Page 52 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

Keeping my focus on the thick brush, the scent grows stronger, any slight movement now a dead man's move.

"Who's there?" I question, ready to pull the trigger with little thought.

Watching a pair of hands reach up from behind a bush, I raise my arms, ready to blow a hole right through their head-

"Bekah told me to trail you," the young voice grovels, their tone closer to that of a child than a man. "Please don't shoot," they plea, my trigger-happy hand quicky lowering.

"Step out," I command, watching the lanky boy present himself, his eyes wide with relief.

Dark straight hair and rich tan skin, his eyes are upturned, his face touched with a gentle youth.

"You're one of the new cadets from the Underground," I observe, clicking my tongue with annoyance. "Of course, Bekah has already allowed some of you to tag along with me," I mutter, tapping my head against the base of the gun. "Fucking perfect."

Smiling at the comment, the boy shakes his head.

"I think she might have been sick of me in all honesty. Spending most of your childhood in confinement would lead anyone to be a talker," he shrugs. "Plus, I overheard you were checking in on the Apparatus's home-"

"Your name, cadet?" I question, already sick of this interaction.

"Silas Nyx. I was told I would be shadowing you today-"

"You're a kid," I point out, giving the boy a long look. "What are you, like twelve-"

"Thirteen," he clarifies. "Plus, you made it all the way here without noticing me. I'd say class is very much in session," he boasts, making a decent point I'd rather not give praise to.

"And you know who I am?" I question, his head viciously nodding.

"General Veron-"

General Veron?

Who knew Bekah would be so quick to force formality.

"Just call me Veron," I sigh, my last name the last thing I want anyone throwing around.

Turning back toward the cabin, I push past what little of the thicket is in my way, creeping closer to the gleaming body of water.

"So, you're Marked?" Silas questions, comfortably finding a spot next to me.

"Clearly."

"And you know the Apparatus? And the old Commander of New Haven? " he asks with giddy, clearly unaware of the full extent of their pasts.

"Somewhat. You're one of those kids from under the compound?" I question, his head nodding.

Under the compound.

He knows the girl that got away.

"Were there any others your age?" I question, his shoulders shrugging.

"I saw a few in passing. I thankfully had enough talent in Deception to have my use. Many of the kids were kept alive for reproduction purposes... or to give the guards a pretty face to look at," he says, his smile dropping instantly.

"They valued the ones with talent?" I question, once more receiving a nod.

"Unless you were one of the not so lucky few that was valued for talent as well as looks. I heard one of the Marked get visits to her cell multiple nights from those horrendous men," he shivers, something urging me to keep asking questions.

"She was strong then?" I question, a scoff rolling off of his throat.

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