Fractured by N.O Darling

Chister 247

Chapter 297

**Luke’s POV**

| almost gag at the smell. These are awful living conditions and | hate that my daughter and the rest of these

kids have been forced to live this way. It’s Inhumane. They need daylight and clean facilities.

“I don't like it, they shouldn't be here,” a gruff male voice lays as the voices draw closer.

“It’s just temporary until we find somewhere else to put them. They've been compelled they are both clean,” a

voice | recognise as Brent responds, and it’s clear they are discussingand Robert.

“I'm not worried about them not being who they say they are. I'm worried they will think they have authority

here because they were from the original group. They can’t just cin and take over, we have worked too hard

to build up to this size. We are bigger and stronger than the original group, and I'll be damned if they cin

now and take all the glory for what we have achieved. We are almost ready to take over this realm, another

twelve months, and we will be unstoppable with all the new talent” the gruff voice says.

“They're not here to take over. They want our help to free the others, and | think we at least owe them that

before we seal off Greys realm for good this time. None of us would be here right now if it wasn’t for the original

group. We can’t just leave them there to rot,” Brent reasons, and it's a shhe’s a rogue, he seems like an

honourable man. He's just on the wrong side of the fight.

“Are you kidding? They had their chance, and they messed up, forcing us to have to live in hiding like rats.

underground. | vote that we leave them to their fate.”

“And what would you do with the two we have here already?” Brent asks.

“Kill them in their sleep for all | care,” the gruff guy responds.

| curse silently. He could very well be headed to my room to do that right now, and Robert is there alone and

vulnerable. | have to make a quick choice: go back to my room and make sure they don’t kill Robert, or keep

searching for Harper.

| port back to my room and quickly climb into my makeshift bed, listening to Robert's steady breathing and the

voices that are now coming towards us. Brent hushes his companion as they draw near, and | feign sleep. | hear

the shift of the curtain that separates our room from the tunnel and | clench my fists under the blanket, ready to

fight if either of the men comes further into the space.

A tense few seconds pass before the curtain falls back into place and the men’s chatter begins again as they

move away. That was close. I'm going to have to be more careful, and one thing is for sure, | can’t leave Robert

alone until he has woken up. Not when | now know there's at least one person here who wants to kill us in our

sleep.

| quickly explain what happened and what I'd heard to my bond group, and tell them | need them to rest because

there's no way | can sleep now. I'm going to need them to sleep forand share their energy.

The night passes far too slowly. | go through phases of fighting sleep because I'm exhausted and bored out of my

mind, and fighting paranoia whenever | hear movement.

With no natural daylight so deep underground and no phone or watch, | have no idea how much thas passed

or what tit is. So when a feminine voice starts calling out that breakfast has arrived, | sigh in relief.

“Robert,” | say, attempting to wake him up.

When he doesn’t react, | throw off my blanket and stretch out my stiff body before reaching over to try and

shake him awake. He slowly comes to with a groan, and he is momentarily confused about what is happening

Chapter 297

“You're okay. We are in sunderground accommodation with a bunch of teens. Someone stalled out th

breakfast is ready. Do you think you can get up?” 1 ask

Robert frowns and blinks a few times whilst he processes my words, and then he nods, pushing himself up on his

elbows.

“Good man, how are you feeling today?” | ask as | hear the bustle and bustle of people starting to make their

way

towards the communal area.

“Like someone took a hammer to my head,” he sighs, mbbing his face.

“Okay, stay here. I'll go and see what is on offer for breakfast and see if they have smedication for you, or

maybe a healer,” 1 tell him.

“I'm sorry, | know I'm being more of a hindrance than a help right now. I'll be okay, just helpholding out a

hand to me.

1 help him up, and together we leave our poor excuse of a room and move to the communal area. All eyes mond

to us as we enter and there must be at least twenty teens crammed in here. | scan their faces as they all sit

around, drinking from plastic cups and eating dry cereal from paper plates. It's a sad scene, they're all young

and the father inwants to hug them all and tell them I’m going to get them somewhere safe.

“Good morning. You must be Robert and Lucas. Please help yourself to breakfast,” a woman who looks younger

thanwith matted hair and a wild glint in her eyes grins at us. She givesthe instant creeps and | have to

suppress a shudder.

“Thanks,” | nod and find a couple of empty cushions forand Robert to sit on.

| pour two cups of water and hand one to Robert before grabbing a box of cereal. When | turn back towards

Robert, my breath is stolen from my lungs as | see the face | have been searching for for weeks.

A dishevelled-looking Harper frowns atbefore her eyes go wide in recognition.

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