A long moment passed as the fae’s gaze swept over them all. His eyes hardened, and he clenched his jaw.
“Even if you manage to get off this level, you’ll never escape. People like you are our biggest enemies. My comrades will take pride in being the ones to kill you.”
“People like us?” one of the other men asked.
“Representatives,” spat the guard. “You think you’re so far above therest of us that you don’t even realize the trouble you cause. We’re suffering while you live your lives of luxury.”
Ryker recoiled at the hatred in the man’s voice.
“We should just kill him and get out of here.” This came from Lincoln, Death Elf and son of a Northern Representative. “He’s not going to help us.”
Time was ticking. Any minute now, the guards who’d left could return.
“He’s right,” the rebel said defiantly. “I won’t help you.”
Ryker exchanged a look with Therian. As the only two with military training, they’d easily slipped into leadership roles.
Therian raised a brow as if to say,your call.
Ryker was used to making tough decisions, but it didn’t mean he enjoyed them. After a moment, he dipped his head.
“So be it.” He grabbed the guard’s gun and gripped it firmly. “I’m sorry.”
The rebel’s eyes flashed. “You’re just proving me right. You?—”
Ryker flipped the weapon around, slamming the butt into the rebel’s temples.
The guard’s eyes closed, and his body slumped to the side.
“Have a nice nap,” Ryker muttered.
Maybe when the rebel woke up and discovered he was still alive, his perception of the Representatives would change. It was unlikely, but… maybe.
“Grab his left arm,” Ryker directed Philippe as he grabbed the right with his good arm.
Together, they maneuvered the unconscious man across the room. His feet trailed behind him, leaving a red track when they got a little too close to the dead rebel. Ryker grunted and readjusted his grip. It was uncomfortable, but he got the rebel’s hand on the biometric scanner.
The door unlocked and opened with a hiss, letting a sliver of light into the space.
They dropped the guard on the ground.
Ryker turned around, addressing the rag-tag group.
“We move as one.” He met the dragon shifter’s gaze. “Therian, you take the back.”
The captain’s mind was working overtime, mapping out the most efficient way out of this mess with the limited information they’d been given. Ryker felt a kinship with the other Choosing participants and wanted to keep them safe. They weren’t born of the same blood, nor were they all related to Representatives, as the rebel had erroneously assumed. Even so, they’d built connections during the Choosing and deserved to live.
The dragon shifter grunted and moved to the rear.
Ryker adjusted his grip on the weapon and dipped his head. “On three, we run.”
He waited for the others to agree before he counted them down. He hit three and swung open the door, revealing a hallway. Lights dotted the ceiling like a runway, illuminating a path.
Another door was at the end, and there was a glowing biometric lock.
Ryker cursed, and they paused to retrieve the unconscious guard.
Three times, they used the rebel to unlock a door, only to find themselves in yet another hallway.