“Did you find Vier?” I ask Lehen, as he sits down on the rim of the pool.
“Yes, but he won’t come out. He’s just on the other side of the tree line, but he won’t move.”
I strain my eyes to see if I can pick him out amongst the trees, but with the sun setting it’s getting harder to see.
We eat a small meal, then make our preparations before the sun fully sets.
As Braxton walks Lehen back to the forest, Gage, Keller, and Tobin take off in the vehicles to hide them. Gage and Tobin are to remain by the vehicles and operate the detonators using the master control once the Hostem begin their approach. They’re also to radio us at the first sign of movement. Keller walks back to us along the forest line, taking his place at his conflagration canon. Jagger mans the other one.
I voice my worries to Braxton about the possibility of the Hostem approaching from the forest.
“Lehen and Vier have it covered,” he assures me.
The two of us lay low in the pool, which is only two feet deep. The pale blue tile is cracked, with tufts of grass peeking out from the deteriorated grout. We each have a Levin gun in hand, and lie in wait as the sun sets.
Hours tick by as the temperature slowly drops, the dampness from a light rain earlier seeping into our clothes. I lay on my back, looking up at the stars that have decided to grace the sky this evening, and think back to my favorite time of night out in the Wasteland, when the stars would start to sparkle before we had to hide inside our home.
Those moments of peace seem like centuries ago.
I roll back over and notice Braxton has nodded off, so I nudge him in the ribs with my elbow. He is startled awake, almost firing his Levin gun. I shake my head in amusement and survey the area, which is quiet, then roll back over.
“Why do we have to stay awake when you had Duren announce that the Regulators will be here in two days’ time?” I ask some time later.
“Strategy. If the Hostem believe the Regulators will be here tomorrow, then wouldn’t you want to arrive before they do, to prepare…like we did?”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
I could sense the smile on his face without having to turn and look at him.
“Captain Braxton of Acheron?” A heavy voice blasts through the silence. “Captain Braxton, come out please.”
Braxton raises his head above the rim of the pool, just enough to see who’s calling his name.
“Looks like they’ve arrived. Stay here,” he whispers to me, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I grab his right arm, just as he begins to stand.
“Be careful.”
He smiles, stands, and climbs over the small lip of the pool. I turn over, prop myself up on my elbows, and strain my neck to see.
Braxton is cautiously walking to a group of men in odd Regulator uniforms, who have entered the complex from the main road. I begin to wonder why Gage and Tobin didn’t signal to us that we had visitors, as they were supposed to.
The men are standing in front of a large armored vehicle with high-wattage spotlights attached to the front, casting shadows around Braxton.
“That’s far enough, Captain,” the man says.
“Who are you?” Braxton asks, hands fidgeting at his side.
“I’m Commander Caderyn of the Territorial Army of Tyre.”
“Army? The cities don’t have any armies.”
“Acheron may not, but Tyre does,” the man says, then snickers. He snaps his fingers and twenty additional Regulators climb out of the vehicle, all brandishing weapons I haven’t seen before. “I need for you to come with me.”
I hear movement behind me and turn my attention towards the sound. A small figure quietly jumps into the pool and crawls over to me. I pull out my knife from my back pocket, but I pause when she places her finger over her lips, making a shushing sound. I look quizzically at the young face streaked with dirt, filthy blond hair pulled back into a braid.
She can’t be more than eleven years old.
I nod my head to show I understand and we both turn our attention back to the men.
“Why should I come with you?” Braxton asks, slowly backing away.
I notice Keller and Jagger stiffening; something doesn’t seem right.
“It would be better if we spoke in private, Captain.” Commander Caderyn takes a step closer to Braxton, his men readying their weapons.
“We can talk here just fine.”
“Very well.” Caderyn takes another step forward. “Captain Braxton, you’re being detained for violations against Sirain.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Premier Vladim has ordered the detention of all those who have violated the laws of Sirain. You left your post as head guard to the High Ruler of Acheron, which allowed the city to be attacked by the Hostem. Therefore, Captain Braxton, you’re to be remanded to the Reformatories until you’re sentenced.”
“High Ruler Vladim has declared himself as Premier? What about the Acheron High Ruler?”
“The High Ruler was assassinated several days ago. Premier Vladim has appointed a new leader to the city. Now, Captain, will you come willingly or forcibly?”
“Time to go,” the girl next to me says.
She grabs my arm just as the evening sky lights up. Deflagration rounds scream across the atmosphere, landing only a few feet away, creating a series of concussions, and shrapnel flying everywhere. We run across to the far end of the pool, and jump the wall. Men and women pour out of the forest in front of us as the rounds continue to fly from the same direction. I prepare to defend against
