Page 18

R aylene had been a part of far too many massacres to be surprised by anything.

Which was why, seeing all her friends spread across the field with their weapons and their fists raised was nothing new either. Her eyes weren’t on the people who worked for Miranda, not when half of Martin’s men had turned and were on their sides now. No, her eyes were fixated on Miranda and Martin who were now coated in blood of the people they’d shot down. Miranda’s white shirt was covered in specks of RED, her green eyes narrowed in focus as she used her endless bullets.

They were only alive because of the men and women who had made an impenetrable circle around them.

Impenetrable because Ray hadn’t tried yet.

She looked down at her gun and was checking the bullets she had left when she felt a prickle to her light. Raylene didn’t have to look up to load her gun back again with a quick click, raise it to the air, and shoot the person to her right. Whoever they were, fell immediately, a yell on their lips as Ray raised her gun and began walking. Her gaze narrowed in focus and,

Bang!

Her shot struck true. Miranda’s gun went flying out of her hands, a gasp and yell leaving her lips as the bullet graced her fingertips. Those green eyes flew to hers and Ray smiled back at her, raising her hand in a wave as she saw a scoff leave the woman’s lips. Miranda turned to one of her men and grabbed another gun, but Ray didn’t wait for her reaction .

Just blended with the people right in the middle and began making her way to the circle as Miranda whirled around to find nothing but a hollow spot in the middle of the battlefield.

Five.

Ray saw Cameron on her way, his own share of enemies swarming him as he fought barehand with Neera braced against his back. Ray turned towards him as one of the enemies got too close, her eyes narrowing in focus as she shot the man straight through the head. Cameron's eyes flashed and his head whirled to hers, gratitude shining silently in his expression as he turned back to the people who rounded them.

Four.

Irene had her back against Myra’s as well. Both worked together, the former using her gun while Myra shifted swiftly on her toes with a knife in her hand and a disturbing grin on her face. Ray blamed her stealth on the dancing she’d left behind years back, but it was faster than any bullets. And way more efficient.

On the other end stood the twins. Ray could only scoff as she saw Sorin and Noah stand, back-to-back as they constantly changed their weapons and found their targets.

One held a wooden plank with sharpened edges which disturbingly looked like it was ripped off a table. Ray didn't stay to ask who had done it. Or how. And Akash. That fucking idiot, shifted around on his feet like he was on a playground. His gaze caught hers as she whizzed past him, the grin on his widening as he waved at her. They were good, Ray thought worriedly as she reached the circle, but they’d tire soon enough.

She had to end this.

Now .

Taking down the circle one by one was efficient, but took far too much time. It gave her time to think about things she didn’t want to even consider and had her gut churning in worry as she spent most of her energy. Maybe she should hire a sniper, Ray thought as she brought the first man’s face down on her knee. His groan was loud but inaudible in the insanity of this place. And it left her masked.

Taking them down turned out to become easier after that. Rigorous, in a way. Repetitive. A cut at the ankles or the knees to weaken their hold when they weren’t looking and a slash to render them unconscious. Gone were the times she would kill in cold blood. Not until it was absolutely necessary. The authorities were going to have a fun time handling this, Ray thought to herself as she rounded to the last person standing. Unlike the others, the woman standing saw her coming and immediately whirled with her fist raised in the air.

Ray blinked in surprise but let her land the blow. Pain exploded in the side of her face, disorienting her for a second as she took the distraction and turned it into a chance. The woman up ahead didn’t see her coming when Ray crouched down suddenly and landed a deathly blow to her abdomen. Used the knife in her hands to rip the skin off her knees and elbows. The woman’s screams were lost in the crowd as she fell to the ground, still, some strength remaining in her as she glared up at her. Ray’s brow arched, alright then. She raised her hand and put a bullet through the woman’s arm, just in case.

Three.

Ray didn’t wait for her to return. Just took a step through the destroyed circle and saw the bloodied man and woman right in the middle of it .

Some power couple, she thought as she cocked her gun in place. Martin saw her first, and his amber eyes went wide in rage as he stilled. Ray grinned at its sight and leveled her gun to his forehead. Specifically to the angry vein that was popping through it.

“It’s begun and he isn’t here yet.” Martin snarled, his words carving her chest as he raised his gun as well. He couldn’t be dead,

“Think Raylene Walker,” he baited, “Why isn’t he here?

“Why don’t you worry about yourself Martin,” she snapped back, keeping up her facade even as her heart pounded in her chest, “Your wife’s taken to the shadows and left you behind.”

Martin whirled on his heels, and she saw his surprise at the lack of Miranda's presence. Ray hadn’t been surprised at all, had let Miranda disappear. She had to get rid of him first. Raylene took his distraction as a chance and pressed the trigger. Bang and a bullet buried itself in one of his knees. Martin’s yell had her gaze narrowing, but the prideful man didn’t fall to his knees. Just clutched his thigh and heaved.

Two.

He’s alive, she told herself over and over again as Martin glared up at her, he’s alive.

“Or maybe,” he rasped, a menacing smirk tilting his lips despite the bullet in his leg, “Maybe he left you behind after all. Maybe you’ve been imagining it all.”

Ray’s lips curled in disgust at the audacity of this man. A rush of red blinded her vision, her entire body shuddering in leashed anger as she looked at his other hand. Saw the gun he was still holding. Ray’s eyes narrowed at the same time the realization dawned upon Martin. And he was a second late as she shifted her gun and shot !

An ear-splitting scream wrenched out of his throat, his eyes wide as his gun dropped to the ground with a silent click.

One.

Ray breathed out as Martin shook before her, soft whimpers leaving his lips as he looked up at her, his face ashen. And yet such murder was written in his gaze that she felt it sear through her. Ray scoffed at the sight and shifted the gun towards his head.

“ He,” Martin panted and groaned out in pain again, clutching his shaking wrist, “ will not come.”

Her fingers tightened on her trigger, but this was Angel’s trigger to pull–

“Such petty lies.”

Ray’s entire body stilled. His voice was like a soft curtain that parted and slowly drew her in. Out of the massacre around her. Into his arms.

Relief exploded through her chest, he’s alive. He’s alive. He’s alive. And his eyes, they glinted like embers when he stepped into her view and barely looked at his father.

“You came.” Ray couldn’t help but say, her voice barely above a whisper. But he heard it. Somehow, he always did. Angel turned to face her, his brows contorted in worry as his palm wrapped around the side of her neck, inspecting her for any injuries. A soft sound left her throat as he took a step closer. She lifted her free hand and placed it on his cheek, her eyes almost wide in surprise, “You came.”

“Of course I came,” Angel scoffed and leaned into her touch, the twinkle in his eyes sparking, “Who was there to stop me?”

Ray’s lips parted with a smile before she drew back .

Angel turned back to face his father again, still looking like the amber-eyed boy she’d fallen for back on the island. He showed every ounce of that happiness to Martin.

“This girl right here?” he pointed to her, and Ray blinked, her heart stalling as something like holy shit crossed her mind,

“I’m going to marry her someday.”

Ray blinked.

And her mind did holy shit for a whole other reason now.

“You’re going to what now?”

He didn’t turn to look at her as he faced his father and covered her body with his own, “Stay back babe, I got this.”

“ Babe?”

And then proceeded to take a menacing step forward in his father’s direction. Had the audacity to shoot her a wink before doing it as well.

Ray scoffed and took a step back, compressing the urge to jump into his arms and hide somewhere deep in her chest as she turned her head to look around for Miranda. Her gaze narrowed when she saw the red hair glint from the shadows. Ray didn’t wait. Just turned to Akash who was standing a few feet away and dipped her chin.

Cover me.

Akash was beside her in an instant and watched her back like a hawk as she crossed the arena, getting closer and closer to Miranda. Close enough to see her whispering to a woman she couldn’t recognize. And close enough to be further away from Angel once again. Her pace slowed as she neared her. One wrong move and Miranda would be gone once again. One wrong move and they could all lose –

Boom .

The sound wasn’t quiet. No, it was a dangerous rumble that cracked the air. Ray’s brows furrowed in confusion as she and Akash stopped. They all did. And snapped their gazes upwards. Ray’s eyes flared wide when she saw the smoke that rose in the night sky and that one piece of ceiling creak. Saw it inch downward. No, she thought in surprise as it rendered her frozen.

Creak, it went and Ray’s heart stopped, all breath knocked from her lungs. Creak, it went again, a desperate sort of sound of bricks rubbing against one another. Please, she prayed as she saw the debris fall upon them like snow, please don’t–

A single brick tipped from the edge of the ceiling.

Absolute silence spread through the arena, everyone stopping. Everyone pausing.

Ray saw that brick fall.

And watched as the entire slab of ceiling followed it’s course of motion.

It all happened so fast. So quick . A desperate scream left her throat, maybe Akash’s name. Or Angel’s. Or Neera’s, Irene’s, Myra’s, she didn’t fucking know. Just screamed out a name as a part of the mansion came pouring down on them. Her gaze snapped to her left and she saw Akash, standing too close to where it would land. A gasp left her throat then, and without thinking, without barely breathing, Ray willed her entire strength to throw herself upon Akash’s figure.

Maybe he’d seen it coming.

Because when the piece of concrete came crashing down and when the tremors rocked the earth, he’d wrapped her in his embrace.

Had jumped further away from the concrete .

A mist of dust flew over their heads then and for a moment everything went silent.

And suddenly, all they could hear was nothing.

Not even the sounds of their beating hearts.