13

War begins when one hand extends for help.

And the other breaks it.

Takeshi shoved Khalani to the ground, covering her body with his own. The low whistle of Takeshi shoved Khalani to the ground, covering her body with his own. The low whistle of more arrows whooshed by, surrounding them. The guards on the walls started screaming as a high-pitched alarm echoed through the air.

“Takeshi, your back!” she gasped.

Takeshi momentarily twitched, and in one swift movement, he reached behind and ripped the arrow from his cloak. His eyes were murderous as he threw it to the ground.

The tip of the arrow glowed with a faint, pulsing light, crackling with electricity.

Khalani’s mouth fell open when he reached under the back of his shirt and pulled out a thick leather casing for his blade, a hole embedded in it.

She froze in quiet shock.

If the arrow had been a few more inches to the right…

“Are you ok—”

“I’m fine, Kanes,” he interrupted, locking eyes with hers. “We need to get out of here.”

Rain pummeled their bodies in the middle of the street, and she flinched as more screams pierced through the torrent, but it was difficult to see and everything was disorienting.

Khalani’s head snapped to the left, blood draining from her face when two small figures were flung from the large wall, their wails cut short by sickening thuds on the ground.

A haunting voice started to sing in her ear, a twisted lullaby she couldn’t silence.

You’re about to die.

You’re about to die.

You’re about to—

“Stay with me, Kanes!” Takeshi pulled Khalani to her feet, crouching beside her. He cupped her face, his fierce gaze pulling her in, beckoning her to look at nothing but him.

“We can make it to the house,” he declared, eyes darting to the yellow house they’d been staying in. It wasn’t far, but arrows continued to rain haphazardly around them, making it a near impossible path to traverse.

“Takeshi.” She shook her head, her body refusing to move. “I c-can’t.”

“Yes, you can,” he stated emphatically, his faith in her outweighing the belief she had in herself. “I’ll be right beside you the entire time. Do you trust me to keep you safe?”

Thunder rumbled overhead, and the rain seemed to fall in slow motion. Her heart hammered as she stared into his steady black eyes, her only anchor in the storm.

And she knew, in a split second, what the answer was.

On the surface of the Earth, there was no one she trusted more to keep her safe than Takeshi Steele.

Khalani nodded, and his expression solidified with determination, as if her trust meant something to him.

He intensely scanned the area, palming his dagger, transforming into the deadly Captain he was trained to be.

“Keep your head down and run. Understand?”

She nodded, rearing back when an arrow landed mere inches from them.

“Go!” he yelled.

She bolted forward, flinching as the rain suddenly intensified, stinging her face like icy needles. Her pulse raced erratically as her legs beat against the wet concrete, faster than she’d ever run before.

A symphony of yells, gunshots, and screams echoed throughout the storm, but she kept her head down and raced forward.

Takeshi didn’t leave her side for a second. He kept a large hand on the back of her neck, pushing her forward.

“Help me! Help me!” A middle-aged woman in a beige garment ran toward Khalani and Takeshi, pure terror etched on her face.

Khalani skidded to a stop, reaching out to pull the woman to safety. Their fingertips almost touched when an arrow plunged straight through the woman’s chest. Khalani froze, her vision tilting as the woman’s eyes bulged in disbelief before crashing to the ground.

It all happened in a span of a second—a lifetime—before Takeshi grabbed Khalani’s arm and pulled her toward the yellow house. He all but broke down the front door and shoved her inside.

The house was eerily dark and quiet compared to the chaos outside. Her entire body trembled as she flicked on the light switch, but nothing happened.

“Takeshi?” She breathed faster.

“Someone cut off the power.” He clutched the blade tighter, peeking through the blinds.

“Who’s attacking?”

“I don’t know.” He started removing various weapons from his body and handed her one of his knives. “Maybe it’s the other tribe they were talking about. The Sinners.”

Her heart skipped a beat as she remembered the Chief’s haunting warning. That the Sinners ate people.

Khalani’s entire body stiffened as she remembered.

The others were in the food hall, unprotected.

Winnie was alone.

“We have to go back. We need to grab the others.” She ran to the door, but Takeshi immediately stood in front of it like a barricade.

“Absolutely not.”

“Get out of my way, Takeshi! I’m going out there.”

“Over my dead fucking body.”

“If you don’t move, I will—”

Takeshi’s hand suddenly clamped over her mouth. “Shut up.”

Her first instinct was to bite him, but something in his expression halted her.

He wasn’t looking at her.

He was staring at the hallway behind her. She breathed into his palm, and then she heard it.

A low creak of the wooden floor.

Another.

The faint thud of a door closing.

Someone was in the house with them.

The blood drained from her face, and Takeshi put one finger to her lips. She nodded, afraid to exhale.

Takeshi’s gaze narrowed as he scanned the empty room. He crept forward, holding a palm back for her to stay put.

Then, he disappeared around the corner.

The silence expanded, like a slow-waking evil stretching its jaws. Khalani gripped the knife he gave her, her knuckles turning white.

She thought she was comfortable in the dark, but the shadowy walls closed in around her, like they were alive. Watching the whites of her eyes. The quivering of her lips.

Another creak, and her head whipped to the far corner of the room.

Nothing.

Not a hint of movement.

The knife shook in her hand.

Khalani took a slow step backward, the front door brushing against her shoulders.

Where are you?

Where are you?

All of a sudden, a crash rang out.

She jumped as two figures tumbled to the floor right in front of her. Takeshi grappled with a large man wearing a black cloak and brown hair cascading to his waist.

Takeshi quickly gained the upper hand, flipping the man over and thrusting his knife toward the stranger’s throat. But the man suddenly gripped Takeshi’s wrists, his arms trembling as the blade hovered inches from his jugular.

Takeshi pressed down harder, the blade inching closer and closer to his throat. The stranger’s face turned beet-red with terror and exertion when he yelled out for help.

Heavy footsteps thundered from the opposite hallway.

A new figure emerged.

This man was heftier, wearing the same black cloak, with blond hair longer than Khalani’s and strange red geometric tattoos covering his face. His eyes locked on the struggle, and he charged forward, wielding a curved scythe.

Aiming straight for Takeshi.

Khalani didn’t have time to think.

She launched herself forward and jumped on the man’s back, stabbing him in the ribs with all her might as she screamed. He grunted, throwing her off him and she slammed to the ground.

Pain exploded in her skull when her head cracked against the table’s corner.

Her vision blurred, darkening as she held the back of her skull and felt warm liquid pool on her hands. She groaned, trying to grip the table to stand, but her legs collapsed under her.

The man clutched his bloody ribs, turning to face her. He growled, baring jagged, yellow teeth.

He lifted the scythe above his head, about to slice her in half.

She futilely held up her forearm to block the hit, praying her death would be quick and painless.

But the man’s entire body went taut, blood oozing from the corners of his mouth. He toppled forward, and she hastily scrambled back as his large body hit the floor with a resounding crash. Her eyes widened at the knife protruding from his back.

Takeshi stood behind him, his throwing arm still outstretched.

The other stranger lay dead on the ground, his throat split wide open.

She tried to stand and faltered.

Takeshi prowled forward, kicking the dead man out of the way. He crouched, cupping her face, searching her eyes.

“You okay, Kanes?”

She nodded, shakily rising to her feet. Khalani took a step forward and stumbled, her head feeling like it was underwater.

She was abruptly lifted into strong arms, and Takeshi strode to the door, ignoring her protests.

“Issss… fineeeee,” she slurred, touching the sharp pain on the side of her head. Khalani was somehow surprised when she pulled her hand away and still found blood there.

Takeshi’s piercing gaze sharpened at the sight.

He glanced back at the bodies, as if a part of him wanted to set her down, turn back, and mutilate the two dead men in a vengeful slaughter. But instead, he walked to the front door, though he didn’t open it.

He turned, placing his back against the wood, and slid down to the floor, clutching her tightly to his chest.

“What are we doing?” she asked softly.

“We’re waiting until I’m sure it’s safe outside.”

“Oh.”

The sound of coarse yells and fighting still registered, but they were growing fainter. She tentatively laid her head in the crook of his neck and took a deep breath. She may have imagined him holding her closer.

Khalani didn’t know how long they waited there.

Minutes, hours even.

Before her vision went black, she sent a silent prayer to the heavens, begging that if God was out there and listening, He would keep her family safe.

***

Liquid. Cool liquid seeping down her throat.

A hand cupping the side of her head.

Another touching her leg.

She jolted awake, sputtering against the glass cup held to her lips.

Ari jumped back, her cheeks drained of color, the opposite of the bloodstains splattered all over her blue dress. Her blonde hair, usually neat and tidy, was tangled and knotted, with strands coming loose from her ponytail.

“Hey, you’re okay,” a different voice whispered. “We’re right here.”

She looked to her right and found Serene kneeling beside her bed. Winnie sat in a chair next to her, both of them clutching her hand with relief glowing in their eyes.

“Hey, Khalani girl.” Winnie squeezed her hand.

“Winnie… Serene.” She looked between them, frowning. “W-what happened? How are you guys here? Where is everyone?”

She tried sitting up, but Ari gently nudged her back down onto the bed. “Relax. The stitches in the back of your head are still fresh, so no sudden movements.”

Khalani looked around, realizing they were in the same bedroom she’d been staying in. Her gaze flickered to the door, and Serene correctly assumed where her thoughts ventured.

“Derek, Adan, Brock, and Takeshi are just outside the door. Ari insisted the room be limited to only a few people. After the fight, the Chief ordered everyone to stay in their homes, in case any Sinners were still lurking about,” Serene explained, her gaze hardening as if she were reliving the long, bloody night.

“What happened to you guys?” Khalani asked, her heart racing. “How did you escape?”

“When we heard the alarm, Brock took us into the kitchen and locked the doors. He went back out to help the Chief and her warriors fight off the Sinners,” Serene replied, a begrudging note of respect in her tone.

Khalani’s lips parted, and she glanced at Winnie, who looked forlorn. Tired. Most of her color had returned, but Khalani rapidly scanned her for fresh injuries.

“Winnie’s okay, dear,” Winnie reassured her. “Ari was checking Winnie’s bandages when everything happened. She locked us in the bathroom, and we waited hours for the fighting to stop.”

Khalani’s attention shifted to Ari, whose crestfallen eyes made her hesitate. They held the deepest notes of loss, fear, and rage.

“Thank you for looking after her,” Khalani said, meaning it with everything inside her.

Ari nodded, her head hanging low. “I have to go check on my other patients. When you’re feeling better, meet the Chief in the log cabin. She’s waiting for all of you.”

Serene turned to Ari with a frown, that piece of information apparently news to her as well.

Not long after Ari left, Khalani stood, noticing her bloody clothes were gone and she now wore a fresh set of beige garments.

She wondered if it was Takeshi that changed her.

“How long have I been asleep?”

“Just through the night and into the morning,” Serene said. “It’s probably midday now. Are you sure you’re okay to walk? You can rest more.”

“No. I don’t want to rest.” She refused to lie down and be useless, not when there were innocent people hurt.

Khalani moved gingerly, feeling the tightness in her fresh stitches.

When she opened the door, four men immediately stood. She gasped as Derek and Adan wrapped her in a tight embrace.

“You scared us to death, Khalani. I don’t think I could handle losing you. Who else would endure my terrible jokes?” Adan admitted, holding her close.

“He’s right.” Derek squeezed her arms, as if he needed to reassure himself that she wouldn’t disappear. “Lord knows I can’t listen to him twenty-four seven. You’re our leader, and without you, everything falls apart.”

Leader?

She had no time to process the word before they released her, and Brock clapped her on the shoulder.

“You alright?”

Patches of dried blood were visible on his cloak. Brock’s demeanor was calm, but his expression was haggard, like the long night of fighting had taken a heavy toll on him.

“I’m okay,” she acknowledged in a low voice. And then, Khalani turned to Takeshi.

He stood by the wall in his black gear, with dark circles under his eyes, and his hair messy, as if he’d scrubbed his hands through it all night. The pinched expression on his face intensified as his gaze roved over her body.

The air thickened, and she could barely swallow past the knot in her throat. The space between Takeshi and her expanded, stretching for miles.

She realized she didn’t quite like that.

Khalani walked forward, closing the distance.

Takeshi frowned, utterly still as the gap between them disappeared. His expression was cool. Guarded.

Khalani had always avoided physical affection. After her parents died, she stopped giving hugs or handshakes, preferring to linger in the dark, wondering why others freely offered their touch to strangers.

She was gradually getting used to Serene, Derek, Adan, and Winnie holding her, reassuring her that she wasn’t alone. But she rarely initiated contact herself.

Hugs were too intimate. Dangerous.

Sex made sense to her. It was an exchange of two bodies who just wanted to block out the world for a few moments. The faces didn’t matter. The person didn’t matter. Not when the heart wasn’t involved in those transactions.

But her heart didn’t feel numb anymore.

It beat a constant drum in her chest, and when she stared at Takeshi, her body wanted to communicate what her lips were unable to.

Without thinking, Khalani reached out and hugged him.

His entire body went rigid, arms staying tight by his side, like he didn’t know what to do. Like he was just as scared of holding her as she was.

But then she whispered, “Thanks for keeping me safe.”

Takeshi’s heartbeat hammered against her ear. And then, with the utmost caution, he slowly wrapped his arms around her.

Takeshi didn’t speak. But his words were everywhere.

In the way he enveloped her. In the tips of his fingers.

As if holding her close was his way of saying, “Thank you for trusting me.”

To anyone watching, that sliver of contact might have seemed meaningless. After all, a hug is just a hug.

But to her, it felt like a truce, however fleeting it may be.

She backed away, and he let her go.

Khalani turned to the others, afraid of what she might do next if that moment were allowed to continue.

“Ari said the Chief is expecting us at the log cabin.” Her mouth set in a hard line. “We should go see what she has to say.”

The others agreed, and when they left the house, Khalani was surprised Ferren and Jared weren’t posted outside their door.

But when she got her first look at the rest of the town, her knees locked.

The once quaint street was covered in destruction.

Several houses had burned down, arrows were littered across the ground, and trash was strewn everywhere.

Khalani’s fingers chafed together as they walked through the devastation.

The Merry Avenue sign lay in a ruined heap on the concrete, as though the joy in the Desert Spring had been destroyed as well.

Most people stayed inside their houses, if they were still standing. Others lingered at their open doors, gazes narrowing at Khalani and her group as they passed.

Before, the townspeople regarded them with tendrils of fear and disdain.

But now, the people glared at them with pure hatred and vitriol.

She flinched, hurriedly moving down the street, unsure of what harm they’d caused to warrant such hostility.

The bitter scent of smoke and death intensified in the misty air as they ventured deeper into the broken town.

She found the reason why.

In the open field, where Takeshi normally trained with Patreus, there was a massive burning pile. Khalani didn’t immediately understand the purpose until she saw two guards toss a body into the flames.

They were cremating their fallen.

By the looks of it, there were at least fifty bodies on the pile.

Khalani’s hand flew to her mouth as they stopped and stared, the enormity of the night’s carnage crashing over them.

Entire families had perished. Men. Women. Children.

Her eyes watered as the image brought her back to the mass execution of prisoners in Braderhelm.

To her parents—

“The Chief is expecting you,” Ferren interrupted, his brown hair out of his usual ponytail as he stood in front of the cabin, his voice heavy with grief.

“Ferren,” she frowned, “Where’s Jared?”

A broken sound escaped him. “Jared…he—” Ferren swallowed his words, unable to finish. “Please go inside.”

They exchanged worried glances as they walked past him toward the log cabin.

Inside was chaos.

All the tables had been overturned except for the head table in the back, where the Chief stood, staring intently at a map.

The Chief’s red hair was clasped in two intricate braids hanging down by her ears. Her angular, sun-kissed face was streaked with dirt, and the deep circles under her green eyes were unmistakable.

Other warriors surrounded her, with Patreus by her side. Different voices clashed in heated debate.

“We should attack them tonight.” Someone slammed a fist on the table.

“And how do you expect to do that, Rayard?” Patreus chided. “Half of our forces are gone, and the Sinners have superior weapons.

“We need to regroup, rebuild and refocus on our mission,” another woman declared, staring at the Chief intently.

“But they found a way over our walls. We can’t focus on our mission unless we make them bigger.”

“How long with that take? Months? Years, even? We’ll be dead before then. We need a quicker solution.”

“Enough!” The Chief’s voice sliced through the clamor. “We have visitors. And they may provide an answer to our problem.”

Her focus shifted to Khalani and her group, who stood tensely, waiting for the floor to be further ripped out from under them.

The Chief gestured for them to come closer.

“Chief,” Patreus said in an uneasy voice. “I’m not sure this is a good idea. You know we’re not supposed to—”

“Silence.” The Chief lifted her hand.

She flickered her gaze between each of them, landing on Brock.

“My warriors and I thank you for your help last night. There would’ve been a lot more deaths if you hadn’t fought by our side. We owe you a debt.”

Brock didn’t respond, just nodded tersely, crossing his arms.

The Chief then shifted her focus to Khalani and Takeshi.

“And we know you killed two Sinners in the house as well. Their tattoos indicated they were part of the Sinners elite forces. Had they survived, they would’ve wreaked more havoc on our town. You should be commended as well.” The Chief lowered her head in recognition.

Both Khalani and Takeshi nodded, though it was Takeshi who deserved most of the credit.

The quiet was tense, but the Chief’s next question stole the air from the room.

“How long will it take you to get to Hermes?”

Everyone, including her warriors, whipped their heads to the Chief, as if they hadn’t heard correctly.

“A few more days,” Brock answered.

The Chief nodded slowly, her steely gaze fixed on them with fierce resolve

“You once told me that you could bring us back weapons from Hermes. Are you still willing to do that?” The Chief set her hands on the table as she stared at Khalani.

Her pulse quickened as she realized what the Chief was offering.

A way out.

“We are,” Khalani answered. “If you let us go to Hermes, we’ll bring back whatever we can to help you fight off the Sinners and protect your people.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, an uproar erupted among the other men and women.

“We can’t trust them, Chief. They are Under-Dwellers!” one girl exclaimed, her voice dripping with disdain.

“Do you honestly believe they’ll return?” another man scoffed.

“We should eliminate them before they have a chance to end us!” a deep voice spat from the crowd.

“STOP!” The Chief slammed her fist on the table, silencing the chaos, commanding everyone’s attention. “Have you all forgotten why we are here?” She surveyed the warriors, disappointment etched deeply on her face. “What our purpose is?”

Several gazes dropped to the ground, while others continued to glare at Khalani and her group.

“If you don’t mind me asking,” Adan interjected, frowning, “what is your purpose here?”

Khalani noticed the blood draining from Patreus’ face, but the Chief replied smoothly,

“Peace. That has always been our goal. But we have learned that in order to achieve peace, some...violence may be necessary.” She turned back to Khalani. “That’s why we need more weapons to stand up to the Sinners. But my people do have a point. There’s no way to know if you’ll come back.”

“On my life, you have my word that we’ll return,” Khalani declared, stepping forward.

The Chief tapped a finger against her chin, her green eyes intense and probing, but Khalani met her gaze head on, letting the Chief judge the weight of her sincerity.

The people of Desert Spring had fed, clothed, and sheltered them. More importantly, they saved Winnie’s life. If Khalani didn’t return, death would be the only reason.

The Chief’s gaze flickered over their group before settling on one individual in particular. “We will allow you to leave for Hermes under one condition. He must remain behind.”

Khalani turned in shock as the Chief pointed at Derek.

“Me?” Derek held a hand to his chest, his eyes wide.

“Yes. You’re our collateral in case the rest of your group thinks about going back on our deal.”

“But why me?”

“You’re a scientist, are you not?” The Chief inclined her head. “We have more use for someone like you in our ranks.”

“But I never told you I was a…” Derek paused, his muscles tensing. “You were listening to our conversations in the house.”

“Did you really think we wouldn’t take extra measures to protect our people, Under-Dweller?” one of the men beside the Chief laughed. “We have ears everywhere.”

Khalani’s hands trembled, her resolve threatening to shatter.

“No,” she stated emphatically. “You’re not keeping Derek, or anyone else. If anyone’s staying, it’ll be me.”

“Absolutely not,” Serene shot back. “No one is being left behind.”

“Then none of you are leaving. We’re only taking him. Those are our terms.” The Chief’s tone left no room for argument as she straightened.

Khalani shook her head, feeling the wooden walls of the cabin compress, suffocating her.

Derek was the closest thing she had to a brother.

He was the first person who had truly seen her in prison, the one she could always count on. Without Derek, she might never have escaped captivity.

Leaving him behind was unthinkable.

“I accept the terms,” Derek stated.

Khalani jerked her gaze to him. “What are you talking about? We’re not leaving you.”

“Yes, you are.” He swallowed tightly. “They won’t let us go otherwise. If this is what I must do to help you reach Hermes, then I’ll gladly do that. For you all, I’d do anything.”

She shook her head numbly as the weight of their collective bond shone in his eyes.

“Derek.” Winnie’s chin trembled. “You don’t have to do this. Winnie can stay with you.”

More arguments ensued, but Brock and Takeshi remained silent, their expressions hard, as if the harsh realities of their lives had taught them the necessity of sacrifice. But she didn’t miss their clenched fists and glares directed at the Chief.

“No. You all need to keep going. I’ll be fine.” Derek smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I don’t mind the bed and showers,” he joked, trying to ease their grief.

“But what about the crops? We need your help in Hermes, too,” Khalani insisted, still in denial that this was their only option.

“I know,” Derek conceded. “Just come back fast for me.”

His bottom lip barely quivered, and Khalani cried out, throwing her arms around him. Winnie, Serene, and Adan quickly joined in, all five of them dissolving into tears.

Even though Khalani knew it was only temporary, she felt like her chest was splintering apart.

The Chief cleared her throat after a few minutes. “Time is of the essence, I’m afraid. If the terms are accepted, the rest of you must leave the Desert Spring immediately. Patreus, ensure they get their packs back.”

Khalani wiped her ever-flowing tears as they reluctantly pulled apart. Patreus nodded grimly, his expression odd as he swiftly exited the cabin.

“Go.” The Chief gestured toward the door. “The sooner you get to Hermes and return, the quicker we’ll all get out of this alive.”