Page 100 of The World Undone

“Because we have to be.” Max’s tone was matter of fact but calm as she took a step closer to the girl. “We don’t have a choice. Not if we want to make things better.”

The girl snorted, her blue eyes coating in a sheen of wet. “Better? You burned down the fucking Guild, Max. I took you to him, to help him. To get him out. And you ruined fucking everything. My entire life is fucked because of you.” She swallowed, her jaw tight and voice wavering slightly. “I don’t want to help you. I want you gone. I want the life I had before I’d ever even heard your name.”

That…sounded like a threat to the Little Protector.

A low growl burrowed in my throat as I shifted in front of her. One careful move and I could have this girl’s heart painting drizzles of blood over my shoes.

Max grabbed my hand, a silent warning to keep the girl alive.

Ro’s shoulder brushed up against mine. “You know that the world you had before was fucked, don’t you? That we’re trying to right the wrongs of The Guild?” His voice was calm, steady, even though I could feel his body coiled, ready to strike if things shifted even a millimeter in the wrong direction.

“Just tell us where the council chambers are, Reza. Tell us and you can leave. Get your mom, whoever you want out of here. Leave The Guild and don’t come back. Make whatever life you want on your own terms. They’re the ones who’ve taken everything from you. Not me.” Max took a deep breath. “We don’t want to hurt you. We don’t want to hurt anyone.” She stepped towards the girl, careful and steady, like she was approaching a stray cat. “But we will if it’s our only choice.”

Reza swallowed, then dropped her arm until her phone hung limply at her side. “My mom is dead.” She sniffed, then shook her head like she was frustrated with her body for betraying emotion. “They killed her. After that night, after what happened. I think she challenged them, wanted to leave. And they?—”

Her words were punctuated by the soft crescendo of steps.

A thick, muscular boy rounded the corner, eyes hard as he took in Reza’s cornered position, then the rest of us.

Before he had time to react, Reza knocked him to the ground, and after a fluid, graceful maneuver that disguised its proficiency, he was unconscious.

She stood up, turned back towards us, her eyes hard as they found Max. “His chambers are in the east wing, but he spends most of his time in a war room in the north. With the alarm of your arrival sounded, that’s probably where he will be.”

“Where exactly in the north wing?” Ro asked.

“I’ll take you there,” she took a deep breath, “but then I never want to see any of you again for as long as I live.”

Traveling the halls with Reza was smooth, if smothering and uncomfortable. She knew a few passageways behind secret doors that cut our time down significantly, and we made it to the north wing without meeting another protector.

“I spent a lot of time here when I was growing up. Other side of this painting,” she whispered, her voice carrying through the dark tunnel anyway. “That’s the entryway. He’s usually in one of the three rooms in this suite.”

Max was quiet for a moment, considering this girl whose relationship to her I didn’t fully understand. Both times I’d seen them interact, they seemed to hate each other. Though Max’s dislike appeared more reactionary to the girl’s clear hostility than anything else. “You can come back with us. If you want. You have more information now, about the truth. You’re allowed to change your mind based on that. You can join us, start over there.”

Even in the dark, I could see the shadows of the girl’s face drop in surprise. She considered for a moment as she studied Max, but then her jaw sharpened and she straightened her posture. “I meant what I said. I want nothing to do with you. With any of this, or any of you.”

Without another word, she turned and started walking back the way we’d come.

“Where are you going?” Ro whispered, clearly as conflicted as I was about letting her just…leave.

“Getting out of here before she burns this place down. You should too, if you know what’s good for you. Death and destruction cling to her like shadows.” Her words snapped harsh, with finality.

Without another glance back, she took off at a run.

I tensed, tempted to go after her, snap her neck, tie up any loose ends. I was grateful for her help, but I didn’t like the idea of leaving a potential vulnerability festering in the wind.

“Don’t.” Max rested her hand on my forearm, her warmth fighting back any chill I felt with being back in protector territory. “Let her go. She’s right.”

“Bit dramatic, isn’t she?” Ro said with a half-hearted smirk, a wry attempt to lighten the mood. “Far as I know, you’ve only burned down one campus. That’s hardly a pattern.”

“So far,” I added. “Let’s see where her penchant for pyrotechnics gets her by the end of the night.”

Max snorted. With a quick look at us both, she shoved the painting forward, drawing a thick wash of bright light into the tunnel as the room opened before us.

Like a portal into a strange realm, dark into light, we emerged. Only the room wasn’t empty, as we’d anticipated.

There were at least thirty people crowded together, their chaotic and erratic mutterings hushed into silence as they turned towards us.

“Fuck,” Ro whispered, “it can never be easy, can it?”

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