Imperium: Volume 2
Chapter 15.

Sarah's P.O.V

•~ I've got nothin, how about you? •~ I asked Rowen.

I had been working my way around town, finding small groups of Dom soldiers to listen in to. We had been separated for a few hours now and I didn't get anything relevant to our being here. I would tap in regularly with the others to see if we had any leads, but nothing promising came up.

I started making my way back to the truck to meet the others at the agreed upon time.

•~ Nada here, you making your way back to the truck?•~

•~ Yep, I'll be there in a few minutes, Kipsky and the others are making there way back aswell, so I'll me- •~

As I was making my way an arm reached out to block my path.... shit.

"Hi miss." The one soldier said.

"Hello." I replied.

He came out of no where, and was soon joined by two others. I couldn't see their faces as they were masked but their eyes told me everything I needed to know.

"Do you live here?" He asked.

"N....no, I'm just passing through. I'm here wi-"

"Papers please." He cut me off and held out his hand.

•~ Sarah?•~ Rowen reached out to me.

•~ Hold on•~ I said.

I went through my purse and handed him the documents. As he was looking at them, I peered over to the Dom on the left. He was moving his eyes up and down the length of my body, and it made me feel uneasy.

•~ Sare, tell me what's going on•~

•~ Where are you?•~ I asked.

•~ Im on my way to you•~

•~ Building with the clocktower...hurry•~

I looked over to the Dom in the middle. He was taller then the others but stood more to the back. I quickly gazed into his eyes before returning to the one holding my papers. He was flapping my papers on his one hand studying my face. I could hear his thoughts and the one to my left.

They were just trying to get a look at me, and have a little fun to add to their miserable day. The one in the middle though. He kept looking at me, but I couldn't put a read on him.

"What are you in town for?" The one with my papers asked.

"I'm just passing through wi-" Thankfully I didn't have to finish as Rowen jumped in.

"Hi sweetheart, I thought I lost you." He said while wrapping his arm around me. "What's going on? Is everything okay?"

I sense of relief fell over me, as soon as he approached, but as the other two Dom's turned their focus to Rowen, the middle man kept his eyes on me. You wouldn't be able to cut the tension with a knife on this one. I was shaking in my boots, and I tried hard not to show it.

"Are you with her sir?" He asked Rowen.

"Yes, this is my fiance. Is everything alright?" Rowen replied.

He was playing the part. All I had to do was fall in line and ensure it was believable. The two looked at eachother without either one of them breaking face.

•~ He doesn't believe you•~ I told Rowen.

He motioned slightly as if to ask for Rowens papers, but a few other soldiers came out the clock tower. I saw one stop in place looking in our direction.

"Mathers?" He said.

Rowen looked over to see who it was but, couldn't recognise the masked man. He knew Rowen of course. They took basic training together.

"Oh sorry." He said as pulled the mask down to reveal his face. "It's me Donaheus."

"Don! How's it going buddy!" I watched as Rowen put his hand out in a friendly gesture.

"What the heck are you doing here? I thought they had you heading towards one of the prisoner camps?" He asked with a smile on his face.

"Ya...ya I was but I got re-assigned to the Capital. They figured they could use some more Doms with a medical background. They gave me a few days of leave before I head out, and well...here we are."

I glanced to Don and back to the soldier in the middle. Not once did he remove his eyes off me. I still couldn't pick up anything. Each time I tried it sounded like an empty room. I tried channeling in deeper, until I was able to hear something...it was faint and cloudy but it sounded like a melody.

Who is this guy?

"Man, well it's been awhile since basic hasn't it. Time flies when your having fun." He turned over to the others with him. "I shit you not this guy whipped my ass so hard during combat training, I could barely sit for a week!"

They were laughing, when Don then gestured the one to hand him over my papers. He glanced over it.

"Anna. Is she with you Mathers?" He asked Rowen.

This guy felt off, and what I was getting from Rowens thoughts were that this guy was a snake. Rowen was pissed but he was hiding it well.

"Yes...Don this is my fiance." He said smiling. "We thought we would take a look at the place and grab a few things while on our way."

He held out his hand to me. As much as I didn't want to grab it, I was playing nice.

"Hello, nice to meet you." I said.

"Likewise." He replied. He then looked over to the both of us. "Well! I won't hold you up any longer." He gave me back my papers. "Sorry about the confusion, you can never be to careful. Especially wondering on your own miss." He gave me a menacing grin, that almost made me feel naked.

"Ya no worries." Rowen replied. "Perhaps we will run into eachother again."

"Let's hope so." He shook Rowens hand one last time before taking his leave with the others.

Rowen lead me a different direction as the Dom unit made their way towards my original path. We continued to play the part, and started looking through the windows of the shops. The whole group left, but I could sense the middle man still standing there watching.

•~ Hold my hand•~ I told Rowen.

He took it no questions asked.

A little further down I found a shop that had the perfect angled window so I could see the reflection from behind. He wasn't convinced, that much I knew.

•~ Go to the right of me please, and face me towards you•~ I told him again.

He seemed a little confused but when he faced me, he glanced back and caught on quickly to the soldier standing down the walkway.

•~Adjust my jacket at the neck, and do it with a smile•~

Again he did as I requested. I looked in the window and quickly smiled. He couldn't see me but he could at least see my race's reflection in the window. He took a step towards us. Shit....he still wasn't buying it.

•~ Kiss me •~

•~ What? •~ He was unsure.

•~ He's not convinced, so do it. Do it like you mean it •~

He was hesitating. He needed to act now, if we were to get this guy off our trail.

•~ Rowen please •~

He gazed into my eyes, and brought his hands up to cup my face. I could feel my heart pounding through my chest as he slowly ran his finger against my bottom lip. My body instantly being covered in warmth. He pulled my face to his and I took a small breath as his lips locked with mine. He held it there for so long. I grabbed the waist of his coat, so it allowed me to push into him more.

I sensed the soldier leaving so our plan worked, but I didn't want to stop. He slowly pulled back.

•~ Is that good enough? •~ He asked.

I quickly shook my head. No.

I pulled him down to my lips and crashed into him. I stayed their till I almost ran out of breath. My lips moving with his. I wanted him and he wanted me, but this was as close as I was going to get for the time being.

I finally let him go slowly while my eyes were locked to his and I could feel the heat rise to my cheeks. I saw as he looked behind us.

"He's gone." He said.

"I know." I looked back. "He left a while ago." I turned back to him and gave him smile.

"Come on. The others are waiting." I took his hand and we headed bound for the truck.

We made our way out of town and I could see the others waiting in the distance. I saw Kipksy look our way, and we quickly let go of each others hands. Tanner, and Bogie sat in the front while Kipsky took the driver seat, and Rowen and I took to the back.

I tried to stay out of Rowens head, but the woman inside of me wanted to know what was running through his mind. I looked out the window as we drove off, and kept getting images of our kiss. He kept replaying it over and over again, and I felt my heart thump through my chest. I kept turned away from him as he did the same. I couldn't help but run my finger along my bottom lip, and relive the gentle touch he bestowed on me minutes earlier.

"Where to?" Kipsky asked, bringing me out of my daydream.

"Landsdowne." I responded.

I could sense the confusion and doubt coming from Bogie. "But that's a Dominions military base." He said.

"Lansdowne. We have to go to Lansdowne." I turned to Rowen who was equally confused. "Do you trust me?"

He looked at the others. Kipsky was looking through the rear view, and I glanced over to him aswell. Rowen turned back to me.

"We do." He said.

"Lansdowne it is then." Kipsky acknowledged.

Kipsky turned the car around and Bogie pulled out a map from the glove box. It was going to take us back towards our base camp in Lingham, which was located a day away from Lingham by car.

Don was surprisingly full of information, when I read him. They were part of a small unit, that general Elias formed himself. The red star embroidered on their sleeve allowed them easy access to all their compounds and military bases. From what I gathered, their head quarters were located in Lansdowne, and they were currently heading back there to his office. So we had to get a jump start.

I was formulating a plan, and I wasn't to sure if it was going to work or how the others would feel about it. But I needed to find out more. I didn't tell the others yet.... but they were looking for something. No.............someone.

"It's about about an 8 hour drive." Bogie said.

"Is there any towns along the way?" I asked.

He glanced at the map one last time before answering. "No."

"Good. We'll need to stop somewhere to get food and beverages." I said while looking out the window.

•~ What are you thinking right now Sare? •~

I paused for a moment before asking him.

•~ How do you feel about killing your buddy Don? •~

..........................Present.................................

I kept my room dark upon entering it, and found the tightest corner I could retreat into. I sunk my self down to the floor and brought my knees up to my chest. I wanted to feel as small as possible.

I knew the others were in mission control relaying the past events to Jay. I couldn't be there. My head filling with the images of the past days events. Over and over again, they kept playing like a broken record.

That stupid melody forever etched into my brain. I felt the knot in my throat, and I layed out everything right there on the floor.

He broke me.

........................Flashback..............................

I watched as one by one the soldiers made there way over to the tailgate to get a bite to eat. I counted six. Six men. I looked back to the truck sensing no more, but in Trinity there were 8 red stars. I then walked over and stood beside Rowen, with our backs to the team.

Don was talking with his mouth open which made it impossible for me to understand. I watched as he looked down the road towards the base.

I could hear his thoughts.

"Why were you heading towards the base?" He asked.

•~ Rowen.......this isn't good •~

"Don."

I signaled to the others. •~ Now! •~

...................

"Okay, the bodies are over the ravine, and we are set to go. Are you sure you are good here?" Rowen asked.

Yes....I responded. "How do you guys feel. Do the uniforms fit okay?"

"These pants.....are a little tight." Kipsky said as he readjusted his parts.

I just looked at him. "I'm sorry." I looked back to Rowen, and handed him the documents courtesy of Don, that would get them through the gate.

"Now, when you get there, communicate with me, and I can get you to his office. In and out. We don't want you there any longer then need be." I advised.

Bogie got in the front driver seat with Rowen, and Kipksy and Tanner took to the back. They put there masks on and off they went. I stayed by the truck as I watched them disappear from my view.

It took about 10 minutes to drive to base in these types of vehicles, and it hit roughly the 20 minute mark before Rowen voiced in my head.

The trek in the woods weeks ago, helped me establish communicating with him via long range. I had actually reached the 20 km marker, and was positive I could go further, but travelling further would put me out for longer then a day.

•~ K we're in •~ He said.

•~ Okay..tell Bogie to follow the road to his right. It takes you all the way around to the back of the main building•~

•~ Okay....we're making our way there now.•~

•~ There will be several smaller outer buildings to your left as you are brought to the back. You want the fifth one. It should be marked with a red door.•~

•~ K.....we see it.•~ He said.

•~ Alright, park it, that's his office •~

•~ I'm hopping out the vehicle now and making my way over..........shit!.... it requires a pin access.•~

•~ Try 01261964 •~

•~ 01261964........it worked! I'm in.•~

It was his mother's birthday. For someone who helped run a special forces unit, you'd think he would come up with something a little more......well more.

•~ Sare, there isn't much going on in here. There's a few other desks aswell..... perhaps they belonged to others•~ He said.

•~ Please, just keep looking Rowen•~

I need him to find something....anything that would help me find answers to my questions. I didn't want to believe what I heard, and for that reason alone I needed to see evidence of it. Evidence that spoke truth....not uncertainty.

•~ Okay, were heading out•~

•~ K •~

In total it was less then 10 minutes he spent in there. Now just to make it back through the gate and back onto the road. I went over to the truck and closed the hood as it was still up. I took a quick look around to ensure nothing was left behind that would trace back to us and I waited.

•~ Just passing through the gate•~ He notified me.

I patiently waited in the dark, with flashlight in hand. My head turned the opposite direction of the base towards the road when I suddenly could sense a vehicle.

•~ Rowen........how long until you get here?•~

•~ We're about 10 minutes out, we got stuck behind a convoy, we're on the road now•~ He said.

•~ Make it 6.....I've got company•~

It was a smaller truck that pulled up, only carrying about 4 Dom's. There was no hiding at this point, they would have seen my flashlight from way up the road.

They got out and walked over to me. They stood in front of there headlights so I couldn't quite see there faces. Not that it mattered, I was able to make out the red stars on there sleeves.

The two missing soldiers that were unaccounted for, and two others that I hadn't seen before. My stomach dropped.

"Is everything alright miss?" The one asked.

He was the one that eyed me up and down. The other was the middle man, and just like before his mind was blank.

"Yes, I'm fine. My Fian-"

"Holy shit!" The one interrupted. He looked to the middle man. "Isn't she the chick from earlier?"

The middle man just nodded.

"You....must have been travelling for sometime now, my fiance should be back anytime now." I was trying to stall. The one soldier now making his way around behind me. His glare fixed on me.

"Surely you have somewhere to be, really I'm alright and...Middle man was walking towards me, I took a couple steps back..and like I said I'll be on my way shortly."

I ended up backing into the one soldier. His thoughts flooding my head.

•~ She looks like a good fuck...•~

I quickly tried to run but he grabbed me by the hair and pulled me to the ground.

"Pin her down." The middle man said.

The one who had my hair, took both my hands and held them above my head on the ground. He set his knees on them and held my arms down just below my elbows. I started kicking my legs as hard as I could, to stop the middle man from grabbing them. I then felt a sudden blow to the face. One of the other soldiers hit me across the face with the hilt of his rifle, which gave him the opportunity to pin my legs down with the weight of his body.

I tried to scream, but the one with my hands pinned, covered my mouth to silence me. I tried to struggle free, but he was straddling my thighs and I could barely get a leg to move. He lowered himself to my ear and whispered.

"I ain't never fucked a live one before." He said as he then brandished a knife in my view.

I screamed as loud as I could as he ran the blade down my chest to my naval.

"How bout we take a look as to what's going on underneath all these clothes." He said sinisterly.

He pulled up my jacket and shirt exposing my bra, and with a swipe of his knife he cut it open at the clasp.

"Well, would you look at those. Perfectly plump, and ready for the taking. But whats this? Why aren't you ready for me baby?"

He took his knife and placed the sharp side to my nipple. I could feel him flicking it with the blade. I was still trying to break free, but his full weight were on my quads.

"There we go love. All nice and hard for me." He rolled up his mask and took my nipple in his mouth. The moans that followed, had me on the brink of throwing up. He then sat back up and placed the knife in between my breasts running it ever so slowly down to my naval.

The knife cutting my skin all the way down. It wasn't deep, but it was enough to permantley scar me. I could see the blood oozing from the cut, before he went down and licked all up along it.

I screamed as the sting hit me. I didn't know how to get out of this. I bit the guys hand who was covering my mouth to see, if I could get one arm free.

"Ah! She fucking bit me...the stupid bitch." He yelled.

"Turn her over." The middle man said.

He got off me momentarily, so I kicked as hard as I could knocking him to the ground. With my legs free, I kicked the guy pinning my hands down to the face and it too knocked him back. I got up, but was quickly brought back down to a hit from the back. I was then pulled back up to my knees by my hair.

Middle man got up and made his way over pulling out his side arm.

"Fuck it....I prefer them dead anyways." He held up the gun to my head, and I closed my eyes to wait for the shot.

"Look out!!"

I suddenly opened my eyes to a loud bang, and crouched down when I heard gunfire.

I quickly looked over and had seen Rowen and the others crashed their truck into the soldiers vehicle head on. There were bullets flying everywhere, and I threw myself as low as I could to the ground ignoring the pain from the cut to my torso. Middle man was distracted, and as I saw the others of his unit go down. I grabbed his knife from his boot sheath and rammed it into his throat.

We both went down, and I landed on top of him. He extended his hand out to my face, and I shoved it aside and pulled the knife out, sticking him with it again. I drove it in and out of him while I screamed in anger, and I didn't stop till I saw the blank stare in his eyes.

"Sarah!.. Sarah!" Rowen yelled out to me. He quickly pulled me off of him, and dragged me to the side of the truck.

I was in shock and wasn't comprehending at all what I had just done.

"Sarah.....you need to breathe, just look at me." He said.

Every breath I took was painful. The tears pouring down my cheeks and were seeping into the cut on my mouth where he hit me with the rifle.

I couldn't control the shake in my hands and could barely get a word out.

"Your okay, Sarah Ive got you now." He said softly.

He pulled me into his chest and held me there till I could calm down.

"We need to go....now." Said Kipsky

"Give her a fucking minute!" Rowen yelled at him.

I heard Rowen grunt as he moved his arm up to hold me. I was coherent enough, that I had my breathing more under control and stepped back to see that he was shot in the shoulder.

"Ro-"

"I'll be alright. It's a through and through." He said cutting me off. "Come on we need to go."

We walked back around the truck and saw Kipsky and the others throwing all our provisions into the convoy truck. I looked over and saw that the tires were all shot out from the barage of bullets.

Bogie and Tanner dragged the bodies from the ravine and picked up the ones that were sprawled out on the side of the road. They loaded them into the smaller convoy truck and poured the gasoline they sifend from ours.

"Get in the back." Kipsky told us.

I helped Rowen up as we climbed into the back. It wasnt to much longer we felt the vehicle moving, and we passed the trucks that were now in a blaze of fire.

"Get compfy back there." Kipsky yelled back. "We will head back to base, but before then we need to find another vehicle."

I sat up next to Rowen who was placing pressure on his shoulder.

"Can I help you with that?" I asked.

"I'm okay Sarah. You should get some sleep. We have a long drive ahead of us." He told me.

"I don't think I can." I said honestly.

"Please try." He insisted.

I laid down next to him and placed my head on his lap. With his good arm, he stroked my hair, and I felt the heaviness of my eyes as I fell into a deep sleep.

Rowens P.O.V.

I woke up to Kipsky banging on the wall of the truck.

"We're almost at a pit stop!" He yelled back.

I looked down to my lap and saw Sarah still sleeping. I knew going through something like that took alot out of her, and what her body needed was rest. She was on her back with her legs bent up against the wall of the truck. I leaned my head back and let my hand rest of her stomach.

I quickly looked back down to where my hand was, where I had felt an odd stiffness to the fabric of her shirt. I didn't see it before but she had a trail of dried blood down her top. I slowly raised up her layers, and saw a cut at her naval. A knot formed in the back of my throat as I pulled her shirt up all the way exposing a long vertical cut from her breast bone to her belly button. I quickly put it down, and wiped the tears from my eyes with my good arm.

I was angry at myself. How could something like this happen to someone like her was beyond me. I took a deep breath to calm myself, and looked back down to her as she slept in my lap.

I looked away trying to rid the image of the soldier holding a gun to her head. I then grabbed her hand and held it in mine, and didn't let go till dawn broke.

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