This Plan Got Fu-

“Jasper…” Taw was shocked to really see him, she hallucinated a lot when she was left in the room in the dark for hours, but this time it was well lit and he was really there. She adjusted her blanket as she walked towards him and the open door. “They took my baby to the nursery.”

“I know, I have someone working to get them.” Jasper said as he checked around to make sure no one was coming. “Come on, you two. We can’t waste time.”

Seele was hesitant, not sure if this Jasper was someone to be trusted, but from the sight of his prosthetic arm and the eye that was sealed shut by an ugly scar, he was not well treated here.

She followed them.

Taw looked at Seele for a moment, she seemed so harmless, even sympathetic. Even if she was a baseline. She turned back to Jasper. “What about Nilima? Is she still Doron’s mate?” Taw had been isolated for the past year, ever since becoming Duuk’s mate. Only a week before that her best friend had been subjected to a conversion and wound up Doron’s mate afterwards. She did not know what had become of her since.

Jasper nodded in despair. “I plan to get her next, but we have to be quick.” He reminded her as he took them toward the door, peeking out just to be safe. This plan hadn’t been worked on for months just for it to go down the drain.

Taw nodded, clutching her blanket closer. She had more questions about Nilima but they could wait. She was more eager to get her baby… She did not even know if she had a son or a daughter.

Jasper was quiet as he took the girls to Nilima’s room, getting it open.

Taw recognized it as Nilima’s room by the sketches on the wall, she recognized her style. But the human thermostat was not there. “Where is she?” Taw asked.

“I don’t know…” Jasper felt slight panic. Nilima was not where he expected her to be at this hour. Fuck!

Seele tugged on Taw’s blanket gently and gestured down the hall. She could hear fighting.

“Oh no, the fighting is right down the hall.” Taw said. “They must have already gotten to the nursery- Jasper- my baby-”

Jasper pulled Taw and Seele behind him, handing them both gas masks. “Use these. I hear Doron.” He said as he got his own gas mask on.

Taw put on the mask. It would not be easy to get Nilima if she was with Doron. Taw had seen how possessively the gas bag held her last year.

Jasper had to make a last ditch choice now. Grabbing up Taw, he rushed down the hall, only to be stopped when a blackness wrapped around himself and both women. “Shit!” He snapped as Taw was snatched from his arms.

“Naughty children…” Hilda said as she lifted all three of them up with dark tendrils.

Seele slumped in defeat.

“Please Hilda, I just want my baby.” Taw pleaded.

“Your child is safe, Taw,” Hilda said as she carried them along down the hall to the other group.