For a moment, nobody moved.
The Butcher stood at the edge of the light with her cleaver at her side. The thin man with the pale hands leaned against a workbench behind her, watching them with mild interest. Along the wall, the freed prisoners had gone completely still.
Then one of the scouts in grey pushed himself up onto his knees.
"Hyun," he said, his voice rough and low. "Don't underestimate them. From what we could tell, she sees where you're weak, every time. That's how she caught us." He nodded toward the thin man. "And him. He fights with his own blood and turns it into weapons."
He tried to get his feet under him, but his legs were shaking too badly. He got halfway up, then sagged against the wall.
Hyun put a hand on his shoulder and pressed him gently back down.
"Rest," he said. "We've got this."
The scout looked like he wanted to argue. Then he nodded and closed his eyes.
"Sujin," Hyun said quietly. "Get them out."
