Arissa's Fate (Redemption Trilogy) Read Online Free Page A

man, but he didn’t advance.
    The tight, uneasy feeling that had settled in Arissa’s throat slowly melted when the man removed the hood from his uniform, revealing a scarred and tense face.
    “It’s been a while, Karson. I was hoping I didn’t pick the wrong one,” Arissa breathed in exasperation.
    “ You chose right,” he muttered in a deep, gruff tone that screamed accent. He looked down on the body of the fallen guard. “I’m so glad to be rid of that bumbling idiot. Working with him is like working alone with one hand tied behind your back. Always in the way, that man.”
    Arissa stepped over the body that had now gone still. “You don’t seem at all surprised, so I’m assuming you got Landon’s message.”
    “ Oh, I got it, alright. That bloody bird he sent nearly clawed my eyes out before I could grab it.” He pulled away the high collar of his uniform shirt and revealed long, red scratches down his neck and shoulders.
    Grimacing, she apologized quickly, “I’m sorry about that. If you don’t mind, can we get going on the plan? I’m feeling overexposed in here.” Arissa was nervously glancing around them, as if expecting a full battalion to come charging through the end of the tunnel towards her.
    Karson lead her to a door in the side of the wall that she would never have seen , it was camouflaged so well. He talked while she quickly made her way over to him, “Landon didn’t take the liberty in explaining to me what you needed here, just that you needed help getting into the reformatories. As far as I’m concerned –”
    He didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence before Arissa heard the startlingly loud shot of a rifle being fired inside the tunnel. Everything happened so fast, but the next thing Arissa saw was the gushing red splatter that erupted from Karson’s shoulder as he collapsed to the ground at her feet.
     

Chapter Six
    Horror and shock froze on Arissa’s face, as she gazed down at the bleeding man who had just hel ped her escape and had been shot for it. Without even bothering to think about who or how many other soldiers were beside her, she shoved the door open as far as it would go, hoping to block the soldier’s view of them.
    Karson attempted to help drag himself through the door, but the weight of his body kept collapsing against his useless shoulder. Arissa summoned as much strength and adrenaline as she could, and within a moment, she had Karson through the door. She didn’t hesitate to slam the door behind them, without even knowing where they were.
    Blood gushed in dark red streams through his clothing and between his fingers that were pressed hard against the open wound. His eyes were closed, focusing on keeping his breathing calm and steady. Hysteria would only accelerate the blood loss.
    “ Karson,” Arissa gasped, not able to think for a moment. The shot had obviously been meant for her, but the marksman had been a few inches off.
    She fell to her knees, immediately peeling away the soaked layers of clothing. The wound looked horrid and sickening, but she knew that he would live if it was taken care of immediately.
    “You can’t let them find you,” he gasped out.
    “ Karson, you got shot because of me. They were aiming for me, not you. I have to leave you. That way, they will find you and be able to help you. They won’t know you were helping me. Tell them exactly what happened, that I escaped from you and the other guard.” Her words rambled so fast, she hoped that he could actually understand her.
    “ You needed...help. What is it you need?” Karson pulled himself into a sitting position, his face strained with pain.
    “ I’m trying to find where they have him hidden. I know he was here.”
    She didn’t need to say anything more. He understood. Nodding, he replied, his words rushed as well, “You’re right. He was here. They moved him less than two days ago. He was alive, but that’s all I know.”
    Running footsteps suddenly echoed