~

“Why can’t we just slingshot a grenade up to his office again?” I whined, tripping into step behind Declan, who’s jaw was clenched and patience set thin.

“Because if he’s not in his office, it’ll just set everyone into war mode.” Declan explained for probably the fifth time, but my brain completely forgot I had asked.

I huffed but didn’t push, I’d save that for later.

We slipped into the train tunnels like I had just done the night before, except this time we had help making sure our feet didn’t get broken from the fall.

But when I jumped down, my bad ankle betrayed me and I fell flat on my back, spine digging into the train tracks. My ankle throbbed even more and I let out a pained groan before I could stop myself.

“Ronan!” Max yelped, his knees hitting the ground next to me before I could even blink.

“I’m fine.” I said through gritted teeth. “Let’s keep going.”

“Ronan, your foot isn’t supposed to bend that way.” Max said flatly, gesturing to my right leg that had seen better days. Once my eyes adjusted to to the low light I realized it was bent way to high to be normal, I winced at the sight.

“Can I…?” Max asked, glowing hands hovering over my foot, I groaned with a nod, letting my head all back against the wood tracks. 

Max’s hands glowed warm. He guided the bone back with steady pressure; the ache slid away like ice melting. The warmth spreading throughout me in a comfort I didn’t know I craved until I experienced it.

“This is a pretty bad break.” Max murmured, helping me up to my feet when he was finished.

“Yeah, stupid gravity.” I laughed, he smiled, shaking his head as we went to follow the group—who had started walking down on the side of the tracks already.

We walked for a long time before we got to the station, slipping past the old gates that would’ve stopped people before the apocalypse. They’d use train tickets to get into the station then take the train where they needed to go. Max said he’d read about trains once—people used them to go between cities. That was somebody else’s life.

It was interesting to me, but also weird. I’d never really been on a moving vehicle besides once or twice in a bulletproof van going into the Forest of Beasts with the army.

I shivered at the thought. That was a memory I did not want to think about.

We made our way back up to the surface, Thornblade’s giant black building towering over us in the distance.

He somehow managed to build that post-apocalypse. I guess it was probably after the walls were up and the city needed a leader. But that was just my guess. 

I didn’t know anyone still alive that was around when the monsters stormed in. It happened long before any of us Holders were born. And I think there’s a reason for that, but I didn’t know what.

I know the Eternals are like—gods, basically. But they like to hide stuff from us, and they’re not as secretive as they think.

“We’ll slip in over here.” Skylar whispered, pulling my attention back. We were right in front of the building now, just out of sight from the guards at the doors.

“We’re going to slip in without making a scene. Got it?” Declan said firmly, specifically looking at me.

“Since when do I make a scene? I feel like you don’t know me at all, Dec.” I folded my arms across my chest. Declan just rolled his eyes and continued.

“We’re going to slip in camera blind spots, and make our way to and up the stairwell. Once we’re up there, we finish the job and get out.” Declan explained.

Skylar jumped in. “Anyone that has the opening other than take the kill, do it. We need no hesitation.”

I felt a pit start to form in my stomach at that last line. “No hesitation.” Thornblade would tell me the same thing, I’d get whipped or beat until I stopped flinching, stopped asking questions.

Orders were orders. Don’t follow them and you’ll get hurt or worse.

Because hesitating gave the enemy time to readjust, hesitating install puts everyone around you in danger.

I worried not that I would hesitate, but more that I wouldn’t. That some part of me inside is still Thornblade’s little robot, programmed for instant kills.

“Ronan!” Declan snapped, I turned my head to him, gripping my blade till my knuckles went white. “Were you even listening?”

“I know the basic idea.” I shrugged, ignoring the dread that built in my throat. “Sneak in, kill Thornblade, sneak out.”

Declan took a deep breath, then turned and nodded to Skylar like they had a whole conversation in that one beat.

“Let’s get in there, stick to the plan.” Declan said, motioning for me to go with Max and River east; Eliot would go with Skylar and him and go west.

Simple enough.

I stuck my foot out to trip River as we got going, he barely caught himself and almost ran into the electric fence, I had to hold in a burst of laughter.

Max grabbed my arm and yanked me in step with him, his serious healer face was on. That was a mode you did not want to mess with.

River jogged ahead, Max’s hand stayed gripped on my skin, fingers digging into the muscle of my forearm like he didn’t trust me without being leashed.

After a moment of walking we paused right to the side of the main entrance to the building, my boots skidding on the gravel at the sudden stop.

River motioned to us, holding up a three for three guards, finger guns or them being armed.

It’s the code we’d use in the army.

Max stared at us with no idea in what we were saying. I rolled my eyes at his dumbstruck expression and cupped my hand around his ear and brought my mouth closer.

“Three armed guards, don’t get shot.” I whispered, smirking the whole time before pulling back to see his whole face going cherry red. It was a great day when I got to fluster Maximillian Everett.

River nodded and we advanced, I slipped my sword into the sheath at my belt and grabbed my gun, the metal feeling cold and inviting in my hands. Like an old friend ready to play.

Max’s hand gripped my arm as we got out from behind the wall, the guards instantly alarming and guns ready.

They didn’t used to be this fast.

Thankfully me and River were faster.

Three quick, piercing shots cracked the air. Max flinched; I fired once, River twice. The guards went down—heads split, bodies still. Adrenaline hit like sugar and I grinned.

We ran to the bodies to get better guns, Max trailing behind me like some lost puppy.

“Don’t you think that’s…disrespectful?” Max questioned as me and River patted the soldiers down for anything useful.

“If they killed us, they’d burning the bodies in a bonfire and celebrate it ‘cause we’re Holders. We’re protecting ourselves with resources that we have obtained.” I explained, slipping ammo into my pocket before getting a backup gun.

I looked up just as River snatched the walkie and started walking towards the doors.

More guards awaited inside.

This was gonna be fun.