Page 190 of Powerless

I still have no idea how it happened, how Kai suddenly broke free of the Silencer’s control and took on Kitt’s Dual ability. His blast of fire, his brutal attack, has sent the whole arena into chaos once again. My eyes dart to the stands where the crowd is beginning to push back against the Resistance, and a struggle ensues.

Imperials are suddenly pouring into the arena to join the fight, and I’m shocked by how many have arrived so quickly. I whip my head around, aware that the number of black-masked figures is dwindling.

We weren’t expecting this. We weren’t prepared to fight, to lose.

I need to get out of here. Now.

The idea of running at a time like this makes my stomach churn, but the future king knows what I’ve done.The thought pounds through my skull as I scan the arena for him. He’s currently pushing through the crowd now gathered around the glass box after they overpowered the Resistance and scattered from their stands. Flames lick up his arms as he fights anyone who comes near him.

Kai has run to join the fight, his movements precise, perfect, as he drops Resistance members left and right. The sight of it makes me sick. I have no idea where Jax is, but I spot short burgundy hair in the sea of people and know immediately that it belongs to Andy.

And for her sake, Blair is lucky I can’t seem to find her.

Oh, but I will. And I’ll enjoy killing her.

I move to stand to my feet and abruptly stop at the feel of a heavy weight on my lap.

Adena.

Tears prick my eyes yet again, but I blink them away, forcing myself to keep my head. I look from her calm, motionless face to the chaos around us and the bloody battle that is raging. I try to lift her up with me, but she’s heavy—dead weight. Literally. I choke at the thought as I push her off my lap and settle her onto the sand.

I can’t take her with me.

She will never get a proper burial. She will never get the goodbye she deserves.

“I’m—I’m so sorry, A,” I whisper, kissing her forehead. “I’m so, so sorry.”

I stand to my feet, wiping at the tears I tried to stop from falling. I start to turn away from her lifeless body, unable to bear the sight of it any longer.

“I love you.”

And then I’m running.

Coward. Just like with father.

The symmetry in their deaths is sickening.

Both run through in the chest.

Both bleeding out before me.

Both left lying on the ground, left to rot without a burial.

Both deaths ending in merunning.

I want to scream.

At myself. At their killers. At the world.

I push through the throng of people, through the massive mob fighting in the Pit, the stairs, the stands. Black and white masks clash as Resistance members battle Imperials. But the fight isn’t fair. There are so many Imperials, and even with the power of the Fatals beside the Ordinaries, the Resistance is outnumbered.

I weave between bodies and duck under punches as I shove up the crowded stairs leading out of the Pit and onto an equally crowded pathway above. My many years of dodging and slipping unseen through Loot serve me well as my feet fall into a familiar rhythm, treading softly, swiftly.

Shouts wash over me, cries echo through the arena. The fight is a dull roar in my ears, but I force myself to follow the flow of people trying to get away from the fight rather than join it.

I want to turn around. I want to fight with the Resistance, with my people.

What good would you do?

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