Ordo Noctis

Chapter 9

I woke in the middle of the night to a blaring alarm. All the lights on my electronics, who were wired to Ordo Noctis's security system, were flashing red. This had also been covered in our training, but I had never imagined it would actually happen.

Mars was already awake, flying around the room packing everything he could. I jumped up to help, grabbing bags and gadgets and medicines, everything I could carry.

We didn't have to say anything - our lives of training allowed our brains to sync together. I pressed my fingerprint to a secret spot on the wall, and the window opened automatically, an emergency staircase descending downward. This high up, it was frigid cold.

I turned back and glanced at our room for what could be the last time. This was all happening so fast. I thought back to what Han had told me personally when he was explaining about the alarms.

"An alarm means that something terrible has happened, something that requires immediate action. You may pack what you can, but don't try going to any trouble. Don't turn back and look for me, and don't try to figure out what went wrong. Leave and save yourself, because you are the most important person in Ordo Noctis."

"But what about -" I had started.

"No, in the case of an alarm you mustn't think. You must only run. Run and never look back."

I found myself sobbing, wondering what was going on. I wanted to go back and help, wanted to find out what was wrong.

"Star, don't you remember what Han told us?" Mars yelled from a few feet down the ladder. "We are the most important people to save. Don't look back!"

And so I didn't. I lugged all of the bags through the window and grabbed his hand, climbing to freedom.

But as we ran away from Base, alone except for each other, I couldn't resist. I looked back.

Just in time to see the whole thing - Han, Mr. Prong, Miss Jillian, Mr. Hamfree, Mr. McDell, Madam Kobayashi, the cafeteria, the library, my life - explode in a burst of flames.