The very name of the flighted dinosaur inspired mind-numbing fear. It was the largest of the pterosaurs, a carrion eater, and an opportunist. Its wingspan alone numbered thirty-odd feet, and its serpentine head flashed yellow and red as it plucked the limbs from a man like he was no more than an ant.
Crimson blood sprayed into the air, and agonized cries cut through the noise. Rogue crouched in her spot, frozen by the knowledge that she’d caused this. Guilt coursed through her veins like acid.
She jerked upright when the alarms sounded. Horns blown by sentries stationed in guard towers across the city. Their deep, mournful wails shivered down her spine and vibrated through the stones beneath her feet. They signaled the call to battle, drawing out every man of the Watch. It meant one thing to all of them.
The city was under siege.
Rogue curled up into a little ball, a sob of despair leaving her lips. There would be no escape for her today. Not after the mess she’d created with her thoughtless actions. Once they’d dealt with the dinosaur, the Watch would tear the city apart looking for her. Stone by stone. They’d find her. There was nowhere to hide—no one to turn to. Not even Moran can help me now.
Rough commands rang out as soldiers stormed into the marketplace, their heavy armor gleaming in the sun. Bows were raised, and arrows sang in flight as the soldiers aimed the Quetzalcoatlus.
Many glanced harmlessly off its thick hide, but a few found tender spots and buried steel heads into soft flesh. The pterosaur screeched, its massive wings battering those on the ground as it sought to take flight.
With ponderous strokes, it rose into the air. Gusts of wind pummeled the ramshackle market stalls. Baskets flew, awnings came loose, and dust swirled in thick clouds, tinting the air dark yellow. Grains of sand stung exposed skin and eyes alike.
The heavier ballistae and crossbows mounted on the walls let loose. Bolts as thick as her arm slammed into the flying beast’s body. It wailed in agony as a missile crushed the fine bones of its wing and tore great rents in the delicate membrane.
The flyer slewed mid-air and crashed to the ground, plowing over stalls, carts, and tables. It raised its head and let loose an ear-splitting shriek, by no means defeated. Folding its broken wings and using them as arms, it attacked anything within reach, its enormous head reaping a harvest of corpses.
Rogue pressed shaking hands to her mouth to prevent herself from crying out at the sheer horror of it all. She watched as the monstrous bird tore apart a man of the Watch, his armor no defense against the frenzied attack. One colossal wing slammed into the ground not far from her, and the two children next to Rogue screamed. Within seconds, they were on their feet, scrambling to get away from the pterosaur’s thrashing limbs.
Rogue longed to follow but remained frozen in her corner until the same wing swept across her head, turning the table into matchsticks. She screamed and covered her head before scurrying away on her hands and knees. A glancing blow tossed her into the air, and she flew several feet before crashing into a wall.
She fell to the ground with a grunt of pain, every bone in her body protesting its abuse. Through tear-filled eyes, Rogue spotted a sheltered nook created by two adjoining walls and crawled toward it on her belly, each movement an effort of will. Her lip was split, and blood filled her mouth. It drooled from the corner of her lips to the rough stones beneath.
The nook she headed for was tiny, nothing more than a gap between two overlapping brick walls. An architectural mistake, no doubt. Yet, it was big enough to fit her body. She curled up inside with the fervent hope it would keep her safe from the rampaging creature. Without realizing it, she began praying for Moran to find her, to save her. Though not her mother by blood, the fierce woman who’d raised her and become the Rebel Faction leader was the only person she truly trusted. But Moran was nowhere to be seen. Rogue was on her own.
Even as she looked, the flyer stormed across the market square, causing mayhem and destruction until a squad of soldiers stormed in and surrounded the beast. As one, they opened fire, wasting precious ammunition in their bid to bring the creature down. Each bullet cut into the Quetzalcoatlus until it slumped to the ground in a pool of blood, its body shuddering as it took its final breath.
The remaining soldiers lowered their guns and took a step back from the corpse. The screams that had filled the square moments before faded away. They were replaced by an awful silence broken only by whimpers and sobs. People picked through the debris, looking for loved ones while others keened next to the bodies of friends and family.
***
“Eight people died that day, and many more lost their only means at a livelihood,” Rogue whispered. She dropped the sandwich in her hand, no longer hungry. “I deserved what I got. I deserved being kicked out of Prime. Only, I should’ve died. Instead, I’m sitting here eating sandwiches like nothing ever happened.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Seth murmured.
“Of course, it’s my fault,” Rogue said, hot tears burning her eyelids.
Seth shifted closer and drew her into his arms. Surrounded by the warmth of his love, Rogue began to cry. The walls she’d built around her heart came crashing down, and raw guilt seared through her veins. “I should’ve died, Seth. My life for theirs.”
“You were starving, Rogue. How could you have known what would happen?” Seth said in a soothing voice. “You cannot take so much upon yourself. It’s an impossible burden.”
“But it’s my burden. My punishment,” Rogue said between hiccupping sobs.
“No,” Seth said, gripping her by the shoulders. “Listen to me. If anyone deserves to die, its Senator Douglas. He’s the one to
