The Girl Who Dared to Think

by Bella Forrest

  “You killed my best friend!” she screamed, lashing out, and I winced at the loud noise as it went reverberating down the walls. Grey got his arms up over his face to protect his head, but Zoe didn’t seem to care as she let loose, her fists smacking loudly against his forearms. I started to move toward her when, to my surprise, Eric stepped out of the room and plucked her gently off of Grey.

  Grey groaned as her weight was removed from him, his arms lowering. And then Eric’s heavy foot came down on his chest, pinning him in place.

  “Zoe seems to think you killed Liana,” he said slowly, calmly. “Did you?”

  “He didn’t,” I said, seizing the opportunity. “So get your fat foot off of him.”

  Eric’s and Zoe’s heads snapped toward me as I spoke, and froze as their eyes widened in surprise. Eric was the first to move, taking a step back, removing his foot from Grey’s chest. For several heartbeats, no one said or did anything.

  Then Zoe moved. She pulled free of Eric’s hands, the mix of emotions on her face making it nigh unreadable, and then began to cross over to me, her gait steady and sure. She came toward me so fast that I couldn’t help but flinch away, afraid of receiving the same treatment Grey had just gotten.

  Then her arms were around me, and she was holding me tightly. I almost broke down crying right there. I was so happy to see her, had been so afraid of her rejecting me after I’d treated her so horribly, and was so mortified that my supposed death had affected her so much, that where we were escaped me for a moment.

  “I’m so sorry,” I said, wrapping my arms around her. “I’m so, so sorry, Zo. I didn’t mean to—”

  “Shut up, Liana,” Zoe sniffled, her shoulders shaking slightly. “All of that stuff can wait. I’m just so happy you’re not dead.”

  God, as messed up as it sounded, those words meant the world to me. Even after our fight, there was hope. She was going to forgive me for what I had done in leaving her alone like that.

  Just as soon as we got out of here.

  My eyes snapped open, the moment shattered into a thousand pieces. “Zoe, we can’t stay here. You can’t stay here. You need to come with us.” I withdrew a pill from my pocket. “This will mask your rank enough to get you out of here, but it won’t last long. You need to come with me if you want to live.”

  As I spoke, Zoe stepped away, her brows drawing together in a thoughtful expression. “You came to break me out?”

  “Yes,” I said hurriedly, looking around. Well, I had now. Originally the plan had been to get her the pill, but now all I could think of was getting her to come back with me. “And we have to go now.”

  “Indicators are back on,” Grey announced, and I looked over Zoe’s head to see him nodding toward the lights on the ground. “We have to go, Liana. The longer we stay here, the sooner they’ll catch us.”

  Zoe exhaled and looked at Eric. “Looks like you picked a good day to visit,” she said dryly.

  “Shut up and take the pill, Zoe,” Eric said, and I blinked at the harshness in his voice. He met my gaze, his eyes heavy, and I had a sneaking suspicion that Zoe had told Eric what was happening to the ones.

  “Do you know?” I asked him.

  He hesitated for a fraction of a second, and then nodded. “She told me right before she went into the Medica.”

  From the look on his face, he had been having a rough time. I empathized, but there wasn’t any time to hash it out.

  The decision came impulsively, but I didn’t care. “Eric, you’re coming with us as well.”

  Eric blinked, a slow smile coming to his lips. “You mean I wasn’t invited before? You wound me.”

  “Not as much as I am going to wound you if you try to keep from going with us,” Zoe said, and I felt her fingers grab the pill out of my hand. She took it quickly, dry swallowing it, and then nodded. “We’ll catch up later, but you’re right—we need to go.”

  As she spoke, she turned and began moving toward Grey. I kept pace, and unsurprisingly, Eric fell in behind us.

  “You know I was always going to come with you,” he whispered to Zoe. I was sure he meant it to be private, but his voice was too deep for it not to carry, and I couldn’t help but admire the sweetness of it.

  I looked over to see Zoe’s reaction, and to my surprise, saw her thread her fingers through his for a moment, before letting them go. I looked away and pressed forward, suddenly feeling awkward. Their behavior was different, as if something had changed between them, and I had no idea what that was. But I would be asking as soon as we were all safe.

  Jasper’s lights led us down the twisting halls, which were seemingly devoid of any personnel. It seemed clear from his delivery of Zoe that he intended to get us out of here just as safely—but I wasn’t take any chances. I was on the lookout for trouble the entire time.

  Sure enough, as we rounded a corner, I saw the wide-open arch that was the exit from Medica come into view, and I could’ve burst out into a cheer—had Devon Alexander, Champion of the Knights, not rounded the corner.

  His dual-colored eyes met mine, stared for a second, and—to my absolute horror—widened in recognition.

  Then he began to advance.

  34

  “Run!” I cried, my hand automatically shooting to my baton.

  Devon was some distance away, but as soon as everyone around me started to turn, he broke into a run, charging right toward us.

  Whirling, I launched into a sprint, following my friends as they headed back down the hall. Grey led the way, followed by Zoe and Eric, with me at the rear, and we flew down the halls, turning this way and that, the halls rushing by and changing faster than I could possibly keep track of.

  I looked over my shoulder to see flashes of the Champion as he followed in pursuit, and just as I realized he would’ve called this in, a chime sounded, followed by Jasper’s voice.

  “Intruders on level four, near the junction of Corridors B and E,” he announced into the hall, and I looked over to see that we were actually in Corridor C. He was still helping us.

  “Grey!” I shouted over the message as it repeated. “Are the indicator lights on up there?”

  “Wha— Hey, yeah, they are! Follow me!”

  He hooked a left and pushed open a door, running into the stairwell without missing a beat. Instead of down, we climbed up, and were almost out the door on the next level when I heard the door slam open behind us, Devon still in hot pursuit. I hesitated for a second, trying to decide whether I should take the time to shut the door quietly, then heard his footsteps coming up the stairwell.

  I turned and ran, hurrying to catch up with my friends. Grey led us down the curved hall and then took an immediate left, and now I could see the green lights leading us directly down the hall, in a straight shot, toward the opening that led out of the Medica.

  “Go left!” I shouted, just as the Champion bellowed, “Halt! Don’t let them escape!”

  My breathing was coming in sharp pants, but I ignored it as I craned my neck to peer down the hall. A Knight was waiting, his baton at the ready. It took me a second to recognize him, because I was still unfamiliar with the changes to his face, but as Grey raced toward him, I saw that it was Theo who drew back the baton.

  Instinctually, I cast my lash onto the ceiling and activated the gyros inside at full tilt, snapping off my feet and through the air at what felt like terminal velocity. I disconnected the line as I flew over everyone’s heads, and tucked my body like I was diving into a pool, burning off excess speed as I curled my back and rolled forward onto the floor in a controlled tumble.

  I rolled into a standing position and brought my baton out in a fluid motion, then stepped into Theo’s attack, my baton arm blocking his oncoming blow while I slammed the baton into his side. There was a sharp pop, and he flew back a few feet, landing on his backside.

  My heart skipped a beat, thinking that Maddox’s modifications had killed him, but he sat up abruptly, his blond hair practically standing on end. His gaze was conf
used as he stared at me; then his eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped over.

  I was already running when he started to fall, leaping over his still form. A quick check told me he was still breathing, and then a glance over my shoulder told me I had lost precious seconds. Devon was now close enough that I could see the hard gleam in his eyes. I poured on the speed, then switched to the lashes, trying to create some distance between us.

  Ahead of me, Zoe, Eric, and Grey had reached the doorway, and were already rounding the corner, heading left. I had no idea whether Devon had seen them or not, but I made a decision, and peeled off to the right, my lashes flying. Another look over my shoulder showed him right behind me, his own lashes working.

  My heart picked up speed as I threw and connected with the very edge of the platform ringing the outside. I swung into it, letting momentum draw me back up and over the ledge, where I disconnected quickly and began to run again, my finger tapping my indicator to start a net.

  “Contact Alex Castell!” I said, and I felt my net buzz. Almost immediately, Alex’s voice filled the line.

  Liana?

  I heard Devon’s heavy footsteps landing behind me, and threw my lashes again, hooking onto the ceiling above and winching myself up off the ground.

  “I went to rescue Zoe and had to split off from the group to draw away the Knights. Contact Zoe and tell her to keep going with Grey. I’ll meet them back at Sanctum.”

  Liana, are you in danger?

  I tossed the next line, and then the next, weaving around pillars and staircases, climbing ever upward.

  “Yes,” I said through clenched teeth, as I landed hard on a ledge and stumbled a few steps. Stupid—every second counted, and I could not afford mistakes. I began to run again. “I love you, but I gotta go. Get my message to Zoe.”

  I disconnected the line before he could respond, my lashes starting to fly again as I launched myself into the air.

  Devon was relentless, I realized, as I disconnected my lines and angled my fall through the staircase and to the level below. I spotted a bridge and made for it, needing to get out of here and to a plunge. I had no idea where Grey, Zoe, and Eric were, but as long as Devon was after me, that meant they had a chance of escaping. I trusted Grey to get Zoe to Sanctum.

  I just prayed I could get there as well.

  I was nearly to the bridge when something yanked sharply on my foot. I was in the middle of transitioning lines, and Devon’s lash was cast with perfect precision, tearing me from the air and forcing me down. There was no time to cast a new lash before I hit the ground.

  The air escaped from my lungs as I slammed down, rolling a few feet before coming to a stop. I gasped, pain erupting from my back, and then sat up, the strong doses of adrenaline coursing through me helping to eradicate some of the confusion of the fall.

  I scrambled to my feet, looking up in time to see Devon’s lash darting for me, and I managed to shift to one side, avoiding getting hit, but also nearly tumbling over in the process. I righted myself in time to avoid another lash directed at me, and Devon retracted them, the sounds of the cables whistling as they slid back in.

  Looking around, I saw the edge of the platform just a few feet away.

  “Don’t do it, Squire Castell,” Devon said, his voice sharp. “Just come here, and we can make all of this go away. All you have to do is tell me where they are.”

  I met his gaze, heart pounding in fear. “‘They’?”

  Devon’s mouth practically disappeared as his lips thinned in disapproval. “The undocs you’ve been hiding out with. I know that you didn’t kill your mentor—that you didn’t have any part in it. I can help you, keep you safe, but you have to tell me where they are.”

  He knew about Cali and the others. How much more did he know? How much more could he know? Had he killed Gerome? Or did he not know who had either?

  I had to lose him. I had to get back to the others and warn them that the Champion knew they existed. Glancing again at the edge, only a few precious steps away, I considered it. I had no idea what was over the side, or if my lashes would even work after he had hit me with his, but if I didn’t get out of the Medica, his backup was going to arrive, and there was no way I could take on the entirety of the Knights.

  “Don’t,” he said. “Think of everything you’ve worked so hard for. You’ll throw it all away.”

  “Good,” I said defiantly.

  Then I turned, and leapt.

  I heard him shout, and then the air was rushing past my ears as I angled my body into a streamlined form, trying to get as far away from the Medica and Devon as possible. My eyes were already searching for lash points, and I saw one approaching fast—a footbridge that connected to the Core.

  I freed my lashes and threw for it, praying Devon’s lashes hadn’t destroyed mine. But the first lash tinked off the side and then fell free. I tossed the second one on impulse, my horror growing. I watched it soar, praying I hadn’t just killed myself.

  The lash hit, and I immediately felt the tug as it caught me. I swung into it, relieved that it was holding my weight, and looked up, half expecting to see Devon in hot pursuit. The air above was clear, but I didn’t trust it—I was still too close to Devon and the Medica for comfort. I had to get out of here, quickly, or else they’d get me.

  I quickly cast another lash, crossing under the bridge to the Core and heading up, ignoring the shouts of the Eyes walking in their exposed halls below who spotted me climbing the walls of their precious Scipio. I continued to climb, angling for a massive bridge that stretched over the shell, and crossing underneath, my eyes searching for any Knights.

  As soon as my feet were firmly on the ground on the other side of the bridge, I began to walk, heading to the nearest doorway leading into the shell and disappearing within, following the signs for the closest plunge shaft, and keeping an eye out for any pursuit.

  Even though there wasn’t any sign that I was being followed, I took the longest, most convoluted way possible back to Sanctum, first going down one plunge, then back through another, going up and down stairs and through halls, randomly changing directions.

  The entire time, I searched, paranoid that at any moment Devon was going to show up and finish what he had started—and worried about the status of my friends.

  But as it grew closer to dawn, I knew that I had to get out of the main Tower area and back home. No matter where I went, there would always be a chance of being seen. The only safe place was Sanctum.

  I waited as long as possible, and then right before the lights came on, I threw myself down the plunge and began making my way home.

  35

  I dropped off the ladder and turned, my gaze sliding over Tian, Roark, Quess, Maddox, and Cali before landing on Zoe, Grey, and Eric. I let out a slow breath, relieved beyond words to see them there, and ignored Cali’s angry stare to immediately move over to the small group, reaching for them.

  Zoe’s arms went around me, Eric’s close behind, and the three of us stood there for a moment, just holding each other. The reunion was bittersweet for me; I had missed both of them so much, had agonized over their safety, and now that I knew Devon was looking for us, I couldn’t help but feel like I had just dropped them both directly into the fire.

  “Liana, you owe us an explanation,” Cali said, and I nodded, reluctantly letting go of my friends to turn and face her. Zoe refused to let go of my hand, and I didn’t force the issue as I stood, meeting Cali’s angry glare.

  My gaze shifted to the four individuals sitting on the stuffed pillows behind her, and took in the openly hostile look on Maddox’s face, the impassive mask on Roark’s, the hurt on Quess’s, and the crooked smile on Tian’s. I crooked my own lips up toward her, and she nodded, looking expectant.

  “I’m sorry,” I told them, the apology almost ripping itself out of me. “I’m sorry I acted without telling you, and I’m sorry I betrayed your hospitality and trust, but I am not sorry for going to get Zoe. She’s my best friend, and s
he had fallen to the rank of two, soon to be a one.”

  Cali’s mouth tightened. “Mercury never mentioned that,” she said, her tone flat. “So how did you know?”

  “Her brother,” Grey announced, coming up to stand beside me. “He’s an Eye.”

  Maddox gasped and shot straight up to her feet, and Cali took a step back, her hand dropping to the baton on her side.

  “No, wait. Please.” Zoe stepped forward, letting go of my hand and raising hers. “Please. I’ve known Liana and her twin Alex for years. He contacted me during our escape from the Medica, letting me know that Liana was drawing off the Knights. He made me promise not to go after her, but I could tell it was killing him inside to do so. He loves his sister more than anything in this world. I promise you that.”

  I shifted, taken aback by Zoe’s revelation. I couldn’t believe my brother had gone so far as to make Zoe promise not to come back for me. It must have killed him to send that message, but he’d known how much it meant to me that Zoe escaped unscathed. Belatedly, I realized that I hadn’t contacted him to let him know I was all right, and now that we were in Sanctum, I couldn’t.

  “He didn’t want to believe I was dead,” I added. “He built a backdoor into the programming attached to my net, so he was still keeping track of it even though it was officially deactivated. When I went out with you earlier, he saw my signal come back online, and reached out. I asked about Zoe, and he looked her up. After our discussion with your contact, I wasn’t sure if you’d back me up, and I couldn’t risk you saying no, so I took things into my own hands. Believe me when I say I didn’t want to do it like this. And I’m sorry.”

  “I went with her,” Grey added strongly. “So whatever you’re going to do to her, you have to do to me.”

  “And they’re my responsibility,” Roark announced, pushing himself off of the floor and standing up. “So I should share in their punishment as well.”