Chapter 26
Finn
“Drive!”
A bullet shatters one of the windows, and Hector pulls me down to the floor of the car.
More bullets hit as we speed out of the area, leaving the burning compound behind.
The attack started shortly after Caden went to find River.
I recognized High Hope’s brown uniforms in the distance and Lyla’s red hair as she rode her horse.
Before I could try to reach her, Hector shoved me into the car, but that might have been for the best, since I could have easily gotten shot in the crossfire.
We speed away from the fighting when a siren cuts through the air. I look out the window to spot pillars of smoke rising from one of the entrances to the city. The attack has officially started. War is here.
“They started their attack by taking out our communication center.” Hector holds my gaze. “Did you tell that Semi what to hit first?”
I push past my fear and say, “Yes.”
He smiles while explosions go off in the distance. “There is something you don’t understand. I don’t care about losing this city and everyone here. The only army I care about is down in the sewers, and I will not send them out to defend a city I was already counting on losing.”
I watch him closely, telling myself these are the words of a desperate man, but he doesn’t seem desperate.
In the distance, more loud explosions cut through the howl of the sirens. Dozens of buggies drive past us, carrying Raiders who wave their weapons. By now, every person in the city must have realized what is happening, which means that thousands of armed Raiders are now rushing to battle.
This is their Skyfall, and I’m honored to be a part of it.
Hector narrows his eyes. “If you told the Semi to attack the communication center, what more did you tell him?”
My stomach tightens. “Nothing.”
He shoots out his hand and grips my neck, forcing me down on my knees. I can’t breathe, and I can’t make him let go, so I try to remain calm as my lungs burn and my vision turns blurry. Before I pass out, he lets go, leaving me gasping for air.
“Let’s try this again. What more did you tell him? Was it…” He growls. “Did you tell him about the sewers?”
My silence is enough of an answer. Hector orders the driver to change course to where the entrance to the sewers is.
He nudges me with his foot to return to my seat.
When I do, I spot a swarm of drones flying past us.
I wonder if the damage to the communication center was enough to grant Helena control over the drones.
“He’s dead,” Hector says.
“Who?”
“Who do you think? My champion, the one you came here to save. I hope it was worth it.”
I shake my head. “You’re lying.”
“Who would know better than I?”
I look away, not willing to show him my fear. Caden is not allowed to die, even though I was aware of the possibility. For him to be dead, it means that River must have killed him, and I can’t grasp a world where that can happen.
You’re not allowed to die, asshole.
The car slows to a halt, and the driver says, “A couple of buggies collided, sir. They’re blocking the road.”
Hector grunts and climbs out, pulling me after him. Two bodies are lying on the ground, while ten Raiders fight about who was to blame. We’re in one of the small neighborhoods surrounding the city center, where the roads are narrow.
“Get out of the way!” Hector shouts.
The Raiders watch him in shock, and the bravest one says, “We can’t, governor! The engines are busted.”
Hector tells the driver, “Turn back and find another way. We…” He looks sharply to the sky as if he heard something.
I follow his gaze and notice small shapes high above.
They continue to advance until I recognize dozens of High Hope soldiers with jetpacks.
I don’t even know if they noticed us until one of the Raiders gets shot in the chest. In a heartbeat, Hector grabs my hand and drags me between two houses.
Bullets rain down, hitting Raiders and shattering windows.
I keep low, feeling a dark sense of satisfaction knowing that those jetpacks were supposed to serve Hector’s troops.
The remaining Raiders shoot back and hit some of the jetpacks.
Soldiers scream as they crash to their deaths.
With the fighting still raging, Hector guides me behind the houses until we’re far enough from danger.
When we reach a different road, he signals a buggy to stop.
The driver hits the brakes, and when Hector tells those inside to get out, they hurry to do so.
He shoves me into the passenger seat and enters from the other side.
We ride away with the air smelling of gasoline and the engine louder than the sirens.
When I look out the window, I notice people running a few miles from us.
I probably would have missed them if they weren’t running so damn fast with their red hair blowing in the wind.
They seem to be heading toward the city center.
I wish I could somehow catch their attention, but I can’t risk Hector noticing, and those Semi-Humans might think I’m one of the Raiders.
We finally reach our destination and climb out of the buggy.
Guards rush over while sirens continue to howl in the distance.
Although we’re relatively hidden between these old industrial structures, I have a good view of the city center and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Pillars of smoke can be seen here and there, with the fire seeming to be spreading.
There were clearly units that were sent to the heart of the city right when the attack started, or maybe they were already here, waiting for a green light to strike.
“Sir, should we head over there to help?” a guard asks.
“No. Defend this entrance with everything you’ve got.”
Another guard approaches. He’s older and seems to be a higher rank. “Governor, are you here to set them loose?”
He means the lizard men. From the other guards’ confused expressions, it’s clear they don’t know what they are guarding.
Hector smiles and pats the guard’s shoulder. “Of course. You just keep protecting this entrance until they’re ready to fight.”
“Will do, Governor!” He turns his eyes to the burning city. Lines of concern crease his brow. “The fuckers broke through too fast. It feels like they might’ve had some inside help.”
Hector glances at me, but I keep my face stoic. Maybe River did meet with Elijah like I suggested, and maybe it resulted in him learning of ways to enter the city undetected. I won’t know for sure until this is over.
“You just focus on pushing back any attack on this entrance,” Hector says and grabs my hand.
He leads me inside the warehouse until we reach a large metal door on the ground.
Standing with his back to me, he enters a code on a panel on the wall, making the door slide open with a loud creak.
We climb down a narrow flight of stairs, guided by faint lights until we reach a flat surface.
The air is damp and musky, making me dizzy and my throat itch.
I can’t shake the memory of my last time down here, when I was powerless to help Caden.
“Are you going to escape with your lizards?” I ask as we walk, my voice echoing in the narrow hallway.
“I will leave with them, yes. You can call it a relocation.”
“Relocation to where?”
“A well-guarded place that is hard to breach. Somewhere with water and electricity, but with no direct sun since my soldiers prefer the dark. Can you think of such a place?”
I halt, nearly stumbling. He wouldn’t.
Hector turns to face me, a satisfied spark in his eyes.
“You thought that sending everything you have to conquer my city was a smart idea? You left your crown jewel unprotected, and in less than a day, I will invade Unity and take control of the entire Hive. Whoever survives will be granted the gift of my blood, and then the real war will begin. Fortunately, I’ll have a whole mountain to keep me safe. ”
My mouth is dry, but I gather enough spit to swallow. “You’re crazy for expecting to break through Unity’s defenses. They will hold long enough for the rest of the Defenders to return—with their allies.”
Hector nudges me to keep walking. “I captured a few Defenders in the last few years, and they taught me what I needed to know about your defenses. My army will pour in through your waterfall until it’s right at the heart of the Hive.
And don’t think I killed those Defenders—they’re down here with the rest of my army, eager to return home. ”
Although numb, I keep walking, one foot after the other.
Once those lizard men break into Unity, almost no Hiver will escape in time.
It will be ten times worse than Skyfall.
I realize now why Hector warned Caden about the coming war when they first met.
He wanted this attack on Denver so he could reduce the number of alliances’ forces while finding a more secure place to stay with his army.
The temperature sharply drops right before we reach the wide dome where hundreds of lizard men cluster together.
Water spills down around them from the outflows.
The lizard men give us room to pass, and I wonder if Hector is speaking to them right now, telling them that war is coming and their new home awaits.
I dare to look into their eyes, knowing that each of them was once a human being. Do they remember their past? Is there a part of their old self still in there? I hope there isn’t, because they don’t deserve to be aware of what was brutally stolen from them.
We leave the dome behind and walk through a long hallway with the scent of unwashed flesh in the air.
Prisoners stand in their cells, gripping the iron bars with dirty hands.
Some beg for freedom, but most just watch us helplessly.
I feel guilty for being free while they are locked up, but I’m a prisoner as well, just in a different cage.
“What will you do with them?” I ask.