No one spoke much. Ethan cleaned his blade in silence. Sam reloaded the same clip three times. Lucy sat back down, staring at nothing, her knee bouncing under the table. Byron stood at her side, not saying a word, just there — solid and unmoving.
Outside, the vines creaked and swayed like something alive trying to listen.
Then the static crackled through the radio.
Mandy’s calm voice broke the stillness. “They’re here now.”
No fear or urgency, it was just a matter of fact.
Byron stepped forward, eyes closing as he focused. The world hushed around him as he pushed his mind outward, searching through the noise. Then he caught it — a voice, deliberate, controlled, trying not to think too loud.
“Benedict is coming,” Byron murmured. “Wants to talk. Keeps repeating it. Over and over.”
Lucy frowned. “You don’t think he knows someone can read minds?”
Byron shook his head slightly. “Maybe, god knows what this prick has knowledge of.”
Outside, the low drone of machinery echoed through the trees, the sound of axes, saws, and boots crunching dead leaves. Piecesof the forest were hacked away, thick vines snapping like bones under blades. The trees groaned as the clearing opened.
And then he stepped through.
He walked with deliberate grace, his coat perfectly pressed despite the dirt, his smile sharp enough to cut glass. His voice came smooth and smug, echoing faintly across the open ground.
“Hello again,” he said, spreading his arms as though greeting old friends. “It seems you put up quite an effective barrier.” He paused, glancing down at the dark shapes scattered among the trees. “Well... Ineffective, I suppose, since we still managed to get through.”
He crouched slightly, examining one of the fallen Lucent soldiers. “Ah, it looks like you met some of my team. I’m glad to see you were such awelcomingcommittee.” He stepped delicately over the corpse, smiling. “Now, tell me… who’s responsible for all this mess?”
Lucy stepped forward before anyone else could speak. “That would be you,” she said firmly. “You sent them here, didn’t you?”
Benedict turned that smile on her he looked cold and amused. “Yes. But who’s responsible for their fate?” He tilted his head, eyes scanning her face. “That’s a lot of dead men. Almost fifty. Impressive work.”
Lucy’s voice didn’t waver. “Does it matter? You’re not welcome here. And if you don’t want to end up like the rest of yourcomrades”, her tone turned razor-sharp “then you’d better leave the way you came.”
Benedict chuckled, looking genuinely entertained. “You’re right, my dear. Absolutely.” He turned to his men. “Men, let us leavethis place, for she has spoken, and we must always do as we’re told.”
A few of his soldiers laughed. But then he spun back sharply, eyes gleaming. “Before we go,” he said softly, “I’ll be takingyouwith me.”
Two guards stepped forward fast.
Lucy’s eyes flashed violet. The sound of energy crackled through the air as a blade formed from her hand, a shimmer of light and steel. She moved like lightning, a blur of motion that no one could track.
Two clean strikes.
Both guards froze mid-step, eyes wide, before their heads dropped clean from their shoulders. Their bodies hit the ground with dull, heavy thuds that shook the dirt.
Lucy didn’t even flinch. “Now look what you made me do,” she said evenly, eyes still burning bright.
Benedict clapped slowly, mock applause echoing through the field. “Bravo,” he said. “Absolutely wonderful. You are special indeed. If you’re this impressive…” He looked around at the others. “…the rest must be extraordinary.”
Sam smirked, flicking a knife between her fingers. “Nope. Just human.” She hurled the blade, it hit a Lucent soldier standing beside Benedict square in the chest, dead-centre. The man collapsed instantly.
“But I’ll still fuck you up,” Sam added, “if you give me a reason.”
Corey chuckled under his breath. “Remind me never to stand next to her again, this mother fucker is going to get us killed.”
The air shifted.
From the treeline came the sound of branches snapping. The overgrown bushes began to thrash and break apart, spilling shadows into the clearing.
