"Cadet Lucien!" "Lucien!"
Kael and Elisha finally caught up, staring in horror at the carnage I had unleashed on City Officials.
I ignored them.
I walked over to Irina, who was trembling.
"Irina."
I grabbed her shaking hands.
"Calm down. Breathe."
I lowered myself to meet her eyes. In her violet irises, my reflection looked ferocious—my eyes were burning with a cold, blue light.
"Tell me. Exactly what happened."
She gulped, clutching my coat.
"G-Grandfather and I were returning from your house… he wanted to give you the upgraded bullets… but s-suddenly monsters appeared!"
She sobbed.
"G-Grandfather tried to get me and Sister Alicia out… but Alicia… she pushed us into the escape tunnel!"
Irina's voice cracked.
"Alicia told me to run! She… she stayed behind! She was fighting the shadow monsters alone! There were so many… so many…!"
Crack.
The wooden grip of my rifle creaked under the pressure of my hand.
Alicia.
