Watching in the wretched cyborg flee brought back all of recent memories of her recent attack. Nozomi had not only hurt Jet’s body, but she damaged her soul. Jet could not remember how long it had been since the attack, but it felt like an age had passed. As soon as Nigel and she were reunited, she wanted to be done with this place. And everyone associated with it. Jet could hear the distant sounds of screams. She cracked the cabinet, but couldn’t see much from her vantage point. Her back ached from being in the enclosed space. She hoped April was okay. Nozomi had lashed out and hurt the young cyborg just as Jet thought she had expired. She would not underestimate Nozomi again.

“Help is coming,” Gretta said as she opened the cabinet door.

Gunshots rang out through the chateau.

Jet flinched.

What is happening?

“Don’t be frightened. Help has arrived,” Gretta said.

The older woman helped Jet break free of the enormous antique cabinet that Jet used as a hiding spot. She spotted her wheelchair and started crawling toward it. As Gretta helped her into it, wailing sounds echoed off the walls of the massive chateau. They had an eerie familiarity. Moments later, Gretta pushed Jet into an enormous hall. As she drew closer, her heart soared as she saw Nigel. It was short-lived as he struck Dahlia.

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“You didn’t have to kill him! He wasn’t a threat to you,” Nigel said.

“He wasn’t human anymore. I couldn’t risk leaving him alive. This action gave me no pleasure.”

What the hell is going on here?

Jet gazed upon the man on the floor—and the blood. There was so much of it. Her heart caught in her throat as Nigel fell to the floor and wept. Dahlia smiled as Jet approached.

“Hello, Josephine,” Dahlia said.

“What happened?” Jet replied.

Nigel turned toward Jet. She was dismayed to see him in so much pain. She didn’t know his father well but could only imagine what it was like to lose a parent. Nigel didn’t acknowledge her.

“Gretta, please attend to the body. Nigel, Jet, and I have much to discuss.”

Dahlia grabbed Nigel by the scruff of the neck and threw him in Jet’s direction. Jet couldn’t believe how much strength she had. He had to catch himself in her wheelchair. It was like his energy got sucked out. His face was wet, and he looked flushed. Not like the Nigel she loved. The man before her didn’t act like he had a reason to live. Jet took Nigel’s hand.

“I’m so sorry,” Jet said.

He pulled away.

“Now come, children, play nice. Nigel, now help Jet into my study. We need to go over the next phase of our plan.”

Nigel pushed Jet in silence through a dark and foreboding hall toward an unknown future. This is not how she thought her reunion would go. Not at all.