Page 85

Keahi

"I didn’t want to ask, but, ugh, what has gotten you in such a good mood? You’ve been way too smiley all day," Wystan complains.

"Malia’s moving in with me today.

We’ll move her things after work, which is in less than two hours." Do I try to be considerate and temper my excitement? I might’ve considered it, but I doubt I would’ve managed either way, so I don’t bother to waste my energy.

"Good for you," they say, sounding so very insincere that I start laughing.

"You sure are one of a kind," I tell them.

Their sarcasm and mood swings are part of the reason I don’t hate spending time with them.

They keep me on my toes.

"I know.” They sigh.

“I hate watch, have I mentioned that before?" Wystan changes the topic.

"Only a hundred times today."

"It’s just so boring! I’ve come to hate fighting, but anything must be better than this! We’re completely useless, honestly, what a waste of potential," they whine.

"You flatter me." They roll their eyes before I go on, stumbling over something else my partner said.

"You’re a guard and hate fighting?"

"I used to love it, the adrenalin and stuff, but not anymore.

It was something that connected Dustin and me, but it’s obvious I suck at being a partner.

I’ve been thinking about resigning." Resigning? This is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone at Arcane talk about resigning. I never even realized that was an option, which now seems silly too. Of course, Arcane doesn’t force anyone to be a guard. There are other useful positions revolving around the academy.

"What makes you think you suck as a partner? I’ve seen you fight, you’re great at it."

"Being a team means looking out for each other," they point out, and realization quickly washes over me.

"What happened was not your fault.

Partners look out for each other, yes, but they still fight their own fights.

You can’t always save everyone. Life’s too cruel for that."

"Yeah, sure," my partner mutters, making it clear that they’re not listening to a word I’m saying.

While it’s naturally great to talk to a wall, I don’t find it in me to blame them.

I understand Wystan. It’s hard not to blame yourself for bad things that happen around you, but I still wish they didn’t have to feel that way.

"If it’s worth anything, I’m glad you didn’t quit.

Believe it or not, I don’t hate having you as a partner." Now, that gets their attention.

As soon as the admission leaves my lips, a mischievous look crosses my partner’s eyes.

"I’m going to hold this against you for eternity," they promise.

"I know you are.

Just as I’m sure you like having me as a partner.

I’m no match for Dustin, of course, but I’m the next best thing, right?"

"I’ll never admit to anything that flattering."

"Of course, you won’t.

What I was trying to say is that I’m looking forward to going on missions with you.

And if – skies forbid – something ever happens to me, I don’t want you to take it out on yourself. If I make a mistake in a fight, it’s my fault. You won’t ever get to beat yourself up and use me as an excuse to quit."

"If we’re being serious for a moment, neither will you.

I know it would be an unimaginable loss to this world and you personally, but you’ll just have to move on.

I’ll haunt you together with Dustin anyway, so I’ll never really be gone." We both laugh, although I don’t fully love the tone Wystan’s voice takes when they finishes their last sentence.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but that’ll have to wait.

As great as it may sound," I say, keeping my voice light even though this feels rather serious.

"I know." They sigh.

"You’ll see him again, just not yet," I add softly.

My partner nods, but I can almost feel the lump in their throat as if it was stuck in my own.

I pull them to my side and rub their arm a little.

"You’re done, we’re here." The same pair as yesterday is standing behind us, ready to take over.

My heart skips a beat.

Only a little longer and I’ll see Malia.

I’ve been waiting in my girl’s room like the day before when she bursts through the door, coming to a sudden stop when she sees me.

"Oh, thank the stars you’re here!" she exclaims between two heavy breaths.

I get to my feet, sensing something is wrong.

"I’m excited to see you too?" I’d love to think she sprinted here because she couldn’t wait to see me, but I’m afraid that’s not the case.

"No, haven’t you heard? A guard on watch just crashed my training, the ghosts are back.

The guard’s partner has been taken and he himself only barely got away.

No one else on watch is answering. They’re coming. A huge group of white-clad guards is heading straight for us. Flint wants everyone present to fight them off in the woods. We need to go, now!"

"Are you serious?" I ask.

My heart is thrumming in my ears as I try to absorb what she just said.

We’re being attacked? Again? This can’t be happening, right? Why couldn’t Malia and Wystan be wrong for once? Why did the past few days really have to have been the quiet before the storm?

"Yes.

Come on!" Malia starts pulling me out of her room.

"Do you have your weapons?" she asks.

"Yes, do you?" Both of us are in our uniform, me because I haven’t been home yet, and she because she came straight from training the guards.

My weapons are always attached to my uniform.

Malia nods before speeding up impossibly more.

"What’s the plan?" Though a ton of adrenalin is still rushing through me, the usual serene calm I get before a fight slowly settles my nerves.

"We don’t have one.

Everyone thought it was over, so there is no fucking plan.

Stupid idiot. If only Flint had listened to me." She curses under her breath, and I can only agree with her. I was hopeful as well, but to have no backup plan... We’re in deep shit.

Flint is at the door when we reach it.

"Oh, holy shit, I’m so glad you’re here," Flint exclaims when he sees Malia.

I’ll need you at the front.

We don’t know their numbers or if they’re handlers, but we can’t underestimate them. I’ll stay here until everyone is out and meet you there as soon as I can. Good luck." They each nod solemnly before Malia continues walking. No questions asked.

"Why do you have to be at the front? We don’t know what we’re up against!" I can’t help but worry.

Everyone’s hysterical and this is too chaotic, which makes way too much room for mistakes.

"I’m one of the best fighters, and Flint trusts me.

It doesn’t matter.

As long as they don’t reach the school, it’s fine. We can handle them just like we did with the Shadow Handlers." Everything she just said is stupid. We only barely handled the Shadow Handlers and we had much more time to prepare for that. Even so, Malia almost died.

"You can’t pull something like you did the last time! No suicide mission, understood?" I say as we keep jogging past the guards.

No one seems to understand what exactly is happening, but they all seem glad to see Malia.

If they’re all just counting on her to save us again, she’s bound to do whatever it takes. Aka something selfless and stupid.

Malia doesn’t answer, so I grab her wrist and whirl her around to make her face me.

No matter the hurry we are in, this is more important.

She is more important.

"Malia, I am serious.

You won’t try to be the lone hero and put your life on the line for this academy again.

Promise me that or I’ll knock you out and hide you in the bushes right now. They’ve done nothing to deserve any more of your sacrifices." I’m not joking in the least. I can’t lose her.

"I promise I won’t try to get myself killed," she says, those icy blue eyes boring into me.

That’s as good as it gets, and I know it.

I want to tell her so many things right now.

It’s a cliché, but maybe there’s something to it.

We don’t have time for some long ass speech though, so I settle with the key thing.

"I love you," I tell her.

"I love you." She brings her lips to mine and kisses me fiercely.

My hands cup her face tightly, not caring who’s around us and that we need to keep moving.

This is one moment we allow ourselves before we continue thinking about Arcane. This is for us and no one else.

"Don’t die," Malia breathes after she pulls away.

"I wouldn’t dare." She smiles half-heartedly before letting go of me.

We’re running again.

Running until we reach the front of our guards’ line deep in the woods.

"There’s no way I can convince you to go back a bit, is there?" she asks, eyeing the other guards that are squirming to get back.

"Not even if hell froze over," I assure her.

Our enemies are not yet in sight and that’s a good thing.

We’re certainly not ready yet, as many guards are still moving around, trying to find their partners or a better place for the fight.

Partners. Holy shit, I totally forgot to look for Wystan. I can’t even call them since I left my phone in Malia’s room. Fuck! I can’t try to find them now, either. As much as this is against every rule of having a partner, I can’t leave Malia alone. I’m sure they’ll understand.

While I ponder that debacle, Malia turns to face the rest of our guards.

"Everyone, listen up! The academy is under attack again.

This time, we don’t know who we’re up against, so this is different from our fight against the Shadow Handlers," she yells.

What is she doing? This is hardly a motivating speech.

"The outcome will be the same though! You’ve all been training for this; we can win this! These strangers have kidnapped our own.

They didn’t try to talk so, neither will we.

We go for the kill, however that gets achieved. Don’t rely on your powers, these could be handlers themselves.

Now, follow me, and let’s show them they messed with the wrong people!" There’s an uproar of cheers as the guards’ circle turns more into a line behind us. They’re spreading out so our defenses are wider. Good call.

Malia starts marching forward, me at her side and the guards at her back.

She meets my eyes for a moment, and I see the undeluded determination in hers.

I break the contact when loud steps run up to us.

"You son of a bitch, I knew you’d be here.

How about you fucking wait for me the next time there’s a damn fight!" Wystan yells at me.

"I’m sorry, everything was chaotic and I-"

"Forgot about me, I gathered that.

Whatever, I’m here now.

Just don’t die, so I can beat your ass for this later." The second person that told me not to die today. I’m flattered.

"Of course.

You too." We fall into silence after that until Flint catches up with us.

"We’re headed straight for them.

Someone’s back at the academy, watching this from above with a drone.

Apparently, we should be equal in numbers. Were you able to come up with a plan?" he asks Malia.

"Kill first, ask questions later?" she offers.

"Fantastic.

Just fantastic," Flint mutters, blowing out a breath.