Chapter Twenty-Four
As they neared the end of the passageway, voices carried toward them. Only two men, it sounded like, their conversation disgusting and crude. But until they got close enough to count bodies, they would need to be prepared for anything.
Christian held a finger against his lips and pulled his dagger from its sheath, slowing his pace and stepping as silently as possible. Gemma, Imara, and Colton followed his example, arming themselves against whomever they were about to face.
They slunk in the shadows, and Gemma thanked the stars for the dim lighting of the hall. Wearing all-black uniforms, they were noticeable only when illuminated by the dark red lights near the ceiling.
A few more steps, and Gemma’s suspicion was confirmed: There were only two bounty hunters guarding the entrance, but both were heavily armed.
Gemma’s chest tightened. She couldn’t watch another one of her friends get killed.
Christian pointed to Colton then to the guard on the right. He pointed to himself then to the guard on the left.
Gemma frowned, realizing the boys were again putting themselves directly in danger. The Dissent should have better prepared her for combat. Maybe then she could offer more than just useless knowledge and medical skills.
The guys waited until the guards were distracted—and jumped into the light together.
Christian bested his target in seconds, getting behind him and slicing across the man’s throat with his dagger. Colton jabbed his knife up under the bounty hunter’s jaw, silencing him before severing the man’s jugular and pushing him to the ground.
Gemma raised an eyebrow. They were terrifyingly good.
“Remind me not to get on your bad sides,” Imara joked, emerging from the shadows.
Colton reached into the hunter’s vest and pulled out a flat, rectangular disk. He held it against the bounty hunter’s thumb, and it lit up. “Let’s see what you’ve been up to.”
Gemma, Imara, and Christian crowded around him.
Colton flipped through a few screens before settling on a hidden file. A blue screen flashed. “Blast. I need his DNA again. Any warmth left in his fingers?”
Christian crouched down and touched the dead hunter’s hand. “A little.”
Colton passed him the device, and Christian held it against the man’s thumb. The blue screen flashed again, but this time, a black one with white lettering popped open.
“They’ve got captives,” Christian said.
Colton took back the disk. “Trading them tomorrow at an auction.”
“So, that’s what this ‘X’ is on the map? People?” Gemma asked.
“Looks like it.” Christian stood to full height. “I’m guessing we’re supposed to rescue them.”
“What’s the plan, then?” Imara crossed her arms across her chest. “We’re not going to get very far like this. You said there could be tons of them in there.”
“You’re right. We can’t go in there with bullets flying either. They’ll ricochet off everything. These walls are metal.”
“We sabotage the place.” Colton shrugged. “Steal their gear, cause a distraction, free the captives, and get the blazes out of there. Fácinho.”
“That’s not a bad idea,” Gemma agreed.
Christian nodded. “Not bad at all.”
Once they’d fully fledged out their plan, they gathered as many supplies from the dead guards as possible and proceeded into the building, using one of the bounty hunter’s security rings.
Blades poised in their hands, the four of them walked as quietly as possible with measured and purposeful steps.
The air was stale and musty, tinged with the faint scent of gun oil.
Gemma’s gaze flitted from side to side, surprised by the lack of security measures in place.
She’d expected some sort of protection. Even Perileos had sensors and cameras at the entrances and exits.
The bounty hunters had placed too much faith in the guards they’d stationed outside their front door.
Christian held up a hand, signaling for them to halt. Gemma’s heart pounded wildly as shuffling footsteps approached alongside the mumbled words of a drunken song. From around the bend, a bounty hunter stumbled, laughing as he smiled at them.
“Whatchoo all doin’ down here?” He burped. “You missin’ th-par’y.” The hunter tipped sideways, barely staying upright.
“Sorry, man,” Colton replied. “Went for a piss and got lost. How do I get back?”
The bounty hunter guffawed. “Mess . . . hall. You dumb’r th-me.” He fell backward, smacking his head on the floor. A snore followed seconds later.
“That could work in our favor,” Christian said. “If the majority of them are in one location—”
“And getting plastered,” Imara interjected, “we could trap them.”
“Or kill them.” The look in Christian’s eyes was ravenous. Here was his opportunity to get some revenge for what happened to his mother, even if they were in a sim.
Gemma understood. Vengeance is what provided the fuel for her survival. Real or not, retribution could be a salve on a wound that had never closed.
“How do we do it?” Gemma asked, every atom of her being tingling. She would help him get the payback he deserved.
A corner of his mouth twitched as he pulled the map from his vest. “There’s an armory in here, and they’re bound to have something we can use to blow up that room.”
“And if not, I can build something,” Colton said.
The three of them snapped their heads to him, their eyes wide.
Colton shrugged. “What? You guys aren’t the only ones who spent years prepping for these tests.”
“That’s . . .” Imara paused, tilting her head. “Impressive.”
Christian shoved the map back into his vest. “To the armory we go then.”
The trek through the maze of dimly lit halls had been way too easy. They’d passed one more bounty hunter, and she too was passed out from intoxication. It was almost like the simulation wanted them to believe this was going to be simple.
But Gemma knew better; things were going to go wrong soon. She prayed the others were ready for it.
Preparing to breach the door of the armory, Christian pulled out his handgun while Gemma and Imara took their positions on one side of the door frame, Colton on the other.
Christian kicked open the door, his weapon raised and ready, but the room was empty, save for the rows of ammunition and various weapons. “All clear.”
“You’d think they’d have this room better guarded,” Imara said.
“Bounty hunters aren’t exactly known for their intelligence.” Colton snorted, stepping through the door.
“Don’t underestimate them,” Christian warned, his eyes narrowed. “Something about this feels off.”
Gemma sighed in relief. Thank the stars someone agrees this was too simple.
The four of them wandered the armory until Colton shouted from the back corner of the room. “Got something!” They were at his side in seconds.
He held up a transparent ball filled with neon-green, translucent liquid. On one of the shelves, in a rectangular black metal case, sat three more.
“Step away from those.” Someone nearby cocked their gun. “Now.”