“This is ridiculous,” I muttered, jumping up.
I stepped out into the hallway. “Jess?” I called.
But the hallway was silent.
I couldn’t see any guards, any patrols.
I walked forward, my feet slapping against the cold floor. Outside, lightning boomed, making me jump. A storm.
It echoed off the rocks of the compound like an explosion.
I put my hand to my chest to still my heart.
“It’s just thunder,” I muttered. I kept walking, making my way down towards the kitchens.
It was like I was the last person alive. Everything was so still. A flash of lightning lit up the outside. For a moment I thought I saw something out the window.
Like moving shadows.
But it couldn’t be. It had to be the wardens.
I started running.
The shadows seemed thicker than they had ever been. Instinctively I ran towards them.
I heard a noise as I got closer to the canteen area. Muffled thumps and whispers.
I peered around the corner and gasped. I covered my mouth instantly.
Jess-
Jess was pinned against the wall, a hand wrapped around her throat by a man cloaked in shadow. He had his hand raised and white light was seeping from him.
Her eyes were white-filmed and unseeing. I stepped back too fast and kicked the wall with a thump. The figure turned and I saw it was a man. A long gash was bleeding profusely from his head, like Jess had landed a hit first.
He looked right at me.
“There! That’s her! Don’t let her escape!”
I heard glass breaking as more soldiers began to storm in. They wore black — masks and balaclavas — except for a small white hourglass symbol stitched over their chests.
Libertarians.
I bolted.
Someone lunged out of the darkness. I dodged, shoving them hard. They stumbled back and I pulled my blade, swinging in a wide arc. I caught flesh and heard a gasp. I kicked out, knocking them back and doubled back towards the other end of the canteen.
I automatically removed a glove, dropping it to the floor.
“Don’t hurt her! We need her alive!”
Another soldier caught me in a chokehold. The man who grabbed Jess was now behind me. He lifted his hands.
“Shhhh. You are very tired. You need to sleep.” White light emerged from his hands.
“Sorry, asshole.” I growled, throwing my head back so it hit his jaw. “Powers don’t work on me.”
I placed my hand to his skin and pulled. He tried to inhale, but it was like he couldn’t breathe.
