I still have nightmares of how hard we had to run after tearing down that statue. I ran until my feet bled, hid under mucky water with the help of the capps and ate bioluminescent moss until I threw up. But we’d survived.
We’d turned Wyatt's room into our new hideout. That's where we were currently, licking our wounds after our last attempt to tear down Rupert's lies. This time, we fixed up a park and a few descendants helped us from the shadows—chucking rocks at guards. The guards tore it all back down but it gave us hope that we weren’t the only ones tired of his lies.
Now if I could just get a riot to break out—I might even celebrate.
“Of all the years I’ve known you…” Wyatt started, staring at the posters of the city map on the wall of his hideout while I lay on the stainless steel center table, covered in files.
“You’d better end that with ‘you’ve never been more beautiful, Sapph’ or so help me I’m punching you.” Like it wasn’t hard enough to find the courage to get out everyday and do what we do.
“I was going to say, I’ve never seen you more sure of yourself. Your beauty was never in question.” I rolled my eyes as he stroked his chin.
“So, can someone tell me the master plan again? Other than pissing off Rupert, I’m not sure what we’re really doing here.” Guy muttered, sitting on the floor next to me.
After destroying the statue last month, Guy, Wyatt and I have gone around the dry half of the city—the descendants side—and refurbished old buildings. Usually we do it at odd times of the day so we don’t get caught, not that we couldn’t take on one or two guards but a whole squad? We were outnumbered and outgunned, even with Guys powers, mine and Wyatts intellect.
Good thing the goal was to do more than just piss off the head honcho.
“Sapph, explain it to your pet please.”
“Wyatt, we agreed to use names and not be petty.” I narrowed my eyes on him.
Guy just grinned. “It’s alright. I’ll gladly be your pet if it gets under his skin.”
“Ugh, I don’t have the energy for you two today—not on this.” I groaned, rolling my shoulder, feeling the latest wound heal from our last fight.
“Anyway,” I started, “the plan is to send a message to Rupert and ultimately reveal what he’s been doing to the humans. Hopefully, when we expose him, people will rise up and knock him out of power.”
Guy tilted his head, mouth dragging into a half frown.
“You really think that’ll work? I imagine his lackeys on the council already know and are working double time to help keep it quiet.”
“It’s not the best plan but at the moment its what we’ve got. Besides, the thing we need to bust this whole thing open is the why. We have a where and a who and a what but the why is the most important question.”
Wyatt nods, a slight smile given at my analysis.
“If we have their reasoning, we have the win.”
“Which is why you’re staring at the city map right now?”
Wyatt moved around the room, picking up a file that was on my belly. “The bodies were dropped in these specific places. We’ve gone over how they were found, but this next step is important. Sapph?”
“Set up a trap. Catch them when they dump the body and interrogate them.” It almost felt like we were back home, coming up with half baked plans to take down the bad guys. What I wouldn’t give to go back to 2026.
Guy blinked, like the lights were coming on.
“Ohh! Got it. Flush em’ out.
One file with Wyatt’s name on it caught my attention. A corner of a picture of a forest was showing and it had claw marks on it, long and jagged. Had an animal gotten to it? I know most of them are still around but wolves? Only one way to tell for sure.
As I opened it slowly, Wyatt snatched it from my hands.
“What the fuck?! Don’t just snatch stuff from me, Wyatt.” I am not a child but I’ve been wondering lately…is that how he sees me?
He shut it, tucking it under his arm. “Not that one.”
Rolling my eyes, I sat up, letting the pile of papers flutter to the floor. Guy, the sweetheart that he is, picked them all up and started sorting them into stacks.
“Of course, because I should know by now.”
“What are you talking about?” He still wouldn’t look at me, not after that time…like it was my fault he’s stuck without a body.
“I should know that your will is absolute.” I crossed my arms and squinted at him. If he wanted to act like he was my parent, then I’ll play my part as the child.
Wyatt sighed, sliding his hand down his semi-solid face. He glances at Guy, “out.”
“Say please.” Guy smirked.
Wyatt’s forehead vein throbbed, threatening to burst if Guy said one more thing to piss him off.
“Boy…”
“I’m going, I’m going. Can’t be in the room when the ‘adults’ are talking, I guess.” Guy’s tone was bitter as he walked out the door, even if his eyes danced with amusement—at me. That just left me and Wyatt.
“What are you doing here, Sapph? What is this?” He motioned to my tantrum.
“What do you think it is? You snatched a file from me with your name on it like it was a bomb.”
A long drawn out sigh followed. “Right, I should have just asked for it. I apologize.” He didn’t say ‘happy now?’ but the words were in the air.
But something has been building within me for weeks, if not the years I was stuck in Sanctuary. Getting to my feet, I shook my head.
“That’s not good enough.”
He blinked slowly, trying to piece me together.
“Wyatt, I know we haven’t really dwelled on it lately…but we need to talk about the elephant in the room.” I point past him, towards a picture of the city with names all over it. The city held a memorial service for the lives lost during the tapper event—thousands took to the city streets with candles and signs. It was the only day in Cyran City history where there were twenty-four hours with no crime.
He wouldn’t turn to look but he knew, I could see it in his eyes.
“There’s nothing to talk about.” He said it so easily—no not easy. Cold, like he was a machine. Maybe he was just numb to it after all this time. Yet if that was the case, why have that picture up at all?
“Bullshit.” I spit it out, holding my arm for comfort.
“Sapphyra, this isn’t…” he closed his eyes mid-sentence. “What is it you want me to say?”
If he had to ask me then he wasn’t ready.
“Nothing. Forget it.”
He stepped forward, reaching out a hand for mine.
“That’s impossible.” There. A tiny crack in his armor. His voice rose, breaking like glass but this was Wyatt—nothing could be broken. Not even me. And god help me, I wanted to let him touch me, needed to feel him again.
But we can’t keep going in circles like this.
I stepped back, sniffling and holding back my emotions. I’d never be as robotic as him but I could be stone—I’d be be fucking Mt.Everest if I had to be.
“It’s almost night. Do you need any more prep time?”
His jaw tightened and clicked, like an old car. Wyatt adjusted his glasses and shook his head, walking past me towards the door.
“Nah. Lets go fuck up Ruperts day.”
“Ugh, guys that might be a little difficult!” Guy popped his head back into the room. His eyes were frantically searching between us and he was sweating.
“Guy? What’s wrong? Where’d you go?” I asked, wiping his face with a napkin. I have no idea why I’ve been doing that to him lately. Its fucking disturbing…but its soothing.
“Could you not…forget it. I went for a walk and came across my guards moving through the marshside. They’re dragging capps out of their homes and into the streets!”
“Shit!”
“Sapph, he’s just baiting you—” Wyatt added.
“No shit Sherlock!” His words wouldn’t do shit but slow me down at this point.
“So…” Guy started, looking to me for leadership, “how do you wanna do this?”
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