Fractured (Josie) novel Chapter 302

Chapter 302 

**Josie’s POV ** 

“Luke?” I ask again, even though I know he won’t hear me 

Maybe he is just knocked out and unable to respond, but then why can’t I feel him at all? Usually, I can sense all of my bonds, even when they’re sleeping. I don’t even want to think of what else could have him just gone like this. “Are you okay?” a shaky voice asks, reminding me I’m not alone, and I have stopped searching without realising. 

“Yes, sorry. I’m just… never mind. I’m going to start moving the earth again now,” I say, trying not to let my fear come through in my tone. 

Harrison has been through an ordeal and is already shaken up, I need to remain calm for him, and everyone else I need to find. Luke will be okay. He will be here somewhere, and I will find him. I bet a rock landed on his head, and he just needs me to find him and heal him. I repeat this lie to myself as I work, otherwise, I will break down and I’ll be useless. 

I know the rest of my bonds have realised Luke is absent too. The mind link has gone deathly silent and all of our shields are up, blocking each other out whilst we process. 

“Not to rush you or anything, but how long before I run out of oxygen in here? Because it sure is getting difficult to breathe,” Theo says, breaking the tense silence. 

This is the kind of question Luke would know the answer to and it just makes his absence even more evident. 

“There was a lot of oxygen in these tunnels, there must have been some kind of ventilation down here, and the earth that collapsed was not tightly packed, so you should be good for a while yet. Just try to relax, we will get to you soon,” Mason says. 

“Is that true?” I ask Mace so only he can hear me. 

“I have no fucking idea, but we need to keep him calm, or he will run out faster,” he responds. 

“Okay, I must be close. He wasn’t too far ahead of me,” I tell him. 

“I’m making my way towards the direction I think you were in. However big you think the original tunnel was, make the one you are creating twice as big to make sure we don’t miss anyone,” Mason says, and I make a sound of agreement. 

“I feel some movement,” Theo says just as I uncover his feet, and he begins to wiggle. 

“I’ve got you,” I tell him. 

“You’re my hero,” he says as I quickly uncover the rest of him. 

When I finally uncover his head, he sucks in a deep breath and I hold out a hand to help him to his feet. He gets up and wraps his arms around me, holding me tight for a few moments. 

“Babe, I hate to tell you this, but you really should start showering more, you’re filthy,” he says as he leans back to look at me. 

Harrison snorts a laugh from behind me and Theo introduces himself whilst I get back to moving the dirt. Within minutes, my newly formed tunnel opens up into a bigger one as it connects with Mason’s, and Axel pulls me into his arms whilst Theo throws himself at Mason. 

Mason hugs me next whilst Theo and Axe embrace. 

“Let’s keep searching, Luke should be…” I try to say, but my emotions choke me before I can get the whole 

sentence out. 

No one responds, they know I can’t speak about it right now, that I’m holding myself together by a hair, and we can’t afford for me to lose it right now. Mason gets straight back to work, helping me move the earth much faster 

now. 

We uncover two more teens huddled together, and it takes Axel and Theo a few minutes to convince them that they are alive and that this is not hell. Although it’s starting to feel more and more like hell with every passing moment. Harrison assures them we are here to help and not the bad guys we had been made out to be. 

“I’m coming back now. I have three manipulators ready to start moving the earth from above. Start opening up the ground above you, so I can get to you,” Deacon says into the mind link. 

“Will do,” Mason confirms, before instructing everyone to stand back whilst he moves the earth above us.