Chapter 172
Through The Wall.
There was a commotion behind the wall.
Nathaniel was talking to her and the soldiers.
Then, before she knew it, a flicker of light passed above her head. When she looked up, a familiar voice called her name.
“Serena? Serena p>
“I found her p>
“She’s trapped between the walls p>
Serena felt relieved. The voice came from Silas. Knowing that she was about to be saved, she pushed her feet harder against the wall.
“Serena, we are coming for you, okay. Just hold on,” Nathaniel said, forcing his voice to stay loud and clear, though it trembled at the edges.
She could tell he was shaken by everything.
A soldier with a smaller build climbed down into the narrow gap, reached Serena, and secured her with a rope.
Climbing down had been manageable. Climbing up was another story.
The space between the buildings was too tight to maneuver properly, and every movement threatened to dislodge the broken beam and twisted steel holding her in place. One wrong step, and she would fall.
The only safer option was to destroy the part of the wall where Serena was stuck.
With the tape finally removed from Serena’s mouth, she called, “Nathan p>
“I’m here. I’m here,” Nathaniel said. “Equipment is coming, Serena. We are going to get you out soon p>
“Sir,” the soldier who was with Serena reported, “I can’t untie her. She’s tied to a broken chair, and it’s practically holding her from falling p>
Although the soldier had managed to secure a rope around Serena, she knew it would be agony if her full weight hung from it. The rope wrapped around her, and the chair was already tightening against her arms, burning against her skin. How much worse would it be if she were fully suspended?
Like Serena, the soldier was secured with a rope, but he was in control. He spread his limbs against the walls, using friction and strength to hold himself in place. The young man assured Serena, “Don’t worry, Miss Vander. General Collins’ orders are to get you safe and sound p>
A tear fell down Serena’s face as she nodded at him. “Thank you p>
While waiting for the tools to break through the wall, Nathaniel went up to the tenth floor to see her.
Serena looked up and saw the pained expression on his face. At one point, he looked as though he wanted to climb down to her, but Nathaniel’s build would have made it difficult for him to do so.
She saw the anger in his eyes, and she knew she was going to make Victor pay.
“Did you get him? Did you get Victor Kline?” she asked the young soldier.
“Yes, Miss Vander,” the soldier said. “Mr. Thorne and Mr. Vander taught him a lesson. He was out cold. My colleagues are probably taking him to Fort Greyhold.” Eventually, the equipment arrived.
They lowered a hammer to the soldier so he could strike the wall from his side, marking the exact spot where it should be broken. The team then began hammering from the other side, deliberately aiming about half a meter away from Serena.
The first strike landed.
A deep thud reverberated through the concrete.
Another blow followed. Then another.
Serena could not see what was
happening on the other side, but she could feel it – the faint tremor traveling through the wall, through the broken beam behind her, through the rope tightening around her torso.
Each vibration made her heart race.
५
The hammering continued. The soldiers on the other side were using
sledgehammers.
Then a thin crack appeared on the wall adjacent to her. A faint line of light slipped through.
Serena gasped.
The crack widened slowly, concrete breaking away.
Suddenly, a small opening formed, and through it, she saw him.
“Nathan,” she called. Tears once again fell down her cheeks.
“Serena,” he called out. “Just a little more, okay. Hold on p>
Her eyes flooded with tears.
“You are stronger than I thought, Serena,” Silas also peeked through.
Rarely did Silas cry, but in that moment, he did — for her. “I’m proud of you.” The opening widened slowly, inch by inch.
The soldier controlled where the debris would fall, using the hammer carefully to keep the concrete away from her.
Finally, a big chunk of the wall gave way from the other side, controlled and carefully.
Nathaniel was the first to reach out to her. “Serena, I’m here p>
The soldier tightened the rescue rope around her waist, making sure it was secure and able to hold her full weight. Only after confirming she was supported did he reach for the rope binding her to the broken chair and carefully cut it, freeing her hands.
“Serena, here’s what we are going to do,” Nathaniel said. “Private is going to push you toward
me
but
don’t worry you wont fae
It was cold and dark. The only light came from the soldiers’ flashlights and the
distant glow of the port’s floodlights.
Serena was scared, but she trusted Nathaniel, and she trusted the soldiers who were saving her.
“Once he pushes you, grab my hand,” Nathaniel instructed.
Serena nodded.
“Ready, Miss Vander,” the soldier said. “In three, two, one p>
Serena used her legs to leap in that direction, and before she knew it, she was
already in Nathaniel’s arms.
He pulled her back quickly, and just like that, her knees turned weak.
Serena broke down in tears, her arms wrapped tightly around him.
A broken cry escaped her trembling lips. “Nathan p>