Reborn In a Murderer’s Embrace (Dexter) novel Chapter 433

"Don't be scared, I'll get you out of here," I whispered to Stella, trying to sound reassuring.

"Let's move," Robin, panic-stricken, scooped Stella into his arms and stumbled forward.

"Follow me..." I led the way, feeling our path in the darkness, making sure Robin and Stella were right behind me.

"Annora? Are you okay..." Bran called out, squatting down to check on Annora.

"She's hurt!" Finn's voice was laced with panic. "She's been stabbed in the abdomen."

Feeling around in the dark, Finn assessed Annora's injuries before instructing Bran to carry the barely conscious Annora on his back.

"What about Silas? We can't leave Silas behind." Silas was still lying where he had fallen.

They groped their way to Silas, lifting him onto an improvised stretcher, and slowly made their way forward.

"Save me..." Suddenly, a weak voice grabbed at my ankle, halting me.

It was Melody.

I paused for a moment, my voice low and grave. "Without Dexter... who do you think will save you now? You've exhausted his goodwill over the years. It's time to stop."

Melody's fingers trembled, but her desire to survive made her cling to me. "You think... he pushed me out of that elevator to save me? Oh, Foebe, you're so naive... It was all for ‘Phoebe Caldwell’. How can the living compete with the dead? That’s the terrifying truth about Phoebe!"

Despite her pain, Melody managed to shout. "I still have value. I know Damian's secrets. He feared you wouldn't find out, so he’d rather die than leave me, the only one who knows his secrets, behind!"

I frowned, forcefully shaking off Melody's grip. "I'm under no obligation to save you. If you want to live, get up on your own."

Melody's cries of despair filled the air, but her will to survive pushed her to crawl up, clinging to Stella's hem, begging Robin to take her too.

"Colin..."

We moved towards the sound.

Suddenly, the voice stopped, followed by the sound of a struggle.

I knew someone was after Colin.

"Colin!" I called out his name in panic, moving towards the source of the noise.

"Crash!" Something fell from above.

"Colin!" My breaths were rapid, my heart racing as I fumbled forward.

This was fear, a racing heart...

"I'm here." Just when I felt utterly helpless, a hand pulled me close, holding me tight.

My breathing slowly steadied as I clung to Colin. "I can't... lose you."

In that moment, my feelings were crystal clear.

I couldn't lose him.

"I'll always be with you, always..." Colin's voice was hoarse, clearly hurt.

I frantically checked him for injuries, finally relaxing when I found none serious.

"Everyone, hold hands," Colin instructed, knowing we couldn't stay put for long. We formed a human chain.

"Stay close to the wall, and make your way down slowly." Guiding us, Colin took the stretcher from Bran, instructing him to carry Annora down first.

"Crack, crack!" Sounds came from the lower part of the emergency staircase, followed by the glow of fire.

"Hey! Can you hear me?" The empty building carried Dexter's shout from the ground floor.

"Are you all okay?" Dexter called out.

Melody, spurred by excitement, tried to move down the stairs, missed a step, and fell, crying out in pain. "Dexter..."

I looked down, Dexter's makeshift torch barely illuminating the stairwell leading to the ground floor.

"Where did you get the fire?" I shouted down.

"The elevator shaft caught fire when it fell. I lit some construction debris on the ground," Dexter replied, resourcefully using the debris to create a source of light.