“Thinking of killing Samuel?” Wreck asks upon noticing my smile.
I nod, happy that he can’t read my mind. My thoughts aren’t any of his business.
***
The streets of Central Settlement are dark and empty. It’s a gloomy and moonless night, similar to the one when I killed Gabriel. We park our trucks a safe distance away from the high master’s residence and begin walking toward the brick wall. My hands shake and I bite my lips, tasting the black paint. I remember running through the city at night, feeling lost and desperate, clothes covered in my master’s blood. I look sideways at Wreck, trying to read his face, but can’t get past his war paint and glossy eyes. Tanya and Maxine walk behind us. We all stop in front of the wall surrounding the residence. Everybody carries a gun, except me. I haven’t yet learned to shoot. But I have my trophy knife.
“Did your family live in this place?” Maxine whispers, glancing at her brother.
“Yes,” he nods.
I wonder what it’s like to be born and raised in the high master’s family. What would it feel like to lose all your relatives, your name, your wealth?
We quickly climb over the wall, trying to attract as little attention as possible, and walk across the garden. I realize my muscles aren’t as strong as they were while I was a racer. Perhaps I should start doing exercises to maintain my strength after we return. If I survive this night, of course.
Wreck and I lead because we both know this place. Tanya and Maxine continue to follow. We conceal ourselves behind the exotic plants and trees, picking our way slowly but steadily toward the mansion. I will myself to concentrate on the task at hand, but my thoughts keep floating back to my first night spent in the training facility. I remember missing my mother, and Amethyst comforting me. My throat clenches and I feel myself reverting back into the girl I used to be, the one who was full of naive dreams and whose hands were clean of blood. I touch Gabriel’s knife inside my pocket, reminding myself of who I am now. I shouldn’t cry over the past but look toward the future.
Somebody’s footsteps make us freeze in place and drop low behind the bushes. Two guards come into sight. Wreck and Maxine exchange glances. I draw my knife, but Wreck shake his head no. I decide to let them deal with the guards. I’m not here to take lives. I’ve come to save them.
Leaving our cover, Wreck and Maxine simultaneously approach the guards from behind. They cover their mouths and slit their throats, moving quietly like two shadows. Their black clothes make them almost undistinguishable in the darkness. They quickly drag the bodies back into the bushes and collect their rifles. I watch in silence, kneeling on the grass beside Tanya. I feel nervous, but some violent part of me is thrilled at seeing them work.
As we continue moving toward the mansion, Wreck whispers, “Something isn’t right. There used to be more guards around here.”
“Maybe Samuel doesn’t feel the need for so much security,” Maxine offers.
“Nah,” Wreck looks around, squinting. “It’s too quiet. I don’t like it.”
We stop for a few moments, listening to the silence. My teeth chatter. Tanya holds my hand. Wreck stands beside me and I can almost hear his quiet breath.
“What’s wrong?” Maxine whispers. “Let’s move.”
Wreck hesitates for a moment, then motions for us to follow. We walk around the mansion to check the back of the house. The door is unlocked. We slowly creep along a corridor, stopping before each corner to check our surroundings. It’s silent inside, like a graveyard. I hold my knife ready, feeling edgy yet determined to fight well when the time comes.
“The master’s bedroom is on the second floor,” Wreck mutters so quietly I can barely hear. “Follow me.”
We enter the hall. It’s so dark that I can’t even see the floor beneath my feet. A foreboding feeling of unease almost overwhelms me. Why is everything going so smoothly? Why was the door unlocked? I try to remember whether Tanya and I could open the door without keys during our escape… no, the girl with the scars led us out of the house. We crawled out of a window in her room. So it feels like something is really wrong. It feels like we’re heading into a trap, as if…
A sudden blinding light causes me to squint. I freeze in shock, looking around, not seeing anything. My heart sinks and the next moment I hear gunfire, shouts and heavy footsteps. Strong arms grab hold of me. I let out a startled yell and kick somebody in the stomach. Something hits the back of my head. I drop to my knees, dizzy and disoriented. Somebody twists my arms behind my back and pain shoots through my shoulders. I scream again, snarling and squirming, and a moment later find myself facedown on the floor. Somebody places a knee on my back, still twisting my arms behind me. My eyes finally adjust to the bright light. The hall is filled with guards. They’ve been waiting for us. I don’t have time to ponder the thought, because I see Wreck struggling with four guards. I watch them fight for a few moments before the guards force him to the floor too. Where’s Tanya and Maxine? I can’t turn to look around as somebody is holding my head firmly, forcing my face down on the floor. All I can see are three motionless guards lying between Wreck and I. He must
