He’s toying with me. Weakening me for the final blow. And I let him think he’s won.
Heat scorches my hair, and I pat the end of my braid to extinguish it. Rei is passed out in the corner, and Lane is holding a ball of fire in her hand, which she is launching at me in rapid succession while Aric tries to back me into a corner.
Tyson and Rigel are gone, probably hunting Flint and Kaia.
I feel a flash of anger and leap at Aric. I slash his thigh, cutting deep enough to feel bone.
He howls in pain, and I smile in satisfaction.
I fling my second blade at Lane. She went back to finish Rei after she attempted to burn my hair, which was rather rude. My hair is my pride. Thick and long and dark as nightfall.
Aric’s team is working seamlessly; it’s clear to see that the casualty of this round is going to be one of us. Flint and Kaia aren’t here, but I hope they are safe.
My aim strikes true, and Lane whimpers as she falls to her knees.
The Elementalist is an easier target than Aric.
Aric is ignoring his wound and is standing upright once more, prepared to strike. He sees where I am headed and intercepts my path, but I anticipate it. I’m sliding on the ground, knees crashing onto the concrete.
I fly under his parted legs. I swipe my knife along his ankles, cutting his tendons.
He collapses to his knees. I stand up and race towards Lane. My heart thunders, beating so loud it aches.
Lane has recovered from my attack and now carries enough fire in her palm to leave her victim in ashes, and her sight is set on Rei.
I don’t like Rei. But, after Aric’s betrayal, she could be a potential ally. And if this is a taste of what the other tests could look like, I could use a strong Kinetic by my side. We have a stronger chance of making it through the next few weeks if we work as a team.
I don’t hesitate. Even though the thought of killing someone weighs heavily on my chest. I’ve never done this before, but if I wait a second longer, Rei dies.
I don’t think twice. I slide my blade across her throat. It grazes her flesh like a caress. I don’t see Lane’s face or reaction. Her fire fades, and she falls to her knees.
My hands are stained with the proof of my sins. Crimson flecks dot my palms like a morbid tattoo. My stomach churns, and for a moment I fear I’ll spill my guts.
The tunnel vanishes, and the floor smoothens beneath my boots.
The room reappears, and with it the others.
The timer blares, signifying an end to the test.
A body collides into me. Strong arms wrap around my shaking frame. For a second, I think it’s Aric, prepared to choke me, but I notice him across the room staring at me with a venomous expression.
“Mercy, that was magnificent,” Spider says. He smells like green apples and gunpowder. “You all survived. I thought you would let Rei die. You two don’t exactly get along, but you made the right choice. The more of you that stick around to the end, the better my chances of sticking it to Orion.”
I can’t breathe; the world is tilting even though the illusion was put to an end. Spider is speaking too fast for me to understand him.
Flint appears by my side with a smile. There is a cut on his hairline, and a bruise is blooming across his chin. Flint is a Shifter who can copy people’s faces. It isn’t exactly a beneficial power when it comes to combat, but it works well for espionage. Kaia is beside him, her arm hangs limp, and there’s a knife stuck in her left thigh.
There’s blood on my hands. It’s bright and red. The copper smell is so strong it makes my stomach lurch.
I slip away from everyone and make my way back to my room. My chest feels heavy, and I fear I’ll pass out, but I refuse to do so in front of everyone. I can’t give them a reason to think I am weak.
My fingers fumble with my new badge as I unlock my door.
I fall on my bed in my sweat and blood-stained clothes. I struggle to breathe. It feels like at any moment I could crumble into a million pieces.
Tears slip down my cheeks. I squeeze my eyes shut to drive them away. I haven’t cried in a long time. Not since I lost mymother. After that day, I refused to weep ever again because nothing in the world could ever be as painful as losing a parent.
Yet here I am, heartbroken for a girl I barely know.
