"Rebel Ray, we know you're here!"Hexa's voice sliced through the morning stillness like a blade.
Priya and I jolted upright. I rushed to the nearest window and leaned out. There she was—Hexa, flanked by a dozen or so clan members, standing in a loose formation just beyond the village edge.
I counted them quickly. I muttered a string of curses. They weren't just armed—they looked hungry for a fight. Some of them were salivating.
Priya shoved in beside me, leaning out as far as she dared."Rebel's gone!" she cried, panic rising in her voice.
Hexa shifted her weight, clearly thinking.I stepped in front of Priya, blocking her view, and faced Hexa head-on.
"Well, if it isn't the little stray," Hexa sneered, blades glinting in both hands. She licked her lips. "Once I'm done with Rebel, I'll run you through next."
"We don't have what you came for," I said flatly, forcing the fear out of my voice. "You're wasting your time."
Hexa kicked at a stone with the toe of her boot, slow and deliberate. "Wasting my time, huh? Maybe we'll do a little raiding while we're here. A bit of payback—for that stolen code."
Her sneer clashed so brutally with all the grief we'd been carrying that something inside me snapped."That code killed Rebel," I shouted, sudden rage boiling to the surface.
Hexa paused for half a second—then threw her head back and laughed, sharp and cruel."I don't believe you. We'll tear this place down brick by brick until we find him. And that code."
Behind me, Priya gasped and pushed forward. I turned just in time to see her stare down at Hexa.
Hexa's smile widened, grotesque and delighted."Little wifey. Priya Ray, isn't it? Your husband took something I care very much about. I think it's time I return the favor."She turned to her people. "Bring me that girl. I want her alive."
Priya stumbled backward, hand clutching her belly.No. They couldn't take her. I wouldn't let them.
I didn't hesitate. I climbed out the window and scrambled onto the nearest rooftop. Below, the village stirred, panicked voices rising with the sun.
"It's the Quell Clan!""They'll destroy everything!""Run!"
Chaos rippled through the village. I cupped my hands and shouted, "Can anyone here fight?"
People froze, startled. Eyes turned upward.
"I said—can any of you fight?"
"Fight?! Are you crazy?" The girl named Lyric said in sarcastic tones.
I looked down at her, "Do you have a better idea? If we don't fight, they will take away everything. They aren't expecting us to fight together, we'll have the element of surprise."
Lyric paused and then nodded ever so slightly.
"Does anyone here know how to fight?" I asked again.
A few hands shot up, uncertain.
Relief surged through me. "Good. Grab your weapons. We defend ourselves!"
"Defend ourselves?" someone echoed, full of fear.
"This is our home," I said, voice hard as flint. "We're not giving it up so easily. Now move!"
A low cheer rang from the crowd.
I crouched low, heart thundering, hands empty. I had no weapon—just the determination to stand.
From across the rooftops came a whisper."Psst."
I turned. A small group was gathering—defenders. I spotted Lyric fiddling with a bow.
"Can you shoot?" I called.
She hesitated. "I could—before my eye... But—"
"I know all the clock faces!"The voice came from a boy I hadn't seen before—young. Too young. Rebel said there were no children here.
An idea exploded in my mind like a firework."Lyric," I said, "take the boy. He'll be your eyes."
"Name's Corrin Gig!" the boy beamed, bouncing on his heels.
"Good. Lyric and Corrin—you're a team. Guard Priya's home."
I turned back to the group. "Anyone who can fight—find a partner. Be each other's eyes. Be each other's ears."
There was a beat of silence. Then, movement. Fast and urgent. A man with one arm joined another with a bad leg. Archers took position across rooftops. Lyric nodded to Corrin and readied her bow.
Hexa hadn't noticed. She stood lazily with her clan, confident. Playing with her prey.
"Hexa Quell!" I shouted. "Final warning. We don't want to hurt your people—but we will if you give us no choice. Leave now, or face the consequences."
She only laughed—and waved her warriors forward.
They moved like her. All sharp limbs and cruel grace. I shivered.
Time to be brave.
I leapt from the roof, landing hard on the ground. My hands were still empty.
"Here!"Someone thrust a knife into my palm.
No time to thank them.
The first clash rang out—shouts, screams, arrows slicing the air. Our ragtag fighters surged forward, surprising the first wave of Rotcastors.
I caught a glimpse of Hexa through the chaos. She saw me.
Her expression twisted.
She charged.
We collided—her weight slammed me to the dirt. The knife flew from my grip. Her boot pinned my chest, crushing the breath from me.
"You made a fool of me," she growled, raising one of her knives. "Hexa doesn't like looking like a fool. Now—you die."
I forced my mind downward, into the earth. Pushed.
The ground buckled beneath us.
Hexa staggered, lost balance—fell.
Right onto me.
A hot wetness spread across my chest.
Confused, I looked down.
Hexa's blood. Pouring out fast—too fast.
My dagger was buried deep in her chest.
Her mouth opened in a silent scream. Her body flickered—red, glitching. For a split second, she wasn't the Hexa Quell I hated, but just another dying girl.
And my impulse was to reach for her, to comfort her somehow.
Then, she vanished.