Page 57 of Jude

Lincoln was the best shot out of all of them. He would take out his targets with no trouble. Jude knew he was a decent enough shot. Tobias was the same as him, and Zane was an ace with a pulse laser. Annie had experience in the shooting range, but she rarely came out on missions. They were taking a gamble, but had to do it. They needed to save everyone.

“I don’t see any more soldiers,” said Tobias.

“It looks like just these two,” said Zane.

“Backup won’t be far off,” said Lincoln. “Since this is being broadcast live, they will know something is wrong the second we start shooting. We’ll have a couple of minutes at most to get everyone away from the wall and back to the Cobra.”

“Then we’ll take it.” Jude watched as the final prisoner was dragged forward and his back placed against the wall. “Is everybody ready?”

They all nodded.

“Wait for it,” said Lincoln. “Wait until the soldiers’ backs are turned.”

Jude held in a breath as he watched the final noose slip around the prisoner’s neck.

“Any second now.” Lincoln’s weapon was raised, along with everyone else’s.

Jude’s finger twitched on the trigger of his weapon.

“Now!” said Lincoln.

Everyone fired.

Lincoln hit both his targets with two shots. He turned his attention to the live camera feed and slammed a blast of pulse laser into the camera. “That will buy us time.”

The two soldiers by the death wall dropped to the ground.

Jude’s laser sliced through the noose with ease. He turned his attention to the soldiers, taking one out.

Lincoln was right by his side. He fired at the same time as his brother. The final guard died as their lasers slammed him into the death wall.

“Let’s move.” Jude limped as he ran, his arm wrapped around his ribs, but he felt better already knowing Heath and Malachi were safe.

The group raced as one toward the wall. Malachi and Lincoln flanked the others, watching out for any more soldiers.

Jude reached Heath first. Relief ran through him as he saw he was uninjured, apart from a few bruises on his face.

“What took you so long?” Heath turned so Jude could untie his hands.

“Someone tried to bury me alive in a pile of bodies.”

“You’ll use any excuse.” Heath squeezed Jude’s shoulder. “Thanks for the rescue.” His gaze locked onto someone behind Jude.

He turned and saw Annie waiting there.

Jude stepped out of the way, watching as Annie flung herself into Heath’s arms.

“When I heard you’d been taken, I thought they’d kill you.” Annie clung to Heath.

“I promised I’d never leave you.” Heath’s arms encircled her and he pulled her to him. “Half-trained soldiers under the influence of the State will not change that. Not when I’ve got you to come home to.”

Jude looked away as they kissed. His heart ached for Octavia. She wasn’t at the death wall. Where was she?

Tobias untied Malachi, and the group worked to free the rest of the prisoners.

“We need to leave,” yelled Lincoln. “A drone is watching us.” He shot the drone from the sky. “It will have recorded our movements and location. Reinforcements will be on the way.”

Lincoln and Jude led everyone away from the wall. Tobias and Zane encouraged the other rescued prisoners to hurry, while Annie ran alongside Malachi and Heath.