29. The Gift

82K 2.2K 517
                                    

Awesome banner made by stephaniesosa101 Thank you so much for you support! ❤❤❤

Not edited, please excuse any grammatical errors.

*****
"Why are we here?", Amara asked. 

"Because you agreed", came the amused reply.

Amara glanced around the underground tunnel in trepidation. She hadn't agreed to this! She hadn't even known that an underground passageway existed in the school a few minutes ago.

"Stay with me",Valerio ordered, taking her hand and leading her ahead, "One cannot navigate through this place on their own without any knowledge."

Amara walked closer to him, their footfalls the only sound being heard as Valerio lead her through the passage.

It was a large underground tunnel, lit by dim torches at regular intervals, lightening up the dark tunnel, which in no way made the place any less daunting.

Amara had been surprised when Valerio had led her to the lowest level of the school, the basement, and through another door, it's presence hidden from those who didn't know exactly what to look for.

She could just imagine the kind of chaos Emma and the girls would cause if they ever learnt of it.

"How did you know about this place?", she asked softly.

"It was built around the time when my grandfather attended the school", Valerio began, "The dispute between the Irish and Italian families were very high during that period. Mob wars would break out at any time of the day or night, especially between-", he stopped talking, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

"Between my families",she whispered, completing what he had left unspoken.

"This passage was initially built to help evacuate the school, should the need ever arise", he continued, not confirming or denying her words. "Not many know about it's existence."

Amara nodded in understanding. She yelped when she stumbled over a stray stone, only Valerio's hold on her hand kept her from losing her balance completely.

"Sorry", she mumbled, her face warming.

Valerio chuckled and before Amara knew, he had picked her up bridal style, her own hands tightening on his shoulder reflexively.

"Valerio! What are you doing? Put me down", Amara squeaked out, wide eyed.

"I don't think I will",he replied back lightly, walking with her in his arms.

"Put me down", Amara ordered him. "You can't just carry me around like this.What if someone saw us like this?"

"There's no one around here Amara", Valerio chuckled.

"And even if anyone does see, then let them", he shrugged. "I like carrying you.... holding you so close to me", he murmured, his eyes burning as he looked at her.

Amara's mouth snapped shut not knowing what to reply. She was thankful for the dim light for helping hide how flustered she was.

"So where are we headed then?"

They must have been down for quite some time now. The seemingly endless tunnel was starting to make her anxiety spike.

"We're almost there", he answered and sure enough Amara could see a large iron gate ahead, being manned by two guards, whom at the sight of them approaching, jumped in action, opening the gate for them silently.

BoundWhere stories live. Discover now