“Sir, you don’t understand,” the woman pleaded desperately. “It was my money. I dropped it into the sewer by accident, and my husband only retrieved it. We didn’t create it.”
“You don’t really believe we’re that stupid?” The leader sneered. “It’s obvious you didn’t think there were any Trackers nearby and tried to get away with a little banned translation, the consequences be damned.”
“That is not what happened!” The woman cried out, as her voice broke with frustration.
“Enough!” The leader’s command was sharp and final.
In a swift, merciless motion, the Tracker reached into his coat, drawing out his gun with a speed that left no room for hesitation. Before anyone could react, he fired point-blank at the man’s head. The shot was deafening, and the man fell to the ground instantly, his lifeless body collapsing with a sickening thud.
I clutched my hand over my mouth as the piercing scream of the woman echoed through the night, a raw, visceral cry that seemed to reverberate through every nerve in my body.
Her anguished wails filled the empty street, merging with my own scream of horror and disbelief.
The leader’s cold gaze shifted to the trembling woman, his voice dripping with menace. “Now, as for you,” he said, sliding his gun back in his coat, “I’d think carefully before trying anything foolish. We wouldn’t want to have to make another example.”
The woman, paralyzed with fear, could only nod, her eyes wide with terror.
Then, as if to seal her fate, he pulled out a small, discreet device. With a flick of his wrist, the device emitted a faint pink haze, mimicking the telltale signs of translation. The haze curled around the woman, casting an illusion as if she were the one responsible for the forbidden magic.
One of the younger Trackers, visibly uncomfortable with the deception, hesitated and spoke up. “Captain, this isn’t right. We’re fabricating evidence?—”
The captain cut him off with a dismissive snarl. “It would only be a matter of time before this filth used her translation unlawfully. We’re only being proactive.” His tone left no room for argument, and the Tracker fell silent, his objections swallowed by his leader’s ruthless authority.
“Don’t worry, I’ll only take her to the Cave. She’ll live.”
I watched in stunned silence, every fiber of my being urging me to run up to them, to interfere, to protect the woman with my life. The sickening helplessness churned in my stomach, knowing I couldn’t do anything—no matter how desperately I wanted to.
The captain’s expression twisted with cruel satisfaction as he stepped forward and kicked the woman hard in the stomach. She gasped in agony, doubling over as the force of the blow knocked her off balance.
With a pained cry, she fell backward, landing hard on the ground. The impact left her crumpled and gasping for breath, her hands clutching at her abdomen as she struggled to recover. The brutality of the act sent a fresh wave of horror through me, my hands trembling as I watched, powerless to intervene.
“Can’t we do anything?” I asked, almost whimpering. I glanced at Stephen, James, and even Caden, noticing how none of them could mask the emotions twisting their faces. They wereas sickened and helpless as I was, which only deepened the ache in my chest.
“Wait for it,” Stephen whispered, the agony in his voice unmistakable, mirroring the torment I felt.
Just then, behind the Trackers, a green portal flickered to life. My heart leaped as five figures stepped through at once, each dressed in black Offensive attire. Relief flooded me, nearly bringing me to tears—knowing in my bones they were there to save the poor woman.
Homing in on them, my breath caught in my throat as I recognized Alek, Mila, Silvia, Pierre, and Travis. It had only been six months since the last flash forward, but still I could see the maturity they’d gained in that short amount of time. Their bodies now honed. Their features hardened. They were no longer the same youthful kids I’d seen in the ruins of Cyclos.
My heart pounded, a chaotic mix of hope and confusion flooding through me. They were students—perhaps only a little younger than me, but still, only students. How could they possibly stand a chance against these men, who were armed to the teeth and merciless?
And yet, as I watched them step through the portal, their presence charged with fierce determination, a flicker of hope stirred deep within me. There was a formidable strength in the way they carried themselves—one that defied logic, but that I wanted, more than anything, to believe in.
“Help me,” the woman begged; her plea laced with despair. The five ran up to her and Mila was the first to reach the woman, kneeling down to support her as she helped her back to her feet.
The woman’s features were drawn with pain and dread, but a glimmer of relief surfaced as Mila steadied her.
The captain, seeing Mila’s movement, lunged forward with a snarl, but Alek was faster. In a heartbeat, he was there, seizing the assailant by the throat and lifting him off the ground. “Youtouch her, you die,” Alek growled, his voice low and lethal—now protecting the same girl he’d threatened, then healed, only six months ago.
The captain’s eyes widened in recognition, as he managed to choke out, “You’re him, aren’t you? The elusive Krait.”
The rest of his men gasped, a ripple of panic passing through them.
Alek didn’t reply, only kept his stare cold and calculated, leaving no room for doubt about his intentions. Though they vastly outnumbered our five, the Trackers began to fidget, fear overcoming their earlier bravado.
Alek released the disgusting man and shoved him roughly back into the ranks of his own men. He stumbled, then regained his footing with a mixture of wariness and indignation as he was forced to rejoin his cohorts.
Mila positioned herself in front of the woman for protection and moved to Alek’s side. Their stance was perfectly synchronized, a silent testament to their bond. The way they stood together, unflinching and resolute, signaled to everyone present they were an unbreakable unit. The connection between them was undeniable, and for some inexplicable reason, this made me feel very happy.
