Chapter 131

Chapter 131

00:49:38

The countdown continued.

Every second mattered now.

Every second meant another child lost.

Every second brought Ascension closer.

Far from the tower, deep within the western sector of the island, Nova sprinted through the darkness.

Branches whipped against her arms.

Mud splashed beneath her boots.

Gunfire echoed somewhere behind them.

Yet she never slowed.

Because for the first time since arriving on the island

The mission wasn't about killing.

It was about saving.

And somehow that felt harder.

Much harder.

Ahead of her, Hale checked the map displayed on his wrist device.

"We're close."

Cassian groaned dramatically.

"We've been close for ten minutes."

"We're still close."

"That's not comforting."

Seraphine ignored both of them.

Her attention remained fixed on the tree line ahead.

Watching.

Scanning.

Expecting danger.

Which was fortunate.

Because danger arrived seconds later.

"Down!"

Everyone dropped instantly.

A burst of automatic gunfire tore through the forest.

Bullets shredded branches overhead.

Wood exploded.

Leaves rained from the trees.

Nova rolled behind a fallen log.

Cassian dove beside her.

"Tell me we're almost there."

Another burst of gunfire answered for Hale.

"Definitely almost there."

"Wonderful."

Absolutely wonderful.

Nova peeked over the log.

Three Guardians.

Maybe four.

Hidden among the trees.

Trying to cut them off.

The armored soldiers advanced methodically.

Patiently.

Like machines.

Like predators.

Like nightmares.

Nova hated them immediately.

Then again

She hated most people.

The Guardians were simply making it easier.

One soldier stepped into view.

Big mistake.

Nova fired.

The shot shattered his weapon.

The Guardian stumbled backward.

Surprised.

Confused.

Alive.

Because Nova hadn't aimed for him.

She'd aimed for the rifle.

The realization clearly unsettled the Guardian.

Good.

Let him be unsettled.

Then Seraphine moved.

Fast.

Silent.

Deadly.

One second she was beside them.

The next she vanished into the darkness.

A moment later

A Guardian screamed.

Then another.

Then silence.

Cassian blinked.

"Every time."

Nova nodded.

"Every single time."

Because Seraphine was terrifying.

Everyone knew it.

Even Seraphine.

Especially Seraphine.

The remaining Guardians attempted to regroup.

A mistake.

Hale launched a flash charge directly into their formation.

The explosion lit up the forest.

White light everywhere.

The Guardians staggered.

Disoriented.

Then Mira rushed forward.

Not with weapons.

With a medical bag.

Cassian stared.

"What are you doing?"

Mira looked offended.

"He has a concussion."

The Guardian in question had attempted to kill them less than thirty seconds ago.

Mira didn't seem bothered.

Cassian sighed.

"You're too nice for this island."

"Probably."

The honesty caught him off guard.

Then she smiled.

Just slightly.

"But somebody has to be."

Cassian couldn't argue with that.

Mostly because she was right.

Then a distant explosion shook the ground.

Everyone froze.

The blast came from ahead.

Directly ahead.

The nursery.

The realization hit them instantly.

Nova's expression darkened.

Without a word

She started running.

The others followed immediately.

No discussion.

No hesitation.

No time.

The forest gradually gave way to buildings.

Small structures appeared between the trees.

White walls.

Blue roofs.

Playgrounds.

Gardens.

Tiny bicycles.

The sight stopped them cold.

Because it looked normal.

Almost beautiful.

Like a school.

Like a daycare.

Like somewhere children should laugh.

And for a brief moment

Nova forgot where they were.

Forgot what island this was.

Forgot who built it.

Then she saw the smoke.

And remembered.

The nursery stood at the center of the compound.

A large building.

Three floors.

One entire side engulfed in flames.

Children ran everywhere.

Some crying.

Some screaming.

Some simply standing still.

Frozen by fear.

The sight broke something inside Mira.

Immediately.

"Oh God."

She ran before anyone could stop her.

Straight toward the children.

Straight toward danger.

Straight toward the fire.

Nova swore.

Then followed.

Because apparently saving people was contagious.

The compound was chaos.

Absolute chaos.

Children everywhere.

Smoke everywhere.

Fear everywhere.

And among them

Guardians.

Not helping.

Not rescuing.

Herding.

Like cattle.

Like livestock.

The realization made Nova furious.

One Guardian grabbed a terrified little boy by the arm.

The child couldn't have been older than six.

The boy struggled desperately.

Crying.

Begging.

The Guardian didn't react.

Didn't care.

Then Nova arrived.

Her punch shattered the soldier's helmet.

The impact lifted him off his feet.

The Guardian crashed into a wall.

The wall lost.

The little boy stared.

Wide-eyed.

Terrified.

Nova knelt beside him.

Awkwardly.

Very awkwardly.

Because she had absolutely no experience comforting children.

None.

"You okay?"

The boy burst into tears.

Wonderful.

Absolutely wonderful.

Nova looked horrified.

Completely horrified.

"I made it worse."

A small voice answered.

"No."

Nova looked up.

A little girl stood nearby.

Holding a stuffed rabbit.

The toy was missing one ear.

The girl pointed toward the crying boy.

"He's happy."

Silence.

Nova blinked.

"What?"

The girl smiled.

A tiny smile.

"He thinks you're a superhero."

The statement hit Nova harder than any bullet.

Because nobody had ever called her that before.

Nobody.

She stared.

Speechless.

The little girl took her hand.

Completely trusting.

Completely fearless.

Nova felt something strange in her chest.

Something warm.

Something unfamiliar.

Hope.

Then another explosion rocked the compound.

Reality returned immediately.

The nursery's roof partially collapsed.

Children screamed.

Fire spread.

And suddenly

Cassian shouted.

"Guys!"

Everyone turned.

Then immediately wished they hadn't.

A line of armored vehicles emerged from the eastern gate.

Five.

Ten.

Fifteen.

More than enough.

The Guardians weren't retreating.

They were reinforcing.

The lead vehicle stopped.

Its doors opened.

And a familiar figure stepped out.

Tall.

Black armor.

Silver mask.

The symbol of Ascension painted across his chest.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Every Guardian straightened.

Every child froze.

Even the wind seemed to stop.

The newcomer slowly removed his helmet.

Revealing a young face.

Maybe twenty.

Cold eyes.

Empty eyes.

Dead eyes.

The sight made Hale pale.

Because he recognized him.

Immediately.

"No."

Cassian looked over.

"What?"

Hale's voice barely worked.

Because some nightmares never truly disappeared.

Some memories never truly healed.

Then he whispered the name.

"The Shepherd."

Silence.

The title alone sounded wrong.

Dangerous.

The young man smiled.

Not kindly.

Not warmly.

Like a wolf.

Then his gaze swept across the compound.

Stopping on the rescued children.

Stopping on Nova.

Stopping on Mira.

Stopping on all of them.

Then he spoke.

Calmly.

Pleasantly.

Terrifyingly.

"Mother wants her children back."

And every Guardian raised their weapons.