►| twelve

Karrel's breaths rang in her ears as she ran back to headquarters, Daylin's arm slung on her shoulder. "Hang on," she rasped, fighting through the tears pricking the side of her eyes. "We're almost there."

Daylin didn't move. Didn't even raise her head to tell Karrel to calm the fuck down. She didn't say they could weather this together. She couldn't. The bullet hit Daylin straight into the spine. Karrel wasn't a doctor or a surgeon, but if they were lucky, Daylin would be paralyzed from the neck down. If they weren't...

She squeezed her eyes shut, dispelling the grimmer idea from her head. She'd take paralyzed Daylin over the other alternative. Please. No. Not yet.

They charged through the twisted undergrowth. Karrel's fingers clawed through the tangle of vines and rough branches. Scratches were nothing. Daylin was in more pain. The domed roof of the headquarters burst into view. So close. Come on. Just a little more.

A groan flitted from Daylin's lips. Her eyes oscillated underneath her lids as if she was stuck inside an endless dream. Karrel swallowed her sob and forced her legs to go faster, to widen her steps. She prayed for time to stop or at least slow down.

They stumbled through the lobby. Bodies pressed against her, and a strong current tore Daylin from her. Despite her squirming, the force around her arms didn't let go. Her eyes lost thread, and tears streamed freely. It didn't matter that her comrades saw her slapping the ground with blood matting her hair. Nothing mattered if Daylin wasn't there.

With a scream, she ripped herself out of the vise-like grip around her and lunged forward. "She'd be fine, right?" Karrel shook the first person between her fingers. Her nails dug against a joint, but that was the least of her concern. Other's pain was secondary. "Tell me she'll be fine."

Slowly, Verez's face sharpened from the ebbing haze brought about by her tears. "I'm sorry, Karrel," he said, gripping her wrists and easing her hold off his sleeve. "She's gone. Without a healer...we couldn't save her in time."

The last of Karrel's strength seeped out her soles. Her knees cracked against the floor. It took her a while to realize she hadn't left the lobby, and now, her comrades carted out a body on a stretcher. The white sheet over what used to be Daylin was the final confirmation.

She's gone. And it was the gunner's fault.

Karrel's fists clenched over her folded legs. Someone was out for her life, and Daylin saved her from that fate. What did it cost? They still had Verez even if Karrel died, so why did Daylin get into the line of fire to save her? No one could replace Daylin. She was too perfect for that. If they were after her ability...

A nail snapped. She looked down to find a jagged crescent stuck into a spot on her palm. Her blood joined Daylin's in having a feast on her skin. It was going to be a while before she could forget how they looked stained with red.

It didn't matter why they were after Daylin and Section H. Karrel would bring them down and make them regret touching her and her comrades. They would pay, and if it was the last thing she did, then, she'd do it with flair.

The war was on, and Karrel would be a scourge because she needed to.

Five dashed left, sending two daggers into the air. Silver blades twirled with faint hisses until flesh stopped them. Two more bodies joined the increasing pile on the ground. That was the last of Section C. She sighed and wiped the sweat lining her hairline and the sides of her face.

The counter's alarm still screamed. Look at that. They have time to spare. Should they go after Section O? They were the next counter's targets, but what was the harm of pushing ahead of schedule? The faster they win at this killing spree, the better. What was a few more minutes?

Eight skidded across the ground on her descent, bearing two more unconscious bodies with her. Even just the two of them, they could pick these weaklings off one by one. They didn't need the others, and that was why they were out in other regions, subduing their given targets.

Thirteen had been strict about the assignment even though Five expressed her intention to go to the western quadrant and take out Section X instead. The boy put Fifteen and Four there, as if to spite her. Let him do what he wants. Five wasn't here to argue or nitpick. Just that there was an interesting ability in Section X that she was curious to witness. Knowing Four and Fifteen's deadly dynamics, Five could kiss that dream away.

She glanced at the watch Thirteen lent her. It showed her the decreasing numbers meant to tell her how long the counter still lasted. Still more than six minutes left. A lot could happen in that moment. What about the travel time, though? Maybe if she crossed the highway towards Section X's headquarters in the northern region, she'd have less time to pummel them. Whatever. There were only two people left in that section. They wouldn't last long.

Which was the goal of this counter's plan. Deal with the small fry first before biting the giant's knee off. They had been at it for the past three counters, and it began feeling as monotonic as the alarms and the flashing red lights. Thirteen didn't brief her about the need to hold back and do the minimum work every time they stepped out of the fortress. If Five were to guess, perhaps it was because there was another section who thought of the same tactic, and to avoid clashing with them for as long as possible, Thirteen stuck to his lane.

"Eight!" Five called, craning her neck up to find the girl hovering a few feet overhead. "Let's rendezvous with the others."

Her boots crunched against the grass when the undergrowth rustled behind her. She whirled, dagger in hand. Sparks colored the air orange when a longer blade met her swing. "Nice moves," a woman with a curly fringe said through her teeth. Locked in a stalemate with her, Five pushed backwards, earning an approving nod. "Strong stance too."

"Shut up," Five hissed. She knew this woman, and Thirteen went above and beyond to drill into their heads what to do if she showed up in the picture. They were to run, no matter how absurd it might seem to everyone watching. And she understood it. Karrel was a mystery, one even Thirteen couldn't crack. After Six's fall, he had become more cautious. Charging in blind was worse than waking up with glue on one's hair.

They were past that hurdle too. Five trusted Thirteen. Everything he said has to make sense even if it wouldn't come to her at the first instant. So, she let her muscles relax and retreated, swinging her blade as a last measure. If Karrel didn't want to be hurt, she wouldn't breach Five's space further.

"What's gotten into you?" Karrel asked, lowering her sword. Where and when she got it was beyond Five. "I'm just having a little fun."

Five's hold tightened around her daggers' hilts. Was killing Six just for fun too? This wasn't a sport. Not when lives were on the line. "Take your fun somewhere else," Five said, her boots squishing the grass underfoot. "We've got a plan to enact."

She glanced at the watch again. The red numbers approached the zeroes at a faster pace. She needed to gather the others, and if Section H showed up again...

It would be a problem. They were far too scattered, and they were only in pairs. Should Karrel prove to be more meticulous than Thirteen, she would have found out all of Section M's abilities in the past three counters—explaining their limited activity in them—and devised a plan to efficiently turn the tables. Five couldn't give her what she wanted.

"Who's to say we don't have one as well?" Karrel said. "Come on. Use your ability. Let's see who is stronger."

Five lowered herself to a stance, flicking a quick glance at Eight. "Run!" she called. "Find the others!"

Before Eight could argue, Five screamed and lunged towards Karrel. Their blades clashed once again, the clangs lacing around the counter's incessant ringing. Their soles flattened the grass as they engaged in a deadly dance on the rare clearing in one of the forests. Karrel struck, spotting blind spots before Five could guard them. With bared teeth, Five feinted left, changed hold on one dagger, and slashed from both directions. Karrel blocked one, but left her neck exposed. Five stabbed at it.

A force slammed into Five's stomach, throwing her back. Her daggers flew out of her hands just as a shadow and a streak of silver rushed downwards. She rolled to the side, the sword snipping the ends of her white hair. Her legs swung in wide arcs, knocking against Karrel's shins. A grunt, and the rival leader slammed palm-first into the ground. Five's boots found the sword's hilt before Karrel's hand did. The blade skittered across the hazy expanse of blades and routes.

That was called leveling the playing field.

Karrel staggered up, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. Then, she lunged, fists clenched with such anger Five never expected. What happened to this girl? She met Karrel's blow, bringing her arms in front of her face. Through the gaps between her elbows, she kept watch of every swish. Then, she struck. The side of her hand caught Karrel's throat, sending the leader crashing backward, choking.

Five moved in for the kill, swinging her foot to the side, her boots catching Karrel's jaw. Her fists caught the leader's nose, her stomach, and her collar bone. She was about to deliver her final blow when the comm crackled.

"Section H!" Twelve's voice zipped. Another stark crackle, as if someone was tuning in at the same time. "Trouble here too!" Ten said. "Electric blade!"

Five gritted her teeth, stumbling off Karrel's sluggish body. "What did you do?" she yelled.

"The problem with having one or two special individuals," Karrel coughed and sat up. Her eyes bore red circles from Five's fists—the only comfort in this pickle. "Is that on your own, you are nothing."

Five swung her leg, aiming to kick Karrel across the face again. Instead, the leader stopped it and grabbed her ankle. Then, she twisted it. Pain shot up Five's leg, forcing her down. A hiss escaped her lips, but she limped away before Karrel could get back up. "Call off your forces," Five snarled. "Let's end this here."

Karrel flashed her an innocent look. "Sadly, we don't have your silly network and my comrades already have their orders," she said. "But I'd give you a headstart. Go and save your friends. If you can."

Five fought off the growl climbing in her throat as she stumbled away and took off running. She tapped her comms. "Twelve! Where are you?" she said. "Meet in the trenches. We'll be safe there."

Twelve's answer was a garbled string of explosions and grunts. Five tuned into Ten's line and said the same thing. Seven and Eighteen would be on standby, ready to help the others. They only needed one surprise element, and Seven had it. Four and Fifteen could handle themselves if the heavy-hitters were in Ten and Twelve's jurisdiction. Thirteen had narrowed down most of Section H's militia and confirmed there were only four people they needed to be wary of.

Which left the question—where was Verez? With an ability like his, even Sixteen would have a bit of trouble.

"Eight, where are you?" Five screamed into the line when she found it. "Help the others!"

"Can't!" came Eight's murky reply. Wind and a lot of echoing feedback clouded the next sentences, giving Five snippets. Karrel...here...crazy!

Yeah, that much made sense.

If Karrel found Eight, then she's in danger. It left Five in a literal crossroad, with more than four ways to choose from. Electric blade was one of the threats, as well as the one with enhanced agility. Where were they?

What was Five supposed to do?

She shifted the comms, finding Thirteen's line. "What's the plan?" she asked. "Karrel's found Eight. The others are attacked by Section H!"

Silence. What's going on? Five clicked her tongue and dashed to where Ten was. Let them deal with the Electric blade first. As she ran, she kept tuning in and out of Thirteen's line. "Come on. Answer you prick," she whispered under her breath. "Thirteen!"

Static.

There was no one on the other side. He left them on their own, just as he said they should follow his word.

Thirteen...he's gone.

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