Page 87 of Privilege

34

VALE

AFTER THE FIGHT

I was feeling prettyoptimistic until the moment I looked up, halfway up the wall, and saw the head sticking out over the edge at the top, staring down silently.

It wasn’t Ami. My stomach sunk. Did they catch her? What’s going on up there? I couldn’t climb back down and abandon her. Besides, I bet that guy called for reinforcements at the bottom.

I got to the top and pulled myself over. It was like that scene inThe Princess Bride, but this guy didn’t go easy and start with playful sparring. He’s currently got a gun trained on me. They’re going to take me to a back room and beat me until I tell them what I’m doing here. That’s the best-case scenario.

And it assumes Ami didn’t get caught. From what the Forge saw with drones, there’s not much up here besidesthe security office and the entrance to the stairs, and Ami said that’s locked. I believe her. She wouldn’t have a reason to lie about it that I can think of.

It certainly would have been easier to use the stairs than do that ridiculous boxing match. I didn’t think they would appreciate me whipping one of their men, so I had to go back and forth with him.

Now my vision is compromised and I have to figure out what to do about this guard. Disarming him is the priority. Is he alone or what? He has me covered with his gun and I know the drill. I gently remove my weapon and put it on the ground between us.

Now it’s his move and I wait for him to speak, running through different ways to disarm him in my head. I have the device my father gave me in my pocket. I could jam it into his neck and the meds would hit him immediately.

I scan him, the way he’s holding the gun, searching for clues that this guy is scared or doesn’t know what he’s doing, a hesitation or tension. I don’t see any. He’s well trained.

“Vale Adamson,” the guy says. I nod.

“And you are…”

He shakes his head, keeping the gun steady.

“Are we, uh, going to talk?” I ask as I subtly glance behind him, scanning for Ami.

He stares.

“Is that the plan? Rest of the solstice, just standing here on the roof?”

“They’re coming,” he finally cracks and speaks up.

I shake my head with fake sorrow. “You need backup? Yeah, I’m pretty dangerous.”

He rolls his eyes, doesn’t take the bait.

I see it then, the flash of someone moving into the guard office. If that’s Ami, my job is to keep this guy distracted, but still disarm him so we can both get away before backup arrives, through the stairs.

They have the key after all, they’ll come through there. That doesn’t mean there won’t also be guards at the bottom of the ladder, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Maybe I can call for backup from the Forge to help us get out on the ground level.

“So, enjoying your solstice?” I ask, trying to get the guy to engage with me.

He sighs.

I watch Ami creep across the roof. In the twilight she looks like a beautiful ghost drifting against the faint pink of the sunrise to come, her shadow barely visible.

I let myself stare too long and the guy turns around, but Ami’s already at the stairwell, and she has keys.

His attention on Ami, I rush him, knocking the gun from his hands. It clatters off the roof and he swears. I head to the stairwell, running flat out.

I see her hands shaking. She’s trying different keys until suddenly the door swings open forcefully, knocking her back.

“Ami!” The guard is right behind me. Before I can reach her, Jeremy is stepping out of the stairwell surrounded by Brotherhood guards, dragging her to her feet.

“Get your hands off her.” My vision blurs further and I’m suddenly a lot less concerned about what happens to me. I need to get them away from Ami and get her out of here safely.

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