Page 163 of Promises in the Dark

Captain answered this time, his declaration colder than I’d ever heard it. “He knew too much. He was expendable.”

Viper snarled. “So, all those ‘failed’ missions? You were setting us up to die?”

“Gradual elimination,” Captain nodded, not a flicker of remorse in his eyes. “Can’t have too many deaths at once, raises suspicions. But a few here, a few there? That’s just the cost of war.”

“You’re sick," I growled, teeth clenched. “Both of you.”

Captain Cockwad shrugged. “Call it what you want, Rogue. But in this world, it’s adapt or die. And I choose to adapt... and profit.”

The room went deathly silent. I could feel the fury building inside me, like a bomb ready to go off. Every mission that had gone to shit, every teammate we lost—it had all been part of their sick plan. And we’d been too blind to see it.

“You won’t get away with this,” I shouted, straining against my bonds. “Someone will figure it out.”

Captain Butthead leaned in close, his breath hot and foul on my face. “And who’s going to tell them, Rogue? You? You’ll be nothing but a cautionary tale, a soldier who cracked under pressure and killed his team before blowing his own fucking brains out. Tragic, really.”

I lunged forward, nearly toppling myself over. “I’ll fucking kill you!”

Pyro chuckled, cockier than ever. “That’s the spirit! But I’m afraid your time’s up. Boss, shall we end this little reunion?”

Captain straightened up, pulling out his sidearm. “Indeed. It’s been fun, kids, but all good things must come to an end.”

Everything went to shit in the blink of an eye.

Raven, that crafty bitch, had somehow managed to work herself free. She launched herself at Pyro like a rabid animal, all teeth and nails. The surprise on that bastard’s face would have been comical if we hadn’t been fighting for our lives.

“You treacherous cunt!” Raven screamed, clawing at Pyro’s face.

He howled in pain, blood streaming from the gashes she was leaving.

The room erupted into chaos. Gunshots echoed off the walls, deafening in the cramped space. I threw myself to the side, feeling the ropes dig into my flesh as I rolled. My wound pulsated, but adrenaline dulled the pain to a roar in the background.

Pyro was flailing, trying to fend off Raven, who was tearing into him like a wildcat, teeth, nails, and pure fucking rage. Meanwhile, I frantically worked at my bonds, my wrists slick with blood from the rope burn.

Captain reacted fast, raising his weapon. But Viper, that crazy son of a bitch, threw himself at his legs, toppling them both to the ground. The gun went off, the bullet embedded itself in the ceiling and showered us with debris.

I was still struggling with my own bonds, the rope digging into my wrists as I twisted and pulled. The pain in my side was excruciating, but adrenaline was a hell of a drug. I barely felt itas I finally worked one hand free, immediately starting on the other.

Raven and Pyro were rolling on the floor, locked in a savage struggle for the gun. Pyro might have been bigger, but Raven was all coiled fury and skill. She got in a solid hit to his solar plexus, and the fucker wheezed, his grip on the gun slipping.

I had almost freed myself when Red’s voice cut through the mayhem.

“Rogue! Behind you!”

A gunshot rang out, loud enough to shake the walls. For a heart-stopping moment, I thought Red had been hit. But then I heard Raven cry out in pain, and I froze. My blood went ice cold.

I managed to free my other hand and struggled to my feet, just in time to see Raven stumbling back, clutching her shoulder. Blood seeped between her fingers, but her eyes were blazing with fury.

Pyro stood there, gun in hand, that sadistic grin on his face. “Not so tough now, are you, bitch?”

“Fuck you,” Raven spat, literally, a glob of bloody saliva hitting Pyro square in the face.

That was my cue. I lunged at the fucker, tackling him to the ground. The gun went skittering across the floor as we grappled, trading punches and headbutts, whatever we could. I tasted blood in my mouth, felt it trickling down my face. Pyro was no slouch in hand-to-hand, but I had desperation and fury on my side.

“Come on, soldier boy,” he taunted, pulling out a knife. “Let’s dance.”

Where the fuck had he gotten that?

I rolled to the side, feeling the blade whistle past my ear. The sudden movement sent a jolt of agony through my side, nearly buckling my knees.

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