Species Unknown [Book 2: Pisces)

32. THE ESCAPE (PART 3)

"WE CAN'T STOP." Noah declared, not slowing down in the slightest. In fact, I even felt the car accelerate as if he was trying to get as far away from the scene as possible before he changed his mind.

Cassian's eyes shot open after I called Austin's name. He tried sitting up and I could catch a glimpse of panic in his blue eyes as he glanced up at me.

"What happened?" Cassian asked sharply, concern evident in his voice.

I let out a breath, placing my hands on his shoulders. "We're alright, please rest." I reassured him, sounding calmer than I was.

Cassian was tense, his eyes flicking around the car and back to me. Though not entirely convinced, Cassian complied, resting his head back down on my lap. This time, however, his eyes remained open, moving to glance between Noah and me. My eyes, on the other hand, immediately went back to the wreckage, watching helplessly as flames slowly crept up Austin's car.

I didn't see him get out...I thought darkly, my mind conjuring up images of Austin either dead or slowly being burned alive.

I swallowed, searching my mind for a solution. I couldn't live with myself if we just kept driving, not after the sacrifice Austin just made.

The wreckage grew further and further away the longer we drove, and I realized I was running out of time.

Suddenly, an idea formed in my mind. "He could still be alive in there, we can't just let him die!" I said, pulling out my phone.

"There's nothing we can do, I can't turn back, they are still there and armed Lani." Noah argued, turning briefly from the road to cut me a determined look.

"He risked his life for us, I won't just do nothing." I fired back while my shaky fingers dialed 911, making sure to hide my phone number through an anonymous call setting.

Someone picked up on the second ring.

"911, what's your emergency?" a woman's voice sounded from the other end of the phone.

I spoke immediately. "There's been a terrible accident on highway 99. There are people in need of immediate medical attention." I said quickly, barely pausing for breath.

"We will send units right away, may I have your n-" the woman began before I hung up. I couldn't have anyone associate me with this area, not with the fire that Noah started, and not with Dr. Grant's connections to the local police. We had taken all the precautions to cover our faces while inside the compound, and park our cars far enough away to be unrecognizable, I couldn't just throw that all away.

Austin wouldn't want that.

All I could do now was wait and simply hope that would be enough.

Still, it was better than doing nothing. I thought, casting a sharp glance at Noah. He kept his eyes glued to the road as he drove at borderline illegal speed towards his home.

Minutes passed, and we were well past the site of the accident. I was beginning to give up hope when the faint sound of an ambulance siren began to appear.

Immediately I looked up and saw it coming, escorted by a few police cars. Sirens blared as they passed us, racing towards the wreckage we left behind.

As I watched them disappear down the highway, I sat back, letting out a sigh of relief. I really hoped Austin would be okay, but I had the dark realization that there would never be any way for me to find out. We were headed to Hawaii, never to return to California. The thought of never knowing left a pit in my stomach.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, Noah pulled his car into the driveway of his home. Noah parked the car and immediately got out to walk around to the back of the car. Taken off guard, I watched him go briefly before turning my attention to Cassian.