Chapter 156: A Tense Interaction (Part 2)
“Is this your assigned job then? The one the Queen gave you?” asks Ember.
“I received military training first, but yes, she set me on the path to be a trial runner.”
“But you didn’t have to be,” says Quinn. “You volunteered.”
Locking eyes with Quinn, Zeris says, “Yes, I volunteered when a spot opened up because it would give me a better life. And since we feel like skipping around how things work… as you all probably know by now, Code here always had his memories. His real name is Quinn Larisch, and he used to be a Lieutenant General in the military. But somehow, he wound up taking the trials. I understand the trials are a fundamental part of our society, but you must’ve messed up pretty bad.”
Quinn averts his gaze, “It’s complicated.”
“As is my position. You knew what the trials were like all along, Quinn. When you consider your past profession, you might’ve even been able to erase their existence, yet... you didn’t. You chose to keep your head down while you knew hundreds of people were dying every year to–”
“And what about General Kane?” asks Quinn. “Appears to me like you two are friends. He has far more sway in the government than I did! Why not ask him to put a stop to this?”
“What the hell do you think we’re trying to do?” Zeris replies with a slight shake of the head. “We’re on the same side, Quinn. I know you hate these trials as much as we do, so shut up and listen.”
Quinn scoffs, “You might as well reveal who Ace and Scar are then, so everybody knows who they’re dealing with.”
“I was getting to that,” says Zeris, turning back to face everybody else with his arm extended. “Quinn Larisch, everybody. Now, might as well share who Ace and Scar are like he said.”
“I’m General Kane Marshall, one of the five generals of Iasa’s military,” says Kane. “Ace is my son, and–”
“I can introduce myself,” interjects Alex, his hardened gaze meeting his father’s eye. “My name is Alex Marshall. And as he said, I’m his son. But we’re nothing alike.”
“Looks like you both work for Zeris,” says Ember.
“I don’t–”
“He’s not–” starts Kane, his voice overlapping with Alex’s, and they both go quiet.
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
While Zeris chuckles, Kane clears his throat before affirming, “Zeris and I are partners.”
Ember turns around, “So, Alex. Let me get this straight. You killed Blue, more or less got Violet killed, and then… I assume you killed Delta. Right?”
Alex nods.
“Zeris also claimed you were partners. In the mazes, you tried to kill Scar and Co—Quinn. But when we crossed paths before the second maze, you didn’t kill me. How much were you really working for Zeris? Am I supposed to believe he made you kill all those people when you spared me?”
“We struck a deal. I kill somebody for him, and he doesn’t kill me. I didn’t have my memories then, so I had to go along with it. Had no idea who Zeris actually was,” says Alex, looking at Zeris. “I planned to pretend for a while until I could take him out, but things got tricky. I only meant for Blue to get badly burned; I didn't want to kill him. And now, knowing what I know, Zeris was never going to kill me. I still don’t truly know if he wanted to help me gain better control over my new power or if he just wanted to get my hands bloody.”
Everybody turns to Zeris, and Zeris takes a second before saying, “A little of both. The plan was to eventually give you your memories back at some point during stage one, especially once we found out Armaros was in the same sector as you, Alex. Knowing your past, I wanted to make sure you’d be able to follow through now. People who lack that killer instinct have no real chance in this world.”
“Are those your words or my father's?” asks Alex.
“Mine,” says Zeris. “I wanted to take… a different approach. Alex… all of you sitting here, I absolutely despise the kind of duty a trial runner has to carry out.”
“But you still did what was in your best interest,” says Quinn. “You both don’t need to say it out loud. Everybody here knows that if it came down to them or Alex, Alex was surviving because you weren’t going to let him die. That’s why you had me protect him, made me send him to the stream so he could awaken his ability, and then forced me to influence everybody’s will so Alex would be exiled. All so you could run into him again. You want my honest opinion? You don’t give a damn about the rest of us. Especially me and Scar.”
“You, Quinn Larisch, the person who sucked up to the military and Queen Divine for years for a pointless endeavor! Do you really think I don’t give a damn about you? Let me remind you who has kept your parents alive while you tried to rig the trials for yourself! If I wasn’t the trial runner and paying such close attention to who was in my sector, you think anybody else would’ve noticed the steps you took so you wouldn't lose your memories?!”
“You only care about my ability…” says Quinn. “That’s all you see in people—how you can use them. It’s what you did with me, Alex, Hazel… and you’re going to try to use Scar next. Scar or Armaros, whatever name you wanna call him, is the reason Iasa is in such deep shit these days. I don’t care how loyal you are to this country; you know he’s the main reason the pure core was stolen and that he should die, no questions asked!”
Kane’s eyes spark with gold, “That’s my wife you’re talking about.”
“He also killed your daughter, in case you forgot,” says Quinn, his eyes turning green.
With a snap of his fingers, all eyes in the room look at Alex, who is standing beside Armaros, his hand engulfed with wrathful flames.
“I would’ve killed him before if you two hadn’t stopped me,” says Alex, glaring down at Armaros. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you right here and now.”