47

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Kenji questioned as he finished getting dressed. He was wearing white cargo pants with black combat boots and a simple cotton shirt. Shin was probably wearing the same outfit.

"I've been away for too long, that won't happen again," I declared, brushing my hair back and ignoring the sensation of the eye patch.

"I'm just worried, you know this isn't just a conversation."

"Have I ever told you how cute you are when you're worried?" I teased, making him turn red.

"Okay, I'll keep an eye on you," he grumbled, rolling his eyes.

"I don't need protection, just make sure nothing happens to Shin," I said in a low voice, as if he might walk into the room at any moment. "He might go after Matias, don't let him do that," I ordered firmly.

"And what about you?" he asked, confused. "I don't think you're well enough to get into a full-blown fight. You got exhausted after a 40-minute run, and just so you know, it was really embarrassing to see you bent over, out of breath," he criticized, wounding my pride. I felt my face heat up and my jaw tense.

"And just so you know, I'm holding back from punching you in the face right now," I shot back, irritated.

"You look cute when you're angry," he countered. I left the room with him laughing behind me.

Most of the Hebi had already left the compound for the meeting. As I stepped out of the mansion, I observed the small group; everyone seemed anxious but excited. It was going to be a big night. Kenji and I approached Shin, who was leaning against the car talking to Artemis. Both looked serious, and from Shin’s guilty expression, he had done something he deeply regretted.

"Everything ready?" I asked, interrupting their conversation. Artemis fell silent and turned to me. She looked stunning with her bold makeup that enhanced her features. She was wearing the same pants as Shin but paired with a high-neck tank top and a white jacket.

"We were waiting for you," she replied, signaling everyone to get ready to leave.

Kenji and Shin got into the car, and before I could do the same, Artemis grabbed my wrist, catching my attention.

"Don't worry, tonight things will go back to the way they were before," she assured me, leaving me confused.

Without giving me time to ask questions, she walked around the car and got in.

The drive to the trail felt long and endless. A song played on the radio, and Kenji hummed along as if we were just heading to another day at the Academy. The streets were deserted, and the stores were closed due to the curfew. I looked at the car’s clock—it was already past ten at night.

"Dad told me I should keep an eye on you," Artemis said, catching my attention.

"Are you back to being my babysitter?" I asked. As if Kenji trying to be my bodyguard wasn’t enough.

"With your track record, someone has to protect you," she mocked with a small smirk on her full lips.

"I really hate you, you know that?" I commented with a hint of amusement.

Artemis turned her attention to the window, to the forest lining the road, but my heart stopped when I saw shadows moving quickly toward us. And when the car’s headlights illuminated them, it was already too late.

The violent impact shook my body and sent the car off the road. Instinctively, I raised my tense arms to shield my head at the last second. I heard screams and loud crashes. When the car finally stopped moving, I turned to the girl beside me. The side of the car was completely crushed, and the windows were shattered. Blood stained her white clothes, yet Artemis lifted her head and blinked slowly.

"Kenji," I called, undoing my seatbelt. My friend was unconscious against the airbag. "Kenji!" I shouted, leaning toward him. "Shin?" I turned, but he was already awake, stepping out of the wrecked car.

"Get out," Artemis ordered, holding her wounded forehead. "Get out, now!" she yelled, shoving me.

I left the stifling car and was met by the cold night air. I felt Shin pull me close, his hands checking me for injuries, but my focus was on the other car—on the two boys dressed in black.

"Bastards!" Artemis cursed in fury, swiftly pulling a gun from her waist. She didn’t hesitate to pull the trigger. Both Lily gang members bolted, trying to get back to their car, but were stopped when one of ours slammed into the back of their vehicle, dragging it several meters down the road.

The Lily members fled into the forest with speed.

"Get Kenji out of here," Artemis ordered, moving toward the boys, but she froze when more headlights appeared from within the forest. They were motorcycles, and all signs pointed to more Lily members.

"Shit..." she muttered, scanning the area.

Shin ran to his still-unconscious brother. I helped him pull Kenji out of the wrecked car and lay him on the ground, away from the debris. My heart skipped a beat as the sounds of engines roared in the darkness of the road.

"It's the Hebi," Shin said, reading my thoughts. And suddenly, chaos erupted—fast and uncontrollable, like wildfire.

"We need to get him out of here," I said, lifting Kenji. Shin grabbed his legs, helping me carry him into the forest, away from the shouting and bloodshed. "Do you think he’s okay?" I asked, resting his head against the tree trunk.

"Stay with him. I need to help the others," he said, running off before I could stop him.

"Fuck!" I cursed, glancing at the chaos on the road. I turned back to Kenji, touching his face and noticing a wound on the side of his head. Scarlet blood trickled through his platinum hair and across his peaceful face.

"Hey, Kenji, wake up," I called, shaking his shoulders. "Come on, man, wake up," I urged, running my hands down his body. Lifting his shirt, I saw bruises on his ribs and hip. "Hey, Kenji, I said wake up!" I raised my voice, a tinge of fear creeping in at the sight of his injuries. But to my relief, he started to open his eyes.

I shot a glance at the road. It was hard to make sense of anything with the bright headlights beaming in all directions, but the screams, the sound of bodies hitting the ground, and the scent of blood were so familiar that they didn’t scare me.

"A Lily hit us. I think you broke a rib. Does it hurt when you breathe?" I asked, speaking slowly so he could follow.

"I don’t know," he said, holding his head. "Sorry," he muttered, still dazed.

"Don't be stupid," I smiled, fixing his shirt.

"I have to go," he said, turning toward the fight.

"No, you're staying here. You need a doctor," I ordered, holding his face so he would look me in the eyes. "Promise me you’ll stay here. Don’t you dare move, okay?" I demanded seriously, having to repeat myself twice before he understood.

"Okay," he finally agreed.

I stood up and ran out of the forest. The chaos was overwhelming—bikes lay scattered on the ground, bodies tangled in an all-out brawl. I scanned the area for Shin, but his white jacket and platinum hair blended into the mass of Hebi fighters.

I froze at the edge of the road when I saw Matias in the distance, bathed in the glare of a headlight. His shirt was stained with blood, and his brown hair fell messily over his forehead. My feet began moving toward him, my body drawn to his, but I stopped when a tall guy stepped in my path.

He seemed shocked to see me. His lip was split, and blood dripped from his eyebrow, but before he could decide to attack me, a girl pounced on him like a snake devouring its prey. The boy hit the ground hard and lost consciousness.

"Looks like Matias was planning to screw us over," Aymi said breathlessly, turning to me. "I don’t know why I’m so surprised. He’s got Lily blood," she sneered, wiping the blood from her nose. "Artemis ordered you to stay with Kenji. We can handle this," she informed me before walking away with a small smile.

I looked around for Artemis, but she was nowhere in sight. Even Matias had disappeared. Then, my attention was drawn to Shin on the other side of the road, along with another Hebi and two more Lily members.

I had to get him out of there.

Kenji needed a doctor.

And whatever Gabriela had planned for tonight—she wanted much more than just to hurt us.

I sprinted toward Shin, dodging running motorcycles and leaping over the wrecked car, which still had music playing inside. But just as I was about to reach Shin, my eyes caught sight of two figures at the edge of the forest. The long, striking hair and the white jacket stood out in the darkness.

But I immediately recognized my Matias—collapsed on the ground.

And suddenly, Artemis drew her gun.

No. No. No.