Explosives? Brian nodded, wiping snot off his nose. "He turned around...he offered me a chance...organize this plan...set up the pieces. If I had known-"

Raine grabbed him by the collar. "I don't know who's blood that is, but you're going to start talking in complete sentences."

Brian kicked. "I, I- I had to kill a guard to get away...but I can show you-" He gagged, twisting to steal air. "I can show you what Kendall's planning."

How can we even trust him? Brian's eyes wide, fighting Raine's grip, he looked right at me. "He's going to kill a lot more people," he hissed, "That's his plan!"

I bit my cheek, watching his arms flail. I've never seen him like this before. "Let him go," I said, loosening my shoulders. "We should at least hear him out."

Raine let go of his shirt. "You mean let him lead us into a trap?" Brian stumbled down a couple steps, catching his balance.

"If that's where Kendall wants us, that's where we need to be," I muttered.

Raine raised her eyebrow. "So you do have a plan?"

"More of a wild card," I muttered, the epi-pen burning a hole in my pocket. I gave Brian a hand up. "You show us what Kendall's doing, and then we can stop him."

A weak nod, Brian let go of my hand. "You think you have a chance?"

"I do." My eyes drifted up the stairwell. "Kendall may be smart, but he can't foresee the future."

Raine trained her gun on him. "So about these explosives?"

Brain swallowed a lump in his throat. "Yes, well...Kendall made a deal with me. I, finish this project for him, and he'll let me escape…" He rubbed his eyes. "I finished organizing deliveries, signed pay slips...I only found out after they were already in place."

"They were explosives," I murmured.

"At least a dozen bombs, they've been hidden in construction sites, the new cell towers-"

"You're saying Kendall's going to blow up his own citizens?" Raine snarled. "Those towers are in populated areas."

Brian grimaced. "Kendall's name isn't connected to any of this, only mine. He set me up to be his fall guy." This is insane…

"So he's going to connect this to our efforts in Vitriol," I said. "Kendall's really going to make us out as terrorists."

Brian shrugged his shoulders . "I don't know anything about that...but they've been moving a lot of equipment upstairs. Lab stuff, computers." He motioned for us to follow, pointing at a side door. "It starts up here."

We followed Brain up the steps, winding up the stairwell. The sound echoed off the walls. We stopped in front of a metal door. Brain flinched, looking back with a wary glance. He turned the handle.

We creeped inside the dark room. A distant light filtered through walls of plastic, I followed the blurry light. Chills ran down my spine, the tick of a distant clock. I hid behind Raine's shadow, my brain screaming like a siren, this place is dangerous. Deeper into the empty hall, the room breaking out into a larger space. Plastic divided into makeshift rooms, hospital beds lined up, IV's. They're starting the experiments here.

Brian clenched his jaw. "Those files you've been spreading…" his voice echoed, fear creeping in his gaze. "This really is about Dr.Geier's work."

"Don't see why you should be horrified, Brian," I muttered. "This all started with you using assination as a solution." My head spinning, I felt dizzy. This place is sick.

"That's one person." Brian glared back at me. "I didn't sign up to blow people up, and certainly did not sign up to be blamed for it."

Raine walked past us, ducking under plastic. "Where are you going?" I asked. Swooping under the cover, I chased after her. I stumbled through another plastic room, I broke free into the space. Raine stood, frozen in front of a giant computer monitor. A map of the city on the screen. Twelve or fifteen blinking dots darted across it. Mostly in the middle district, several in center city, a handful in the slums. This is real.

Raine slammed her palm on the panel. "So he's telling the truth," Raine grumbled. "Kendall's got more bombs."

I slunk in beside her, frowning at the bright screen. What is Kendall waiting for? I glared at the screen, the room feeling more hollow. This place...it's just enough to tell me what's coming, not enough to show his hand. Sure Kendall will threaten me, but to what end? How will this end?

A shadow moved behind the screen, a dark silhouette, hiding in the corner. Someone's watching us. Their identity clouded behind plastic, I stepped towards them. They stayed listening as I tiptoed around the monitor, Raine still preoccupied by the screen.

I won't let them get away. I slipped under the cover, sprinting after the figure. Ripping past the plastic barrier, I charged through another piece. I got him. The man turned. My heart stopped within my chest. No…

The broad shouldered man blinked down at me. Dark bronze skin, and a confident stance; he was unmistakable. "Broc…" I whimpered, staring up at his face. Lewis must be close, he's doing this. A thud behind me, I turned back. I left the others alone.

I pivoted back, Broc stepping in front of me. "Are you going so soon?" His skin taking on that sickly green tinge, my mind flashed back to that moment.

I shut my eyes, shaking my head. I don't want to remember that. I clenched my teeth. "You're not real, this isn't real."

"Real or not, do you have to ignore me?" Broc took a breath, his image reverted back to his ordinary self. Warmth in his brown eyes, he said, "I told you something before I left, do you remember it? "

My lip quivered, I shook my head. "I don't know, I can't remember. That was five years ago."

Broc hung his head. "Then you still don't understand…" I shivered, the world feeling colder. Something in his voice changed, "You weren't ready then, and you aren't ready now," he hissed.

I stumbled back, the room spinning. "No, please." I squeezed my eyes closed.

"That's the reason we're all dead, why your new friends are going to die now."

I shook my head. "You're wrong, you have to be wrong. I can save them, I can-'' A gunshot rattled in my ear, my words ringing cold. "...I can save them." Tears stung my eyes.

The world moved in a blur as I scrambled back to my feet. Tearing through plastic sheets, I raced towards the monitor. Stopping at the screen, I turned over my shoulder. Where did she go?

I stumbled back towards the doorway, scanning for any sign of her or Brian. This is my fault, I shouldn't have left them. I kept running, making my way back.

Two blurry silhouettes moved behind the plastic. I slowed my steps, cupping my mouth. A distorted Jake had his gun raised, Raine's hands above her head. "Where is she, Raine?" he growled.

I quieted my breathing, staying still. I need to do something, think of something. I peeked between the sheets, Brian lying in a bloody pool. Oh no, this is bad. Brain hissed, giving a strained scream.

Jake tilted his towards a white lab coat stepping around Brian. "Have I made him useless for your study?" he asked.

Helios frowned at the mess, tapping his chin. "He's lost a lot of blood."

Jake turned his gun. They're going to kill him. Heart pounding, I shuffled closer. I won't let this happen. I reached for the curtain, someone grabbed my arm. They pulled me back. I flailed, fighting back. The space was empty behind me.

"Murray?" I hissed. He reappeared for a second, holding his finger to his lips. Right, quiet.

Jake sighed, "Kendall will probably want him alive until after the explosions," Jake sighed, moving his aim off him.

"Fair assessment." Helios stepped over Brian, giving Raine a wary glance. "But you can shoot the mercenary, there's no use for her." I tightened my fists. No you don't. turned my head, Murray was gone.

Raine laughed, "Now you're hurting my feelings. I can still be useful, promise."

Jake paused, tilting his head. "We already know you're working with the teleporter." He started circling. "But you give her up, and I won't kill you."

"Is that all?" She raised her chin. "Not dying is a very vague promise."

Helios pulled on Jake's sleeve. "She's dangerous. You'd do better just to shoot her, and find the girl yourself."

Jake sighed, "I'm starting to agree." He locked eyes with Raine, his finger sliding over the trigger. "Unless you want to give me a reason not to..."

I fought the urge to run out there. Murray has a plan, he must. He can stop this-

Broc put his hand on my shoulder. I froze, my chin quivering again. He opened his mouth. "I didn't mean what I said before...I don't know why I said it."

I scrunched up my shoulders. I don't have time to deal with this. Broc's eyes low, pain leaking through his expression. I shut my eyes. "Right now I'm in the middle of something," I mumbled. "It can wait."

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He slipped his hand off. "I just wish you could remember."

"What you said before I left?" I turned my head.

"Maybe…" He furrowed his brow. "Funny thing, I can't remember what that was."

I gave him a half grin. "It's strange my subconscious thinks this is important now." I stepped away from him, peering through the plastic. "We can talk about this later, okay?"I can't wait for Murray.

Jake raised his gun. "Your silence is telling."

I flinched. A blurr shifted across my view. Murray ducked behind Jake, knocking him off his feet. Helios's eyes wide, he sprinted away, out the door. Murray growled, "You wanted to catch up, Jake. Well, here I am."

"Finally taking me up on the reunion," Jake scoffed, turning his aim to Murray. "We have lots to talk about. With you making a mess of things."

Raine's gun on the floor, she kicked it back, the firearm sliding towards me. It stopped just ahead of me, on the other side of the curtain.

Murray narrowed his gaze." I don't care about that. What did you do with Gwen?" his voice turned grim.

Jake shrugged. "She's somewhere safe for now, but that can quickly change."

Murray nodded, pacing forward. "You realize in that case, I will kill you."

Jake snickered, "This whole plot of yours is uninspired. Hiding in the shadows, hoping the world is as horrified as you-"

"As opposed to what?" Murray laughed, "Blindly following what gets you ahead?" He snarled. "You stomp on those below you, and you'll have nothing to stand on."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "You really do think the rats will rise up and kill the king? Look at the revolutionary beside you, she kills for the people she hates."

Raine scowled, "Well excuse you-"

Muray shook his head. "That revolutionary was a teenager I once watched stay silent as they ripped an eyeball out of her skull. You don't underestimate strength like that, and she's just one."

I set down the sword, straining to reach for the gun.

Jake rolled his eyes. "And yet she can die just the same as any other snitch." I snatched the gun, preparing to spring out of the curtain.

A shadow moved in behind Jake. Her blond ponytail pulled back, lips in a fine line. Ingrid's here? She gave me a nod, catching my eyes from across the room. What on earth is happening?

Jake fixed his grip on the gun. "What will it be-"

Ingrid lunged at Jake. His eyes going wide, convulsing, he hissed. Ingrid pulled back the taser, standing over him. "Go, get out of here!" she shouted. Murray vanished once again.

Is Ingrid on our side? Swooping back, I picked up my sword. My heart pounded in my head. I need to go.

Raine crashed through the plastic sheet, latching onto my arm. "We gotta find Kendall now," she said, dragging me along. I blinked back, Raine yanking on my arm. "They'll deal with Jake."

I put the gun back in Raine's hand. "Let's go," I breathed, hiding the tremor in my voice. If those bombs go off… I shuddered.

Catching up to Raine, we stomped out into the pathway. Following the dim glow, we tore past dividers, leaving them in our wake. A staircase waited up at the end. I slowed my steps, nerves building in my gut. I'm not ready for this. I forced a step forward, fighting a wave of nausea. Everything Broc said.

Raine marched past me. She flicked her head back. "Hey, what's wrong?"

I shrugged, my limbs feeling heavy. "I've been seeing dead people again...Kendall might know we're coming."

She tilted her head. "Sure, that doesn't explain the look on your face."

"The look on my face doesn't matter," I hissed, stalling in front of the double doors. My palms were sweaty, I shook my head. Broc was right, this is my fault. Everything that happened in Tetrad, everything that's happening now...I'm not strong enough.

I reached for the handle, Raine twisting in front of the door. "No, I'm not letting this go," she hissed. "Kendall wants to get in your head, he wants you to feel small."

I gripped my head. "That doesn't change the truth."

"The truth?" Raine turned up her nose. "You want the truth, Phyn? You're the first person I've met in a long time who has any fight left in them." She shook her fist at me "You're a hero, an immovable force...and you can change this whole mess. You made me believe that I can change this mess." She took a breath, lowering her hands. "That's what you can do for Avarice, for Vitriol, for everyone. You can show us all what's possible."

I held my breath, my hand stiff over the handle. My tired eyes caught in the gleam of the blade. Raine's jaw flinched, staying in front of the door. What's possible…. I rubbed my eyes, stepping back from the door.

Maybe she's right...I can't forget the ground we've already made. I can't forget that blaming myself won't change the past, or the future. The only way to get there is hard work.

I gave a weak grin. "Let's prove them wrong, then."

"Good." She moved away from the door.

I turned the handle, cracking open the door. I can quiet my doubts long enough to face this.

Silent as we creeped in, we followed the burgundy carpet. The lights low, Raine raised her gun. The two of us traced along a balcony, the railing overlooked a dropoff, another room below. Huge windows lined the wall, the view spanning a breadth of the city. Fog drifting over the distant blue, the city was breathtaking.

Voices whispered below us, shadows along the walls. He's already here, waiting. I tiptoed closer, peering over. Gwen sat on a platform against the wall, bound and gagged. She met my eyes with a gaze full of fire. Her stiff determination didn't wane, no hope lost.

"I'm coming," I mouthed. I will find a way to save her.

Lewis was slouched beside her. His wrists untied, he held his head in his hands. I wasn't sure what to think about him, every turn seemed to show more layers of deception. Somehow I still pity him. He seemed to sink beneath the guilt.

Another shadow crawled up the wall, I stepped away from the railing. Raine next to me, I shivered at Victor's voice. He said, "Just stay calm, everything's going to plan."

Jude paced, clutching his head. "How can I stay calm? She could be anywhere by now, planning anything."

Kendall laughed, "Relax, I was right about her coming to you, wasn't I? She can't teleport now, there's no need to worry."

Jude sighed, "I know, but…"

"But what? She's doing exactly what we want her to." Kendall patted Jude on the shoulder. "Soon we'll have her in custody, and we can proceed."

"Yes...sure," Jude muttered, fidgeting in place.

Victor turned his head. "Is something else bothering you?"

"I know she talks nonsense, but…there was something she said." I raised an eyebrow. Did I get under his skin?

Victor took a breath. "Well what did she say?"

Jude shrugged. "I don't know...something about her joining you if you killed me. That you would kill me if she said that. I didn't believe her-"

"Did she actually say this?" Kendall tilted his head.

Jude blinked at him. "Something like it, yes."

Lewis snorted, breaking out into caustic laughter. He pointed at them. "He's actually going to fish for how serious she was."

Victor whipped his head around. "Did I ask you to speak?"

"Apologies." Lewis raised a hand, bags under his eyes. He rubbed his face.

Jude dropped his jaw. "So you aren't denying it?"

Victor chuckled, "Of course I am! I'm just surprised by her audacity." He shook a finger at Jude. "You need to be careful around her, she's very manipulative, desperate to drag you under."

Jude took a breath. "I know...but sometimes she sounds like she really cares."

Victor nodded. "That's because under all that aggression, she really does care. It's this desperation for freedom that stops her."

What on earth? I pursued my lips, creeping back to the railing. Raine scrunched her nose.

"Desperation for freedom plagues us all." Lewis stretched out his arms, laying back on the stage. "Wouldn't you agree, Gwen?" She darted her eyes over, snarling beneath her gag.

My hand rested on the wooden railing, it wobbled slightly, structurally weak. What really plagues me is stupid ideas. Victor rolled his eyes, pointing back at him. "You called me, Lewis. Don't complain about freedom."

"Ah, yes, and all the crap you put me through as a kid, that was my fault too." Lewis smiled at Jude. "You know, I used to worry if he would kill me too. It didn't take me long to realize Victor Kendall, only cares about Victor Kendall."

Victor rubbed his forehead. "Do I need to gag you?"

Lewis laid his head back. "Maybe...I'm feeling a little snarky today." He looked up, his eyes glazing over mine. Something clicked in his stare, a moment that served as almost an apology. I don't want an apology, I want to know why. Lewis cleared his throat, lifting his head. "All this stuff about bombs, scapegoats, that trigger in your left pocket. It's all quite overwhelming." He rubbed his face, resting his head back.

Wait…did Lewis just throw me a bone? Raine snorted, pacing back from the railing. "I'll hang back, and cover you. Do what you need to," she whispered.

I gave the railing another wobble, looking back. "Stay out of sight until the dust settles," I mumbled. I took a step back. So we're really going to do this. I took a breath.

Victor tapped his chin, pacing closer to Lewis. "What a strange thing to say…"

Lewis sat up. "I'm a strange person." He pointed ahead of himself. "Looks like we have company."

My heart jumped. They turned their heads. I held my breath. Everyone's eyes were lower than the balcony. We haven't been spotted?

Heels clicking across the floor, the person entering gave an angry huff. "I'm a little insulted that I wasn't invited."

Ingrid… I blinked, pausing my steps. So she really isn't with them?

Kendall straightened his posture, slipping his hands in his pockets. "I'm not sure what you mean? Ingrid-"

"No one considered running this by me?" She crossed her arms, staring down her glasses. "This whole scientific setup, recycling Geier's research. Don't you think this is all something the head administrator should be aware of?"

Jude stepped between them. "It's not what you think, I trust you, but secrecy has been a necessity. If we want to take Avarice to new heights-"

"You blow up its citizens?" Ingrid tilted her head. "That is mad," she hissed. Touche.

"It's not ideal...but it's for the best," Jude stuttered.

"Don't regurgitate his words." She glared past him, staring straight at Kendall. "Let the snake speak for himself."

Victor's face turned red. "You weren't informed, because you are incapable of understanding. Your service for Avarice may be impeccable, but this is outside your sphere." So I'm not the only one he's undermining.

"Out of my sphere?" Ingrid laughed. "Avarice is my sphere." She forced Jude to look at her. "How long has this been going on?" Jude tightened his fists. Ingrid stared in horror. "Jude...how long have you kept this from me?"

Kendall waved a hand. "You don't owe her a response. This is your country, your decisions."

Ingrid pursed her lips. "And what is a ruler without responsibility? You're walking a dangerous line here." She kept her gaze on Jude. "Put a pause on anything drastic, think this through with more voices."

"I've done enough thinking."Jude backed away from her. "Stay out of this, Ingrid."

"Jude," she raised her voice. I gave a nod to Raine, taking a few steps back. T

Best to use this distraction to our advantage.

Raine stood back against the wall. "Don't hesitate," she mouthed. I nodded my head.

Each breath narrowed my focus, I sprinted towards the railing. My feet pounding against the carpet, I drove a kick through the wood. Pieces splintering off, they crashed down to the floor. All their heads turned up, mouths gaping open.

I raised my chin. "You wanted tenacity, Victor," I roared, glaring down at him. "I'll give you tenacity." I gave the sword a test strike, swiping the air. I leapt down from the banister, landing on my feet. The impact running through me, I stood strong.

A smirk creeped off Kendall's lips. "Everyone, welcome the guest of honor. It's nice to finally see you, Wanderer."