we play games with guns (valorant)

chapter 14

Jett placed an empathetic hand on Phoenix's shoulder. "Chamber's waiting for us. We need to-"

Jett's body crashed to the floor before Neon heard the gunshot. Quick to react, Neon shoved her limp body behind the sofa, blocking her from Yoru who was now looming over Phoenix. She could hear Phoenix scream an obscene phrase and then a thumping noise. She peeked.

Some bodyguard I am, she thought resentfully. Neon saw Jett slightly raise her head, eyes distinctively saying, "Careful." Neon gave a delayed nod. She cursed out loud and peeked around the sofa again.

A bullet flew past her ear.

Bad idea. Neon crawled toward the other end of the sofa and found safety in another room. This was the best angle she could get on Yoru. She creeped toward the jailor, slowly standing up from her crouch as she moved.

Yoru snatched Phoenix's wrist.

That was her cue. Neon lunged, gripping Yoru's shoulder and pulling him to make him fall backwards while her other hand waved around for the gun. Yoru slammed the heel of his hand against Phoenix's temple, sending him to the floor with a gasp.

Then a gun was on her. Shit. Her hands flew up in surrender. "You got me."

Phoenix groaned, gripping the side of his head. He shifted his pupils to Neon, then the window behind him.

Please, Phoenix thought. Please understand.

Neon glanced past Yoru, her expression controlled. The retributionist couldn't decipher that look.

"You won't kill me. As if I'd care," Neon spat. Jett was somewhere behind the sofa bleeding out. She couldn't hold this act much longer. Super fucking bad. Her eyes wandered over to the tablet.

What? It was just displaying an empty room with a giant TV.

"'That's the good part of dying; when you've nothing to lose, you run any risk you want,'" Yoru said.

Neon recognized that line from "Fahrenheit 451". When she and Jett had read it aloud to each other a couple nights before.

"I know you're scared. You're trying to look tough."

Here she goes again, Neon thought. Her eyes strolled back to the tablet. Cypher was standing there, looking eagerly at the TV screen. She was careful not to show it on her face, but holy shit. How did Phoenix manage to get footage of Valorant Headquarters? Wait, was that live?

She caught the desperate look in Phoenix's eyes that kept shifting from her to the window. He mouthed, "Stall."

Yoru glanced over his shoulder, trailing Neon's eyes.

In a swift movement, Phoenix jerked the leg of the nightstand, sending the tablet tumbling to the ground. Face-down.

Hands wrapped around Yoru's neck from the back. A foot kicked him in the groin. Once, twice. Yoru gasped for air and bunched over, gathering himself before thrashing against the restraint.

Neon looked at Jett in awe. How..?

Jett lifted the hem of her shirt and revealed a soft armored vest. "Bulletproof," she said with satisfaction.

The door blasted open. It shattered into debris. Boots stomping toward the three of them. Neon froze.

Brimstone, followed by Reyna, Sage, and Sova. Instantly, Yoru wrenched Neon out of her confused stupor. Put his arm around her neck. Then she felt the cold muzzle on her head. He violently thrusted away from Jett, swiftly kicking her in the ankle.

"Fuck," Neon said. The four invaders didn't falter. Their guns were still aimed at Yoru.

Brimstone didn't seem fazed as he took some steps closer.