Outside, the neighborhood shifts as they barrel through the air. Patched-up tenements become collapsed buildings, bullets littering the sidewalks, and streets streaked with old runoff and rot.
This is the wasteland he’s seen in V-link clips—theslumshis mother warned him about, emptied of anyone who could leave.
But in the distance, Midtown’s skyline glows faintly on the horizon. His breath catches.
How much longer will they keep him here? Has he already outlived his usefulness? Rafael hasn’t dared ask about a replacement, but the questions gnaw at him as the HOV rattlesand lowers to the pavement.
When Pixie yanks the door open, his hand trembles around the medkit the moment he steps out. Gang members in combat gear flood the street, not attacking but corralling terrified residents away from the real threat. A building swallowed in flames half a block down. Rafael’s whole body seizes up.
“Pixie, here,” she says into her commlink, tapping a cybernetic star around her ear. A few seconds later, she adds, “Understood,” before turning back to Rafael.
Her frown deepens. “Baron’s inside.”
Rafael’s stomach drops. His first instinct should be relief. If Kane’s in danger, maybe this ends. But the idea sits wrong. Whatever Kane has done to him, Rafael can’t wish harm on anyone.
“What do we do?” he asks.
“Wait.” Pixie’s eyes flick to the sky. Drones skitter through the smoke, their lights blinking as they dive for the flames. “Coda says he’s still alive. For now.”
Why would Kane go into the fire himself? Isn’t he their leader? Shouldn’t someone else be risking it instead? The questions catch in Rafael’s throat as voices from nearby soldiers drift over.
“Damn that old man,” one mutters. “We begged him to move away from the border. Echo even found him a new place.”
“Why’d Baron go without backup?” another asks.
“That’s just how he is, why I joined up in the first place,” the first one sighs. “You think Natural Order or Ulvepack’s leader would do this?”
He processes the words, uncertain what to make of them. Kane risks himself—his life—for his people. It’s almost…respectable. Or at least, not what Rafael expected from a gang leader.
Shouts erupt in the distance, and his attention snaps to the burning building. Through billowing smoke, Kane emerges from a doorway. He carries an old man in his arms with an oxygen mask already strapped to his face.
Those nearby start to cheer while others exhale, and Rafael finds himself able to breathe again. But there’s no time to examine why. Medical instinct takes over as he hurries into the medtruck, prepping supplies for the incoming patient.
By the time a family arrives to take the elderly man home, Rafael gives brief aftercare instructions before wiping down the instruments and resetting the truck. For a second, he’s grateful he was here to help.
Then reality settles back in, reminding him of where he is and how he’s still trapped here, waiting for a replacement that has yet to come.
A distant cry draws his focus outside where Pixie spins, hand flying to her rifle. Rafael tracks her movement and freezes. Across the street, Kane hauls a young woman toward the medtruck, her body thrashing against his grip.
He presses back against the cupboards of supplies, hoping Kane will find help elsewhere. Then he sees the blood seeping through her robe. His training overrides his fear, reaching for the medkit. She needs care, and she needs it now.
“Leave us!” Kane barks as soon as he reaches the truck. Pixie vanishes without question while Kane maneuvers the bloodied woman into the back.
The moment he releases her, she lunges forward—only to freeze as the muzzle of Kane’s rifle pressesagainst her chest. Rafael sucks in a breath.
Her eyes widen before narrowing to slits. “Natural Order will cleanse this hellhole like—”
A sharp metallic click cuts her off—Kane cocking the gun.
Rafael’s pulse slams against his ribs. The antiseptic bottle slips from his hand and clatters to the floor. Something in him—whether his oath as a nurse or just raw emotion—forces the words past his throat.
“Wait! Stop!”
8
Chapter 8 - Kane
Kane goes rigid.