Chapter 29 - The Fortress of Ash
The boathouse was fortified like a bunker. Reinforced steel blast doors were bolted into the rock, secured with an electronic magnetic lock.
Through the narrow slit of high-impact acrylic glass near the top of the door, I saw a warm, dim light inside.
Two small bunk beds. Two tiny figures sitting on the floor, huddled together under a scratchy wool blanket.
"Leo! Maya!" I slammed my fist against the glass.
Inside, the boy looked up. His face was thin, his hair overgrown, but his wide, dark eyes were unmistakable. When he saw my face pressed against the glass, his jaw dropped. He scrambled to his feet, pulling his little sister with him.
"Mommy!" Maya’s muffled voice barely filtered through the thick glass. "Mommy!"
"Stand back from the door, Leo!" Ethan shouted, his voice booming with authority. "Stand back against the far wall!"
Ethan unclipped a high-grade shape charge from his vest, slapping the adhesive strip across the magnetic lock mechanism. He inserted the detonator, pulled me behind a stone retaining wall, and triggered the clicker.
*CRACK.*
The door blasted inward off its hinges with a shower of sparks and smoke.
I was inside before the dust even settled.
"Mommy! Daddy!"
Leo threw himself into my arms, sobbing hysterically, burying his face in my neck. I fell to my knees, gathering Maya into my chest with my other arm, crushing both of them against my heart. They smelled of sea salt, stale bread, and the familiar, sweet scent of my children.
Ethan dropped his crutch, collapsing to the floor beside us, wrapping his massive arms around all three of us, weeping openly against Maya's hair.
"You're safe," I sobbed, kissing Leo's forehead, kissing Maya's tears. "You're safe now. Mommy’s here. Daddy’s here. It's over."
"He told us you didn't want us anymore," Leo choked out, his small hands clutching the collar of my tactical vest. "Grandpa said you were dead and that we had to stay here forever."
A cold, dead stillness settled over my soul.
May you like
I pulled away gently, looking into my son’s eyes. "Stay with your father, Leo. Do not leave this room."
I stood up, racked my slide, and turned back toward the main villa at the top of the hill.
