Page 33 of Run of Ruin

At least… not yet.

“When I call your name, stand. Your trial will begin.”

General Sharpe’s voice sliced through the cabin, followed by the heavy thud of his boots as he made his way down the aisle.

Begin?We were still in the air…what did he mean?

“Devrin Marx.”

A shuffle of movement came from farther down the row as someone stood. Devrin. The elected from Saltspire, the one gunning for the electricity trials this year, as Briar mentioned.

More rustling. He was being guided away. Then the temperature shifted, an icy draft swept through the cabin. Something was opening. My breath caught in my throat as I heard it, the roar of wind, growing louder by the second.

I tightened my grip on the straps of my pack, fingers trembling. Panic curled deep in my gut.

“I’ve got you,” Ezra whispered, his voice nearly drowned by the howling air. His hand found my thigh, grounding me for a second. But even his touch wasn’t enough to quiet the rising fear.

A moment passed, thick and tense, then?—

The General shouted something, but I couldn’t catch the words. Then came the scream. A raw, startled yelp ripped through the noise, disappearing into the distance.

Devrin had been pushed out of the plane.

“Avrin Schone,” the General cried out. With each new name, and each new scream, I felt my whole body tense and shake. I’d only known fear like this once before. On a night Jax had lost control of his limbs and stopped breathing. I don’t know how, but I managed to keep him with me that night, but even as I held him in my arms, feeling his chest rise and fall, I knew I couldn’t do that alone forever.

I’d take this fear over that ever again.

I’d take this fear if it meant getting my brother the help he needs.

“Briar Grey,” the General called out, and I didn’t miss the way my heart fluttered remembering her kindness. I hoped she’d be okay. And when her twin was called after her, I sent a prayer after them. I didn’t do it often, but I felt they deserved it.

I wanted them to be safe.

After the Grey siblings were sent on their way, they called the Challengers from Ironclad Collective. Then it was our turn.

“Ezra Wynstone,” the General called.

Ezra stood beside me, close enough that I felt the brush of his arm. He leaned in and whispered, “I’ll find you, Bex.”

I shook my head instinctively, but of course, he couldn’t see me. My mouth opened to protest, to tell him not to, but before I could say a word, he was gone.

I swallowed hard. I didn’t want him wasting time looking for me or trying to protect me. But still... the thought of someone having my back out there, it wasn’t the worst thing.

I strained my ears, waiting for a cry, a shout, something that would betray his fear. But it never came. Ezra wouldn’t give the cameras the satisfaction. And at that moment, I decided I wouldn’t either.

“Brexlyn Hollis.”

The sound of my name made my stomach lurch. My legs felt like stone, but I forced myself to stand. Numb. Unsteady.

Hands gripped my upper arms and guided me forward, closer to the roaring wind that now sounded like the mouth of a beast waiting to swallow me whole. The blindfold made everything worse, my balance skewed, my perception warped. I kept waiting to step off into open air bymistake.

I was grateful for the grip on my arm, even if it was rough and cruel.

“You can remove your blindfold when you hit the air,” the General yelled into my ear. I nodded, unsure if he could see it.

He took my hand, rough fingers guiding it up to a strap near my shoulder and curled it around something solid.

“That’s your parachute,” he said. “Don’t pull it too late.”

---