Son of Sun by Megan O'Russell

Author:Megan O'Russell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ink Worlds Press

Chapter Seventeen

Nola placed a hand on Jeremy’s chest, stopping him from stepping closer to the helmet.

“North team, report immediately.”

“We knew they’d start watching more closely,” Rebecca said.

“North team, report.” There was no anger in Captain Ridgeway’s voice. No panic either.

“How many times have you done this?” Jeremy asked.

“This?” Rebecca said. “None. Dented their numbers? A few.”

“North team, report.”

“How many Outer Guard have you killed?” Jeremy stepped forward.

Nola pushed against him. He looked down, his gaze finding Nola’s hand on his chest.

“Not as many as Salinger killed in the city.” Stokes rolled the female guard into the pit.

“North team, status report now.” The resignation in Captain Ridgeway’s voice pulled at parts of Nola’s heart she hadn’t known existed anymore.

The guard who had traveled with them from the forest pulled a sack from his pocket, holding it open as Stokes and Rebecca filled it with weapons, boots, and first aid pouches. She opened Rivers’ vest, searching his pockets with a practiced motion.

“Wait,” Jeremy said as Rebecca pulled a black case free from Rivers’ belt. “Can I have that?”

“Can I kill him?” Rebecca said.

“I need the case.” Jeremy lifted Nola’s hand away from his chest.

“And I need to not haul a traitor home,” Rebecca said.

“North team,” Captain Ridgeway said. “We are instituting Beta Protocol. Get the hell out.”

Each of them froze as Ridgeway’s voice crackled through the trees.

“What’s Beta Protocol?” Nola said.

“Time to get the hell out.” Stokes kicked an Outer Guard into the pit, leaving only Rivers still above the dirt.

“We don’t have time to bury them,” the female guard said.

“Blame that on the spider,” Rebecca said. “Cut the beacons down.”

The female guard darted from tree to tree, tearing the trackers from their strings.

“Rivers might know what Beta Protocol is,” Nola said.

“So we carry him, ask him, then kill him?” Rebecca said.

“We don’t have time to argue,” Jeremy said. “I’ll carry him, and if it comes to it, I’ll kill him.”

“We need to move.” Rebecca grabbed the sack of weapons and ran, not the way they’d come but farther east, away from the woods.

“I can’t let you do that,” Stokes said.

Nola didn’t see the steel in Stokes’ hand until he’d already plunged the blade into Rivers’ heart.

“You bastard,” Jeremy growled.

“You’ll thank me for that someday.” Stokes ran after Rebecca. The other guards stayed close behind, two of them carrying Neelan’s corpse.

“We should follow,” Julian said.

“Follow murderers?” Jeremy shook his head.

“We’re all murderers,” Julian said. “The world has become too ruthless to leave any of us innocent.”

Blood seeped from the wound in Rivers’ chest. The same red that had painted the halls of the domes, had been spilt in the tunnels of Nightland, had coated the streets of the city.

“Come on.” Nola grabbed Jeremy’s hand, dragging him away from the clearing. “Whatever your—whatever Beta Protocol is, we can’t be here for it.”

Jeremy followed her, though his gaze didn’t leave Rivers until the trees blocked his body from view.

Rebecca and the guards wove through the trees ahead of them, slipping in and out of sight.

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