The Seventh Crow

Part 14

I jump into the tank after Wylan. Jesper was next to me in seconds, closing the lid. I honestly didn't know that this was where they kept the tanks. Kaz must have this place memorized or he is heavily relying on Matthias's memory.

"Do you know how to work this thing?" Inej asks Jesper.

"How hard can it be?" he says.

"Wylan, can you point the gun?"

"I can try," Wylan said.

Wylan starts to move around me. My gown getting in the way of everyone and everything. If I had time to change, I definitely would've. This isn't the most practical thing.

"Can you move the tulle out of my area?" Jesper asks.

I grab each side of the tulle and push it towards the ground. It helped make a little more room, but nothing too drastic.

"How do I use this?" Wylan whispered to me.

"Point and shoot?" I whisper back.

"We have company!" Jesper said.

Sure enough, as we were driving this tank to Saints-know-where some Drüskelle and other soldiers came running towards us. Bullets hitting the tank. Some from above and others from the couple soldiers on the ground.

Wylan was shooting at the soldiers above. Barely any of the bullets were hitting them. I don't think he understood the point of "point and shoot", not just shoot.

"Help him aim!" Jesper said.

"I got it!" Wylan said to me.

"Well then hit at least one solider," I reply.

Wylan tried. The gun looked too heavy for one person to manuover on their own.

I grabbed onto the handles next to Wylan. Together, we hit of some of the soldiers. Well, they didn't keep shooting as much as they were.

"Get ready," Jesper said.

I turn to see us heading straight for the Ice Court gate. They seriously can't be thinking about bursting through here? These walls have never been penetrated.

Idiot, think, my thoughts laugh at me.

These thieves got into the Ice Court. Climbed up an incinerator shaft. Stole a tank. And only Djel knows what else they have done since they've got here. Of course they can force their way out of the gate.

I tightened my grip on the tank's gun, waiting for the very bumpy escape. Jesper drove us into the gate. It didn't budge. He backs us up and drives one more time into the gate. I held my breath as we slammed into it once more.

I expected us to stop, that there was no way we could get out of this mess. But when we kept moving I let out a relieved sigh.

There were still a couple bullets firing after us. I helped Wylan take care of the rouge shooter until the sound of metal on metal completely stopped.
Inej opened the top, looking out carefully.

"They aren't following us," she whispered. "We got away."

Jesper pulled the tank to a stop a couple seconds later. Kaz, Nina, Matthias, and another person come running out of the treeline.

They hopped onto the back of the tank, holding on tightly. Jesper started driving again. The top still opened, letting some light into the tank. Wylan and I abandoned the shooter when the others got on. No point in shooting with them on the back.

We drove through town. There weren't that many people in the square, but they still turned to look at us. Each one more confused than the other.

Suddenly, the people started cheering. It was strange. First time being away from the Ice Court and it's because we kidnapped someone.

I couldn't help myself. I laughed. Jesper, Inej, and Wylan looked at me like I was crazy. Which in this case I might've. My brother is alive, Alev safe somewhere, escaping the Ice Court. Everything was starting to look up.

That was until we rolled to a stop. Up ahead, the docks were closed by Drüskelle and soldiers. Their rifles pointed right at us.