the lump in her throat, her gaze flitting from one quiet building to the next. She hoped all the Civilians were asleep. Prayed all the Civies were asleep in their soft beds with their Cultured Daevas beside them. Because if any soul heard what Greta just said, Rayne could lose her partner.
“Don’t worry. It’s way past curfew. Everyone’s asleep. Except us, of course. Now let’s get cracking before that Wild gets away, eh?” Greta moved forward again, only to be stopped by a sound of protest coming from Rayne. Greta scratched the back of her neck, irritation written all over her creased face. “What now?”
“It’s against protocol,” Rayne said. Every muscle in her body was ready to pounce on whatever might come barreling towards Greta. “Mother will be furious if she –“
“Mother won’t be furious if we catch it, R. It’s too late to file a report anyway. By the time they get their sorry asses here the Wild will be long gone. Clear? Okay, let’s go.” Greta turned around and this time she didn’t pay attention when Rayne hissed. She moved forward, forward, inching away from Rayne.
Rayne sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. Fine. Let Greta catch this Wild. Rayne doubted Greta could even find the Wild. Wilds ran the moment they sensed someone coming.
But the pulse – the pulse was getting stronger, not weaker. And Rayne wasn’t even moving. Greta was already a pendant-sized figure, but the pulse was getting stronger. Greta ran faster, and that was when Rayne realized Greta was headed the wrong way.
Rayne wanted to scream for Greta but she knew she shouldn’t. They’d get caught for breaking protocol and punishment wasn’t something she wanted to face. So Rayne grit her teeth, raised her gun and closed her eyes. Sensed where the pulse was coming from.
She opened her eyes. To her left was a narrow alley, dank and decrepit and stuck between two buildings. Hold on. Why was it dirty? Didn’t the Affies make sure a crew of Cultured Daevas regularly went around and cleaned up the place? Ah, she could worry about that later. For now there was a Wild hiding in there, and that was the main problem.
“Don’t worry. It’s way past curfew. Everyone’s asleep. Except us, of course. Now let’s get cracking before that Wild gets away, eh?” Greta moved forward again, only to be stopped by a sound of protest coming from Rayne. Greta scratched the back of her neck, irritation written all over her creased face. “What now?”
“It’s against protocol,” Rayne said. Every muscle in her body was ready to pounce on whatever might come barreling towards Greta. “Mother will be furious if she –“
“Mother won’t be furious if we catch it, R. It’s too late to file a report anyway. By the time they get their sorry asses here the Wild will be long gone. Clear? Okay, let’s go.” Greta turned around and this time she didn’t pay attention when Rayne hissed. She moved forward, forward, inching away from Rayne.
Rayne sighed and crossed her arms over her chest. Fine. Let Greta catch this Wild. Rayne doubted Greta could even find the Wild. Wilds ran the moment they sensed someone coming.
But the pulse – the pulse was getting stronger, not weaker. And Rayne wasn’t even moving. Greta was already a pendant-sized figure, but the pulse was getting stronger. Greta ran faster, and that was when Rayne realized Greta was headed the wrong way.
Rayne wanted to scream for Greta but she knew she shouldn’t. They’d get caught for breaking protocol and punishment wasn’t something she wanted to face. So Rayne grit her teeth, raised her gun and closed her eyes. Sensed where the pulse was coming from.
She opened her eyes. To her left was a narrow alley, dank and decrepit and stuck between two buildings. Hold on. Why was it dirty? Didn’t the Affies make sure a crew of Cultured Daevas regularly went around and cleaned up the place? Ah, she could worry about that later. For now there was a Wild hiding in there, and that was the main problem.
