“CAN SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT THE HELL IS GOINGON?!”
A sweeping hush fell upon Quinn and Arthur as they turned to face her.
It was Arthur who broke the silence with a sigh. “Thatwas the battle simulation alarm,” he said with a nervous chuckle. “And it looks like you’re going to be a part of it.”
There was no way in hell Wren could actually participate in a battle simulation without her magic.
And yet there she was. Standing among the other Silver Unitrecruits, attempting to listen to Quinn bark instructions at her despite the persistent ringing in her ears.
“Are you even listening to me?” Quinn snapped her fingers in front of Wren’s face, dragging her back into focus.
Wren clenched her teeth. “It’s kind of impossible not to listen to you when you’re quite literally yelling in my face.”
“Then repeat it back. Every word.”
“The battle simulation will start as soon as the next alarm sounds,” said Wren, echoing the words Quinn had spoken only seconds earlier. “We’re competing against Onyx Unit. Our main objective is to capture the black flag on the other side of the domed cave. Our second objective is to protect our own flag from them.”
“And what aboutyou?” Quinn shoved a firm finger against Wren’s chest.
“I try not to get my head chopped off,” Wren said with a grim smile.
They were standing at the mouth of another cave, this one hidden deep within the encampment. Around them stood the entire Silver Unit quadrant—a hundred Demiens, at the very least. An electric buzz hummed in the air, a frenzied excitement.
“Here. Take this.” Arthur appeared beside Wren, handing her a curved saber. She was surprised to find that the weapon was fairly light in her hands despite its size. “It’s not the same as having your magic, but it’s still sharp.”
Wren flexed her hand over the hilt of the saber. “That’s oddly helpful of you. Thanks.”
Arthur shrugged. “It’s known to happen from time to time.”
Quinn, who had unsheathed two finely sharpened scythes from her waist, turned to look at Wren with a withering frown. “Make sure to stay close,” she reminded her. “I don’t want you wandering.”
“Are you sure I can’t just sit this one out?” asked Wren. “How are you even sure Edith wants me participating—”
“Because Iknowher,” Quinn snapped. The hardness in her stare wavered, a faint prickle of fear reflected in the way she nervously gnawed the inside of her cheek. “She isn’t just testing you—she’s testing all of us. Silver Unit has a reputation.”
“A reputation?” Wren echoed. “Why? Because you haven’t done the Reaper’s Kiss yet?”
Quinn and Arthur shared a knowing look. Wren had hit a nerve—that much was clear. But before either of them could respond, another blaring alarm echoed throughout the cavern. The bodies surrounding them stirred awake, the sharphissof blades scraping against their sheaths. Behind Wren, Demiens pushed forward, an unstoppable current guiding her toward the entrance of the cavern. She staggered, nearly losing her footing, but Arthur reached out and grabbed her by the shoulder, holding her steady before she could tumble to the ground.
“Do not leave my side.” Quinn was speaking to Wren, but her eyes were fixed forward, locked on the mouth of the cave, as though she were simply repeating a mantra, whispering a prayer beneath her breath. Wren’s grip on her saber tightened as she braced herself for whatever she might find inside.
The alarm came to a sudden halt.
Silence.
And then Wren walked forward, wedged between Quinn and Arthur, and entered the cavern.
Red.
It bathed the walls, the rocky floor, the tall domed ceiling. As Wren stepped through, she rubbed her eyes, as though she might be able to clear her vision, but the red remained, engulfing everything in a crimson haze.
“It’s not your eyes,” whispered Arthur by her ear. “Look up.”
Wren glanced upward, catching sight of the glowing red orbs hovering at the center of the domed ceiling. They were the only source of light inside the cavern, and the reason for its bloodredhue.
The cavern was divided into two sides—Silver and Onyx. A maze of stone barricades stood between them, blocking each side from being able to see their opponent’s flag. In order to win, you’d have to cross through the rocky maze without getting lost. But even then, it wasn’t over. If you made it through the stone barricades, you’d find yourself in your opponents’ territory, which meant you’d be faced with two options: sneak your way to the flag…or fight.
Around them, Demiens poured in. They scattered, moving in throngs, breaking off into designated groups within the quadrant. Some charged forward, hungry for battle, while others stayed strategically near the entrance, forming a human shield in front of the silver flag that billowed only a few feet in front of Wren.
