“That was close,” I say.
I reach for the closest door. It opens into a black space. The ground slips beneath my foot, and Rei catches my forearm before I’m dragged into the dark. Sweat drips down my forehead as she and Kaia both haul me back up.
“Careful,” she says. “I don’t want to be alone in this place.”
Kaia frowns at her words.
She looks at Kaia. “No offense. But I hardly know you.”
“I didn’t expect the floor to vanish,” I mumble.
This place is terrible. The only thing that would make it worse is Aric popping out from the dark to torment us.
We continue our trek forward. Our senses are now on high alert. Our boots toe the tiles before we step forward, and we keep an eye out for any wayward knives.
“That looks like a control room,” I say, pointing to the room upstairs. It is elevated and surrounded by thick glass.
It’s likely where the intelligence we have to receive is tucked away.
The second floor is better lit than the first.
The door is unsurprisingly locked. Rei crouches to pick the lock. It’s an outdated brass instrument. I expected a keypad.
My gaze sweeps the corridor behind us, searching for any threats. A painful thud hits my shoulder, knocking me off my feet. A flash of fair hair twinkles under the fluorescent light.Aric.
Rigel is behind Rei, prepared to take her out.
“Rei, watch out,” I call.
Rigel drives his knees into her ribs, sending her crashing onto her back. Kaia gasps. Her face is ghostly under the grim light. For a moment, I worry that she is going to abandon us, but she remains rooted to the floor. I wonder if she’s sticking around out of loyalty or because this place is a death-trap.
“Going somewhere?” Aric asks, sneering down at me.
His third partner is beside him, Tyson, the Elementalist who can control air. Their fourth teammate, a girl named Odessa, is missing; either she was impaled by one of the knives or fell down the hatch. Or maybe she’s looking for Flint.
Tyson’s fingers lift, and the air around me thins. My lungs itch as the pressure increases. It heightens, as if a boulder were placed on my chest, squeezing the air from me.
Aric’s grin is lazy, cruel. “I’m not allowed to touch you, but you’re fair game now.”
I frown. Why would he not be able to hurt me outside the tests? It’s never stopped him before.
Tyson continues tormenting me. My fingers grapple, scratching at my throat. My vision blurs, dark spots floating in the air.
Panic laces through me. I can’t pass out.
I scramble to think of a way to escape. I can’t resort to my powers. It is too dangerous.
Tyson shifts, increasing the pressure. Aric smirks in the back. Both of their lips are tilted in matching smiles.
I spot a hanging pipe to my left, just within reach.
“You’ll have to do better than that.” I gasp out.
I rip out the pipe, and with a sudden pivot, I slam it against his temple. A loud crack sounds as he staggers backwards. Blessed air fills my lungs. As much as I want to savor it, I have to take down Tyson. His powers are the most threatening.
I drive my knee into his side, and he collapses with a strangled cry.
Aric’s snarls, and in an instant, he’s on me, hands reaching to choke me. I anticipate his move, sidestepping and ducking into the nearest hallway. I race down the floor, trying not to trigger any traps. Aric thunders behind him, not the least bit afraid of this place. He’s probably been in simulation wings before. He’s in the second year of his training program.
