Page 93 of The Order: Rise of the New Empire

Staring at the cabin's front door, I make an executive decision.

Slinging a bag over my back, I fill it with all that I will need, strapping a blade and pistol to my side, patting myself down, before swinging open the front door.

"You want to run, Forest, fine," I whisper, giving the cabin a long hard look. "Your big brother will always come after you."

Hauling ass on one of the quads we stored at the cabin from the compound, I avoid the rough terrain, letting my mind travel to places I wish it wouldn't.

Xavier must have found something.

That is the only reason he would compromise himself enough to be taken by the Prophet's grasp again.

Does he know something I don't-

Slamming on my breaks, I reach the halfway point to New Haven, my quad nearly toppling over from its abrupt stop. Likethey appeared out of nowhere, a small, cloaked figure stands in my path, their hood lowered, concealing their face entirely.

Stopping right before them, I take deep staggered breaths, staring at the figure with a wide gaze.

"Kaiden Blackburn," the raspy female voice whispers, her golden eyes glancing up toward me, the abrasive dark runes coating her neck and face. Tied back, her red hair is wound up in braids, her face concealed with a mask.

"D-Do I know you?" I question.

She's Marked.

"Oh, don't tell me you don't recognize me," her eyes crease as she grins.

Swallowing, I try and piece together where I have seen her before.

That night in the compound.

All that time ago, the night I lost Hunter.

Rowan.

The girl Mason and Bekah have been searching for.

"There's that Blackburn brain going to work," she coos, her voice far older than the age she presents to carry.

No gray.

"Haven't had the honor of needing to keep my age stagnant," she smiles, tugging down her mask.

"Get out of my head," I hiss. "You Marked are always sticking your noses in places you shouldn't," I snap, her mouth curling into a deeper smile.

"And you Cleansed blame us for circumstances beyond our control. Do you think most of the Marked had a choice becoming what they are?" she questions, speaking with no boundaries.

"Why the hell are you even out here?" I question, not another person anywhere in sight.

"I heard whispers of the Underground. I know a war is looming. I also know none of this will play out how any of youexpect it to. You think if Elyon is gone, power does not continue to have a grasp. First it is Elyon, next it's your sister, all while Atticus looms at the back door-"

"Atticus?"

"The Commander of the Precipice. The very same Precipice that the Revolutionists plan to infiltrate-"

"I didn't know-"

"Because they don't trust you, Kaiden, almost as much as you don't trust yourself right now. Tell me, why are you making your way to New Haven right now?"

"My sister-"

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