By the timewe zeroed in on the lab Joon had guided us to, bodies were littered behind us. Alex had started to slow down, and so did I. Everyone I’d touched had turned to embers on the ground, and the scent of cooked flesh surrounded us. Smoke pushed through my mask, and coolant flushed into my heart. Tonight, I was fine with playing the Villain.
Reed panted as he raced behind us, with Joon flitting ahead. A mad cackle filled the air, and it made me heat up again.
Joon never enjoyed fighting, not likethis.Now? He was practically jumping for joy.
“I dunno, guys,” Reed wheezed as we slowed. “I’m just feeling like you need to pick better friends. Less, uh, how should I put it…evil?”
A steel door met us, and I started to melt it down as Joon hopped beside me.
“Evil?” he snickered. “Nah, I’m just thoroughly pissed off. Catch me on a good day, and I’ll sweep you off your feet in no time.”
“Yeah, no, he’s definitely back,” Alex stepped back from my heat, covering her mouth with her elbow as I made the air acrid and black. “A bit more feisty, but hey, I’ll take it.”
“Agreed,” Joon shrugged. “Less dead, less test-subject-y. I’m content with it for now.”
“Can wefocus,please?” I sneered as the rest of the door disappeared, creating an opening.
Instead of rushing in, Joon actually paused. His brows knit together, and his lips parted as he leaned back. Alex and I exchanged a look, and his chest started to expand with faster breaths.
Of course he wouldn’t be ready,I thought.We made the wrong call; he shouldn’t have to?—
“Hey,” Reed slapped him on the back, pushing Joon forward. “All that crazy you built up? These are the guys who did it, right? Make ‘em hurt. Don’t worry—we’ve got your back.”
And your cuffs,is what he likely wanted to say.
Joon glanced to the side; to Reed, to Alex, and finally, to me. He held my gaze, and I nodded, firm. It wasn’t going to be like last time. No one was being left behind. We followed our own orders;wewould make the final call.
We all get out, or none of us do.
That’s what Alex and I had decided before we’d set out on this mission. Live together, or die together. No more grief, or being trapped in the past. The only way was forward now.
What was inside that melted door made my stomach drop, and Alex let out a small whimper behind me. Even Reed shut his mouth, while Joon took the first step forward.
“Honey,” he said, though his voice cracked, “I’m home.”
Dozens of large cylinders spanned out in front of us, over twelve feet tall and filled with purple, bubbling liquid. Inside some of them were floating bodies connected to tubes. Bile rose to the back of my throat as I recognized the Heroes inside.
“AngelDust,” Alex murmured, her eyes set on a cylinder to our right. “She really is alive.”
The woman floated unconscious and naked, with white hair that went down to her back. When we’d gone on that mission, when the building collapsed, it had been cut to her chin, and red. She’d been tanner then, too.
My temper flared as footsteps approached, heavy and purposeful. A group appeared, all fitted with tailored jackets that had small S pins on the lapels. They didn’t scowl, or flinch away from the sight of us, like their grunts had. The men in front ofus were stone faced—they reminded me of the higher ups at the VIA.
My fists erupted into flames as one stepped ahead of the pack. He had slicked back, grayed hair and a wrinkled face. But there was an energy to him, one that made my hair stand on end, and inch myself in front of Alex.
Jack.
That’s what Joon had called him — the leader of the pack.
“I suggest you back down, Cinder,” he warned before flitting his eyes to Alex. “You too, Daydream. We don’t intend to start a fight if we don’t have to. I prefer to talk, like gentlemen.”
Joon froze, his eyes wide, and the green light on his collar flickered, turning orange.
Shit.
Another walked forward, with long hair that draped perfectly over his shoulders, not a strand out of place. He was younger—fresh eyes to their operation, most likely.
“You must be WildGuard,” he nodded to Reed, who bared his teeth. “Impressive stuff at the Crowns Club. I’ve had my eye on you. I always love to scout new talent.”
