn’t be telling you. Caroline made it clear that I shouldn’t.”

“But?” Aiden asked.

“But your message gave me the chance to save my family’s life. This is me repaying you.”

All of us sat in silence for the next few minutes as we digested the information. Aiden and Murphy threw out several other questions, but it was clear that Matthew had shared as much as he knew. Caroline may have entrusted him with the secret of the bunker, but that was it. If we wanted answers, we’d have to go to the source.

Standing from the bed, Matthew walked us to the door. “I hope you find safety here, for what it’s worth. And we serve three meals a day.”

Thanking him for the information and meal, we exited the room, walking down the hallway until Murphy unlocked ours.

“Should we go tell Elizabeth about what we learned?” Aiden asked, glancing back toward where we came from.

“We will when we know more,” Murphy said, and his words had me turning on the heel.

Immediately, Murphy could see the decision in my eyes and he grabbed my arm gently, halting my movements.

“Tomorrow. We will get answers tomorrow.”

I wanted to argue, to head downstairs and barge into Caroline’s office until she told me everything I wanted to know. But I knew Murphy was right. Not only was I exhausted from our long day of walking, but I needed time to formulate my questions. To make sure that Caroline couldn’t leave the conversation without giving me the words I needed.

Mina, Sasha, Aiden and I walked into the room, Murphy heading back toward the front area to give Elizabeth the key for her room for the night.

The room was identical to Matthew’s, fit with two queen beds and a bathroom. Mina poked her head into the bathroom, a delighted squeal leaving her lips.

“I call first shower!” She exclaimed, not waiting for a response before locking herself in the room, the water turning on a few seconds later.

Sasha and I shared a look, wide eyes and small smiles before we burst out laughing at Mina’s excitement. And it felt so good, the ache in my side from laughing, that for a moment, I almost forgot about the pain in my chest.

But as it always did, it slithered its way back into the forefront of my mind, reminding me that although there were happy moments, this was no longer a happy life.

As Mina finished in the shower, Murphy came back into the room, telling us that Elizabeth and the twins were settled in for the rest of the night.

We each took a turn showering off the smell and grime from the past several weeks, doing our best to wash some of our clothing while we threw on new things from our bags.

Once we were all clean, I settled into the bed near the window with Mina and Sasha. Aiden and Murphy took the one closest to the door.

Although it wasn’t too late, with the lights off, we all quieted down, sleep beginning to pull us under. In the shadows of the room, I saw Murphy reach his hand out to mine, our fingers grasping for each other across the small space between the beds. And with his touch, I fell into a deep sleep.

Murphy chuckled as I shoveled breakfast into my mouth, not pausing to even inhale between bites. Sasha and Mina threw out jokes, but I ignored them all with an eye roll. It was almost the middle of October. We had two months before the projection date of the meteor.

And although I didn’t know much about my dad’s work, nor did I listen very well when he talked about it, Aiden and I both knew enough that projections were not to be taken as fact. Which meant we didn’t truly know how much time we had and a minute couldn’t be wasted.

Taking my plate to the sink, I washed it quickly, setting it out to dry as a body came up behind me. As a gentle hand settled on my hip, my body leaned back into Murphy’s chest.

“I should come with you,” he urged, but I shook my head.

We had already had this conversation this morning. Everyone had griped about me wanting to meet with Caroline alone, except for Sasha. She had agreed that Caroline was more likely to open up to one person than to five.

Spinning, I placed my palm against his chest, his heart beating fast underneath my touch. “I’ll be fine. She gave us a safe place to stay, she’s not going to hurt me.”

I knew the statement was na?ve. How many people in positions of power had hurt us in the past?

Murphy raised a brow at my words, thinking the same thing as me. “I’m more worried about your incessant need to do something. You won’t even relax for a second.”

“We don’t have much time,” I said.

“I know that. But I’m worried it’s less about that and more about ignoring everything else.”

He didn’t need to elaborate on what everything else entailed. Or who . Dropping my hand from his chest, I went to step around him, not wanting to have this conversation before I met with Caroline. It’d be hard to take someone seriously if their face was red and swollen from crying.

Of course, Murphy didn’t let me walk away, grabbing my hand and pulling me into an embrace. “I’m sorry for bringing it up. But eventually, you’ll have to accept it. To allow yourself to feel the loss.”

Shaking my head, tears pricking the back of my eyes, I burrowed into his chest. “I feel the loss, Murphy. And maybe I am ignoring it by trying to busy myself. But if I can prevent anymore loss, then that’s what I’m going to do.”

Murphy didn’t respond with words, pressing a chaste kiss to my forehead before tilting my chin and placing another on my lips. “Be safe.”

Nodding, I gave him one last squeeze, saying goodbye to the others and ignoring the way Matthew’s eyes followed me with concern.

My foot tapped against the floor as I took the elevator down, exiting into the main lobby. Luck must have been on my side that morning because there was no Braden or anyone else behind the front desk.

Not second guessing my decision, I rounded the counter, raising my hand to knock on the door, but before it could, the wood swung open. Caroline stood there with another severe bun and no hint of surprise in her eyes.

“Come in, Alessia.” She didn’t wait for me to say anything, turning on her heel and entering the room.

I shut the door behind me, realizing I was putting myself into a private room with a stranger, but knowing that Caroline wouldn’t share anything if there was the chance for an audience.

My gaze tracked to the numerous screens in the room, security camera footage from the entire hotel. I wasn’t shocked by the sight, but I was stunned to see a video from the kitchen area upstairs.

“Do they know you’re watching them?” I asked, taking the seat across from Caroline that she gestured toward.

“They do not. But I’d be an idiot to let a group of strangers into my hotel without keeping an eye on them.”

I appreciated her no bullshit approach to the conversation. She may not be on my side, not willing to help, but honesty was a step in the right direction.

Before I could begin the rehearsed questions I prepared this morning, Caroline held up a finger, silencing me.

“Now that we’ve established I’m no idiot, I’d like to state I know why you’re here. I knew eventually Matthew would tell someone about the bunkers.”

“I already knew about the bunkers,” I told her, trying to meet her stare head on the way she met mine.

Although she did a good job of hiding it, I noticed the slight widening of her eyes at my words.

“You don’t know where they are.”

Again, she didn’t ask a singular question. Her words always ended in a statement, proving to those around her that she was always a step ahead.

“Not yet,” I stated, trying to match her at her own game.

Caroline nodded in approval, a slow smirk curling her lips. “You’re an intelligent woman.”

“Thank you. But intelligence isn’t what got me here,” I admitted to her.

Resting her chin on a dainty hand, she tilted her head to the side. “And what did then?”

Leaning forward into her space, I decided to go with my own honesty. “I refuse to die. And I refuse to let those with me die. No matter who’s in the way of that.”

Caroline’s eyes flared with something I couldn’t decipher before she settled back into her chair. “I respect that. And who do you think is in the way of that?”

Mirroring her movements, my back rested against the cushion behind me. “The government. The wealthy that paid their way into those bunkers. And possibly you.”

She nodded in agreement and my back straightened with confidence. However, she deflated that confidence in the next second with her words.

“I am afraid to tell you that your intelligence has not failed you yet. Although, you underestimate who you’re speaking to. I’m not only in your way, I, unfortunately, am one of those wealthy government employees that seem to want nothing more than to make sure we’re the only ones in those bunkers.”