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Cait picked up a black pistol and tucked it into her belt. "How're you feeling?" she asked.
"Like a traitor," I whispered.
"Well, to me, you're a hero." She shrugged. “Perspective.”
I laughed humorlessly and started down the rope ladder, Cait descending after me.
At the water's surface, I slipped into the waves, gasping as the cold water enveloped me and I tried not to hyperventilate. Cait followed with the same reaction, but I was relieved to see that the vests held us up.
We started to swim toward shore. The men would inevitably notice we'd disappeared, but Cait and I would be the least of their concerns once they were faced with whatever awaited them.
By the time we reached land, our extremities were mostly numb, but the vests had done their job. I reached the rocky shore, my knees scraping the jagged boulders as I reached for holds and hoisted myself up, feeling even colder once the wind hit me.
Cait followed shortly behind, her teeth chattering violently as I reached a hand down and hoisted her up beside me.
We both crouched to catch our breath and remove our wet vests, shivering while we surveyed the shore to find our best chance of escape. The rising moon lit our surroundings enough that we'd manage to find our way without lanterns, but it wouldn't be effortless.
“Let’s head to the wall,” I said, “and look for an entrance to the aqueducts.”
"I've gotta say I'm not too thrilled about that plan," Cait whispered.
"Me neither, but climbing the wall is out of the question. If there’s an opening in the aqueducts, that’s a better alternative to another climb, don’t you think?" I nodded, more to encourage myself than Cait. If we hit a grate like I did before, at least we wouldn't be trapped. We'd just have to go back and find some other way in.
“It’s not just that,” said Cait. “I don’t want to go into the city at all.”
“I know, but there’s nowhere else to go.”
She sighed, giving in. “I’m with you.”
The sound of oars hitting the water caught my attention. The rowboat approached the shore to the south of where we crouched, Keane and his men trying to steady it in the waves to find a place to go ashore. One by one, the men grabbed hold of the rocks and climbed out of the boat, their excited voices violating the quiet night.
"Let's move.” I started to crawl across the boulder toward the shore.
But something behind the men caught my eye—a glint of metal in the moonlight.
Dark silhouettes emerged and the surprised shouts of Keane's crew rose into a clamor.
I flattened myself to the rock, terrified by what I was hearing. Cait did the same, both of us creeping slowly backward around the curve of the rock to keep ourselves hidden.
Weapons flashed in unison, swords and pistols pointing at the trapped men, their backs to the ocean with nowhere to go. Some looked back, eyeing the dark water and the fishing boat bobbing on the tide, but the larger boat was no longer visible.
One of Keane’s men held the enormous black gun, ready to fire. I thought it was Pete, but I wasn’t certain.
"Surrender," said a familiar voice, "or I will not hesitate to kill you all.” Cael stepped forward, firmly pointing a black handgun toward Keane.
Keane paused. Even in the moonlight, the defiance on his face was evident. He sneered at Cael, meeting his eye fearlessly. Then he lifted his own gun and pointed it right back.
Cael reacted with a shout as he ducked to the ground and rolled.
A burst of pistol fire followed, but I didn’t know which side was responsible.
Then, like a force of nature, the giant black gun in Pete’s hands came to life, jumping into violent, earsplitting action. The rapid shots found their mark in the belly of an Enforcer who stood where Cael had been only moments earlier, the man freezing in shock as he collapsed to the rocky ground.
I winced and tried to shield my ears, my hands starting to shake.
The Enforcers shouted and ran, but two of them didn’t seem afraid. Instead of retreating, they lifted slick black weapons simultaneously. They looked identical to the deadly machine Pete held.
Rapid gunfire from both weapons followed, deafening me, even with my hands over my ears. I wanted to run, but I couldn’t tear my eyes from the fight.
