Chapter 803
The plan was madness.
We arrived at the Old Ironworks as the sun began to bleed over the horizon. It was a skeletal structure of rusted beams and silent furnaces.
I walked into the main yard alone, wearing a Kevlar vest under my trench coat. I held a silver briefcase containing a dummy drive.
“Ethan!” I shouted. “I’m here!”
High above, on the catwalk, Ethan appeared. He held a remote detonator. Julian was tied to the railing next to him, dangling over a vat of industrial sludge.
“Punctual,” Ethan called down. “Throw the case up.”
“Let him go first,” I demanded.
“Case first.”
𝖫𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝗈𝗇 𝗀𝖺𝗅𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅𝗌.𝖼𝗈𝗆
I threw the case. It landed on the catwalk with a clang.
Ethan kicked it open. He picked up the drive, inspecting it.
“You think I’m stupid?” Ethan sneered. “This isn’t the biometric key.”
“No,” I said, reaching into my pocket. “I think you’re distracted.”
From the east, the roar of rotors filled the air. A civilian helicopter, flown aggressively by Felix with Liam in the passenger seat, rose from behind the slag heap.
“Now!” I screamed.
Liam leaned out, firing a flare gun at the catwalk. The magnesium flare struck the metal grating, blinding Ethan with a burst of white light.
Ethan stumbled, dropping the detonator.
At the same time, Lucian, who had climbed the rear scaffolding, swung onto the platform. He tackled Ethan, knocking the gun from his hand.
Alistair emerged from the shadows on the ground level, his rifle raised. He couldn’t climb, but he could shoot.
“Drop it!” Alistair shouted.
Ethan scrambled up, pulling a backup pistol. He aimed at Lucian.
I didn’t hesitate. I raised the pistol Alistair had given me. I wasn’t a sniper, but at this range, I didn’t need to be.
Bang.
I shot Ethan in the leg. He collapsed, screaming.
Lucian grabbed Julian, cutting the ropes and pulling him to safety.
“It’s over, Ethan,” Alistair called out, limping forward.
“Is it?” Ethan wheezed, clutching his leg. “The Architect… he’s not a person. He’s a system. You can’t kill a system.”
“Watch me,” Lucian said. He knocked Ethan out with a swift kick to the temple.
We regrouped on the ground. Julian was battered, but alive.
“You took your time,” Julian coughed, leaning on me. “I knew you’d figure it out. Eventually.”
“Next time, don’t be a hero,” I scolded, tears streaming down my face. “Parker is safe. Everyone is safe.”
The chopper landed. We were all together—dirty, bloody, exhausted.
“Is it done?” Liam asked, jumping out.
“Ethan is in custody,” Alistair said, leaning heavily on Lucian. “Caleb is talking. Celeste is bankrupt.”
“And the Architect?” I asked.
“We have his ledger.” Alistair tapped his pocket. “We hunt him down. Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow,” I agreed.
We walked away from the Ironworks as the sun fully rose.
But as we got into the car, my phone buzzed. A text.
Unknown Number.
The pawn has fallen. The King is now in play. Phase Two initiates.
I looked at the message. The fear was gone, replaced by a cold resolve.
“What is it?” Alistair asked, taking my hand.
I showed him the phone.
“Game on,” Alistair said.
I rested my head on his shoulder. “Game on.”