I try to keep my emotions under control as I head upstairs. Word has already spread throughout the building about our march home. Every guard still stares at me, but no longer with the suspicion they had the first time.

I soon reach Silver’s floor and the guards immediately stand aside. Whether it’s because they recognize me, or just don’t want to stand in the way of someone as pissed as I am, I’m not sure.

“Seven!” I scream as I open the door. Several people around me draw their weapons. To be fair, I would too if someone came in screaming while carrying four guns and a knife. “Get your ass out here now!”

Seven’s door slowly opens and he steps out. He’s apparently unarmed and very unhappy to see me.

“If you’re only here to disturb the peace I might as well arrest you now.” He says casually.

“How many people did you send to those cannibals?” I drop my backpack on the ground, along with my guns. I’m here to kick ass, not get shot.

“So it’s a nonsense disruption then. Arrest her, we’re done here.”

“If any of you touch me I will gut you.” I say to everyone around me before returning my attention to Seven. “I’ve got six half-eaten scrappers downstairs, each and every one from Silver’s gang. You want to explain that?” That got everyone's attention. Any guards that were walking towards me freeze.

“There’s no such thing as a routine mission.” He quotes Silver. “Shit goes wrong, it happens.”

I can see Lucas and Vince poke their heads out of our room to investigate. Vince has his sidearm in hand, but Lucas is unarmed.

Looks like they’re letting me take the lead on this one. We won’t win a shootout, but I’m sure Vince can at least take out Seven for me.

“Ian. Percy. Bernie. Valerie. Fucking Blackwell.” I take a step forward with every name. “Those are just the survivors. And you just so happened to, what? Forget to tell us god knows how many groups went missing there? We followed your advice and the bandits were prepared for us. You think that’s another coincidence?” Several people in the room start whispering to their friends.

“I have no time to deal with baseless accusations. This is your only warning, I’d rather not have to scrub your brains out of the carpet.”

“Oh that’s how you want to do this? I’m more than happy to kill you, but I’d like to not get shot for doing so.” I turn to the guards, most of whom still have their guns pointed at me. “Someone head to the garage and get Blackwell for me. And someone else tear apart Seven’s room. He’s got to have something compromising in there.”

“You will do no such thing.” A few people had started to move and instantly stopped at his command.

“Or what? You’re going to send them on a silver platter to more cannibals? You’re either evil or incompetent. All that changes is whether I throw you out the window, or just break your knees.”

It feels good to get this out, but I don’t think I’m doing much to convince most people. I’ve at least piqued people’s curiosity. They want to see this through. Two guards head into the stairwell and I can only hope they’re heading to get Blackwell, instead of getting backup.

Nobody touches Seven’s door, I can’t really blame them for that.

Vince and Lucas are still barely poking their heads out of the door. They’re ready to fight, but don’t want to provoke anyone. I appreciate that. There's a non zero chance I get shot here, and I’d hate for them to get shot too because of my dumb decision.

“Get out of my tower.” Seven says quietly with barely contained rage. He takes a few steps toward me, stopping just out of range of my knife. He's much taller than me, but we both know if he hits me I’ll stick my knife between his ribs.

“Oh did I hit a nerve?” I should probably cool it a little bit until Blackwell gets up here, but fuck it. One fancy arm against the fastest legs in Silver's gang? I can take him. “I tell you we saved five people you sent to get eaten, and you don't so much as say thank you. Instead, you focus your attention on my call out. That's not how an innocent person reacts.” I rest my hand on the hilt of my knife, just in case.

“Of course I'm focused on you trying to ruin my reputation over some half-brained scheme you cooked up! Now get the fuck out of my tower!”

“You don't want to hear from Blackwell? I would have thought you'd want her to help you clear the air, if you've done nothing wrong that is.” I cock my head to the side like Ivy always does, that’ll piss him off.

“Unlike you apparently, I don't have time to deal with fanciful tales. Of course I have no intention to listen to her if she's just going to tell the same lies. Now,” He grabs the pistol out of the hands of one of his guards. “I believe I warned you?” That’s not a bluff. A lot of people around us, both guards and runners, are unsure who to point their guns at.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Fuck, yeah I went to far. I can see out of the corner of my eye that Vince has his pistol pointed at Seven's head. If he tries to fire I can only hope Vince is faster. How the fuck am I going to buy time until Blackwell gets here? He'll squeeze his finger before I can reach him, I'm completely out of options.

“Hear her out!” Lucas yells out before ducking out of sight.

Seven looks around trying to find the source of the voice but keeps his gun trained on me. I could probably disarm him now, but what about the other dozen guns pointed at me? No, I have to get him to attack first, without him just shooting me.

Lucas' outburst has given courage to some others around the room, who begin to murmur in agreement. I need to remember to thank him later.

The only problem is his gun. I need to put him in a situation where shooting me makes him look bad.

“What's the matter Seven? This afraid of an unarmed girl who's half your size?”

Oh that pissed him off. His face is quickly turning red. However, hopefully, nobody will be too angry if Vince has to put him down. That’s a long shot, I know, but it’s the best I can do for now.

“I’ll leave without another word once Blackwell has said her piece,” I say. I think that’s a good way to make him feel like he’s gaining some ground?

He stares daggers into me. His eyes are not at all concealing his murderous intent.

“Once Blackwell speaks you will be arrested for insubordination.”

“Fine with me.” I drop onto a nearby couch.

He finally lowers his pistol before handing it back to his guard. I’m really banking on her having some sway with the others. She has to have something right? Who doesn't respect a doctor?

We begin a silent standoff. His eyes dart around the room, searching for a way out. My eyes don’t leave him. This goes on for a minute until the door behind me opens.

“Seven, just the person I’ve been looking for.” Blackwell’s clinical voice comes from behind me. “You know, I heard the darndest thing from some of the medics. They said that you said I quit?” She lets the implication of the question hang in the air.

Seven’s eyes flash with anger and fear from a forgotten lie for just an instant. He composes himself quickly before speaking.

“Wonderful, more lies. Arrest them.”

Blackwell reaches into her pocket and throws a necklace onto the floor, sliding to a stop right in front of Seven.

“Xaviers necklace. You sent him, Daren, and I out in the middle of the night. I’m sure it’s a coincidence that it happened right after our fight. Next came Bernie, Valerie, and Spencer to the same building. They weren’t on the best of terms with you either, were they?”

“Stop it.”

Seven is well and truly panicking now. Nearly everyone is believing the words of someone apparently as well renowned as her.

I move to the edge of the seat, ready to spring forward in an instant. There’s nothing more dangerous than a cornered monster.

“Ian and Percy? They were guilty of not buying your lies. You got in a fight with Vince and his companions get sent out. Every time to the same exact building, entering in the same exact way. That’s an awful lot of coincidences, don’t you think?”

Seven ducks and turns to grab someone's gun, that’s my cue to go. Looks like his movement ruined Vince’s aim, or else he would be dead.

I push my legs to their limits and draw my knife. His eyes make it clear we both know I’m going to reach him before he gets a gun.

He brings his metal arm up, and points it at me. A gunshot goes off and my left arm goes limp, my knife clattering to the floor.

The fucker has a gun in his arm.

Adrenaline is already coursing through my veins and muffles the pain. I’ve got no more than a few seconds to get my revenge.

I can see his surprise at me still fighting only an instant before I ram into him. The two of us tumble to the ground, fighting to land on top.

He latches onto me with his arms and attempts to twist and land on top of me. I barely manage to get my leg planted on the ground in time to prevent being flipped. Though I stay on top he does succeed in dragging me down with him.

This is fucking bad. He keeps his metal arm clamped down on my back, it feels like he’s trying to snap me in half. And he might just be able to.

He must only have one shot up his sleeve if I still only have one hole in me.

He reaches around with his other hand and grasps at my shoulder, trying to dig into the wound he created. It’s all I can do to thrash and squirm to try and keep him out. Every time his fingers dig in it’s like a white-hot iron shoved against my skin, again and again. At least the pain keeps me conscious.

I reach out blindly with my one good arm, desperate for any way out of this. My hand eventually settles on something thin and long. My eyes are too clouded from tears to see what it is. It’ll have to work though.

If Seven’s arm is anything like my legs, there should be less armor on the underside of his armpit. I jam the rod in, easily sliding between two plates. A quick jerk and I must have severed something. His arm goes limp, letting me scramble to my feet, away from him.

“Don’t touch him!” I scream to the crowd. I can see enough to know guns have been pointed at him. “He’s fucking mine.”

Seven scrambles to his feet as well. His mechanical arm hangs limply at his side. It’s still not exactly an even fight. I’m swaying enough to know that blood loss is quickly becoming a major problem. Vince knows my blood type, there are enough donors around here. I’ll be fine. I rush into the fight again.

I scoop up my knife in my one working hand as I run. Seven grabs a lamp and swings. It’s a slow, clumsy swing from his non-dominant hand. If I wasn’t so dizzy it would have been simple to dodge. As I am now though? I get my head under it and it grazes across my back. Way too close, but still the opening I need.

I plant my knife squarely in his gut, making sure to twist. He doubles over in pain. I grab the back of his head and bring my knee into his face with everything I have. I feel the bones collapse from the force. He drops to the ground, dead.

“Hey Vince.” I say as casually as I can manage while fighting to remain standing. “Catch me.”

My world goes dark.