"Ah, yes, nothing says innocent like silencing anyone who disagrees with you,” Sakura murmurs under her breath, just loud enough to sting, and that’s a step too far for Randall Brackwell.
“What better way to start than with her closest friends?” He turns to the nearest guard, “—Arrest her.”
The soldier doesn’t hesitate. He draws manacles and grabs Sakura’s wrist, but before he can bind her, Kazuki Sato and Caleb’s fists connect at the same time on each side of the soldier’s face, hard. The man drops like a bag of flour, the bladeclatters harmlessly to the floor. Both standing between Sakura and the soldiers surrounding them, eyes blazing.
“If anyone else raises a hand to my daughter again,” Kazuki’s voice burns, “you’d better be ready to lose it.”
“Arrest them all!”
The room explodes into movements. Soldiers shout, weapons get drawn, and everything descends into chaos. Caleb moves fast, too fast for anyone to stop him. He tosses a small, metal orb to the ground. Bursting with a snap-hiss, thick smoke floods the chamber, swallowing guards and nobles alike in blinding white light and gas.
“Now!” he shouts.
They all follow me, Wyll on my heels, hidden through the fog. Finally out of the room, we run up the stairs. I led them to the right toward the library, locking ourselves in. I yank on a half-burned leather tome, and the wall shifts, groaning open.
“This way!” I call, one by one, they slip into the darkness. I am the last in, sealing us as soldiers shout behind the walls.
Crashing through the underbrush,we run through the dark woods toward the third nearest lookout post. Branches whip at our faces, breath coming in sharp, ragged bursts. Every step is driven by desperation. We huddle in the shadows of the lookout, the air damp and heavy with tension as I finish recalling the last events.
“We can’t stay here,” Vanessa murmurs, checking out the window. “Not for long, that’s for sure.” She and Sakura did clear the path from any trails that would lead them to us, but it won’t be long before they catch up to us.
“Oh, we know Sunny,” Wyll agrees, pacing like a caged animal, his voice barely masking the rising tension.
“And we have to get Lyna!” Van’s voice rises, taking a slightly high-pitched tone that’s unaccustomed.
“I agree with Blondie, we can grab a demon. I know where a portal could be.” I hurry to add.
“And face the whole Netherworld, alone and unprepared!” Caleb bites.
“She’s alone and unprepared,” I snarl in his face, meeting him chest to chest.
Sakura slips between us, imposing some distance.“We all want Lyna to be safe, and for that, we need a plan. Otherwise, we’ll end up as demon food,and that will be quite a predicament.”
“I agree with Saku. Alright. Elveron? Nalaka’s there. She likes us! She’s reasonable, she’s kind, she’s part of the Bloodhowl Unit, and she’s... a literal Princess. Princesses fix things, right?” Wyll throws the words out with a half-unhinged laugh, trying to convince us as much as himself. “Right?” A small flicker in the edge of his bravado.
Spinning panic into humour, and right now, he reminds me so much of Vi it hurts. That same reckless hope burning too bright for a world this cruel. The same way they fill silence with noise, unable to sit alone with the weight of their thoughts. The same stubborn refusal to stop believing, even as the ground crumbles beneath them.
I betrayed her.
I’ve never hated myself more than I do right now. She’s gone, and the echo of her is standing with me, a whisper in the air. I grit my teeth, shoving the feeling back down where it belongs. It won’t save her, I will. And when I do, I’ll beg for her forgiveness. Even if she has nothing left to give, I’ll plead for the scraps.The moment hangs in my chest, choking, but there’s no time to drown in guilt.
“And Elveron’s alpha is practically the General’s drinking buddy. We won’t last one night there.” Caleb adds.
“Arvendal’s not an option either,” Sakura says softly, almost as if she's commenting on the weather. “It’s much too peaceful. People notice new faces right away, especially if they’re the kind with wanted posters. Ruby might hide us, of course, but she’s probably still in Elveron, working on the cure.”
“So… nothing but closed doors and enemies. Cool, cool.” Wyll mutters. “Just what I needed to calm down.” He wanders over to a dusty cupboard, rifling through it, searching for salvation. I know the urge too well, my fingers itching to do the same. But now’s not the time, I’m a Sergeant, I have a mission to focus on. Wyll finally pulls a dusty amber bottle from the back of the shelf and takes a long swig. Followed by Vanessa snatching it from his hand and taking a smaller sip herself, leaving him to pout like a scolded puppy.
“That leaves Saltmere. It’s remote. Not under Council control. If we can get there, we might be able to regroup.” Caleb adds a pensive tone.
“Saltmere? That’s at least a week by horse.” Sakura frowns.
“We have motorcycles,” I say.
Wyll turns to me as if I just suggested becoming a vegan monk. Finally, he throws his hands up.
“Alright! Fine! We’ll take the bikes. But if she gets stolen, I will make it everyone’s problem.” Van glares at him before rolling her eyes.
Caleb continues, completely ignoring him, “If the roads are clear and we avoid patrols, we can make it in a day or two at most. We move now, before words spread. Before anyone else knows we’ve gone rogue.”
