Page 83 of Darling Wildfire
“That’s a variable for sure,” Preacher added. “But I think if they want to go rogue, we just do our own thing. A four-man team can still get the job done.”
“Then North doesn’t have to shoot anyone,” Atlas said dryly.
“Exactly!” Nyx exclaimed.
I shook my head in amusement. “Alright, what could we have tightened up last game?”
“Jesus,” Nyx said. “Everything?”
“At least you weren’t stuck with Vyper,” Preacher said with a shake of his head. “I didn’t disagree with you on the fact that he was a liability. He didn’tcheck his corners, hoarded ammo and left Colt behind without even a see you later.”
“Yeah, exactly why we’re letting the feisty ones get themselves killed from now on,” Nyx said. “I think we fell apart in the church.”
“Everyone was kind of doing their own thing,” Preacher agreed. “I think I spent more time yelling at Vyper to open the damn cage than actually communicating with anyone else.”
“I agree with that,” I said. “Tactics kind of went out the window and we had no communication with each other at all.”
Preacher looked around at us. “Despite that you guys looked like you’d been working together for a long time.”
“Aw, thanks Preach,” Nyx grinned.
Atlas shook his head. “Well, it does have a lot to do with what North was talking about earlier about leadership.”
Everyone looked over at me. “I agree—but a leader has his work cutout for him if there’s no skills to work with in the first place and luckily, there is no shortage of that here.”
“Okay, okay—” Nyx gushed. “Enough with the sappy compliments.”
We moved on to other topics, but my mind wandered back to the thoughts of escape. If we could hone our skills, build the team out and bide our time—we could find a weakness in Vetticus’ games and capitalize on it. We just had to be patient.
41
THERON
EIGHT MONTHS CAPTIVE
We stood in front of the double doors again.
We’d gone through the same song and dance as before—cuffed, loaded into a van and driven to an unknown destination using mostly roads far too bumpy to be paved. It made me question where exactly we were to warrant having enough space to house so many intricate maps.
When we arrived at our destination, we unloaded into the staging room where we put on our gear. I was adjusting Preacher’s vest when the doors opened and three men walked in. A red head with a cocky smile took us in.
“It’s play time boys!”
I looked over at Nyx who ducked his head to hide a smile and Atlas just looked at them with annoyance. Preacher didn’t even spare them a glance and instead turned towards the doors.
“What’s your name, soldier?” I asked him.
“Billy. This is Vince and Dash.”
I nodded. “I’m Kraven. That’s Preacher, Phantom and Reaper. This your first game?”
“Yes, sir,” Dash said.
“I have two rules; follow orders or fuck off and if you go rogue, you’re on your own. We work as a team, we survive as a team and if we really execute well together, we win.”
“Have you won yet?” Vince asked.
I went to stand in front of the door by Preacher as the announcement looped.
