Ruthless: A Fourth Wing Fanfiction

Chapter 2

Soon, I can no longer see Violet's silhouette on the parapet. The fog and rain is making my vision blurry.
I'm at the front of the line now, all I need to do is get my name crossed off so I can go and at least see if Violet made it.

Arkea tells the roll keeper her name. Then, Arkea steps onto the parapet, turning back to me. "See you on the other side, Melgren," she calls out.

I can feel someone's gaze on the back of my neck, but I don't dare turn around to see who it is.

The wind roars in my ears. I step onto the edge of the parapet, waiting until Arkea makes it a third of the way. I suck in a breath as she slips, but breathe a sigh of relief as she regains her balance.

"Ruth Melgren."

I don't hear if the roll keeper says anything, the wind grows louder. My breathing shakes a little.

I begin walking. Almost immediately, my foot slips on the slick, mossy cobblestone. Fortunately, my other foot stays on, allowing me to slowly drag my other foot back onto the parapet.

"What kind of Melgren is that, slipping on their first step?" I hear someone laugh over the wind. I don't know why, but that comment makes my blood boil. Guess that's good, because it's fucking freezing.

I slowly walk in the rain. I can't see much of anything, but I can see my feet in front of me and the parapet. If anybody was to give me a little surprise attack, I'd be fucked. I reach the middle of the parapet.

I can see the warm lights from the end of the parapet already. It's clouded with fog, but the distinct orange glow is enough to give me hope. The wind is blowing through my hair and I can feel it slowly becoming dislodged from my head. Shit.

I begin to walk faster.

The cobblestone Parapet begins to shake. What the hell?

I hear loud, heavy footsteps on the Parapet behind me, getting closer and closer. If whoever is behind me catches up, they could easily shove me off the Parapet.

Two big, meaty hands suddenly grab my shoulders.They don't have a chance to hold on to me, as I wriggle free immediately. Perks of being smaller than everyone else.

I whip around and find a stocky, blue-eyed brunette in front of me. He tries to throw a half-hearted punch, but I easily dodge. I grab one of my axes from my back and aim, before hurling it at his legs.

He screams like a baby as it slices through his calf, tearing into his flesh.

I snatch my bloody axe from the floor and make a run for it.

Luckily, the riders boots my father had given me gave me a whole better grip. I make the mistake of turning around. The brunette is racing towards me, slow but surely.

Then, he collapses, bleeding out in a heap on the mossy cobblestone.

I'm almost there. Two feet away. One foot away.

I breathe a sigh of relief as I step off the Parapet. I look down, and I notice that my clothes are bathed in the brunette's blood. I put my axe back into its slot on my back.

The rider writing down the names of everyone who made it across gives me yet another strange look as I tell her my name. I don't even bother explaining my name, or even the blood on my face.

Before I can even register what is going on, someone jumps onto my back.

"Ruth!" Violet yelps.

I turn around to Violet and hug her.

"You made it!" I laugh in relief. Not far behind her, I spot the dark-haired girl she was with before.

"Yep, and so did you! Dain has already said we will be in his squad."

Dain Aetos. No matter how many times Violet reassures me that he is a good guy, my gut feeling tells me otherwise.

But so far, he is me and Violet's best chance at survival. I don't trust him. Not. One. Bit.

Violet drags me away to Dain. He looks me up and down.

"Long time no see, Ruth," Dain says, holding out his hand.

I give him a withering look.

Dain locks eyes on the girl Violet came with.

"Who are you?" He asks.

"I'm Violet's friend, Rhiannon. Might I ask who you are?" Rhiannon replies, looking him up and down.

"I'm Violet's childhood best friend."

"I think I'm gonna throw up..." Violet mumbles. Dain rubs her back, telling her its just the adrenaline and to out her head between her legs.

"Listen here. Violet is fine," he commands. "And if anyone asks you, it's just adrenaline working out of her system. Understand?"

"It's no one's business what's going on with Violet," I retort. "And Rhiannon won't say anything. She's not that type of person, Dain."

Rhiannon gives me a grateful look.

"You better mean that," he warns.

Violet lifts her head up. "He's my childhood best friend."

"And a second-year rider, cadet," he growls. "No one can see you here, take your time, Violet."

"Yeah, because puking my guts up after surviving the parapet and the asshole who wanted to throw me off it would be considered weak," she scoffs.

"Exactly." Dain mutters. He huffs, then stands up.

"Violet, do you trust these two?"

Violet nods. "Yes. With my life."

"All right." Dain sighs. "I'm Dain Aetos, and I'm the leader for Second Squad, Flame Section, Second Wing."

Squad leader? I raise an eyebrow. The highest ranks among the cadets are section leader and wing leader. Both positions are held by elite third years. Second years can rise to Squad leader, but only if they are exceptional. Everyone else is simply a cadet before Threshing - when the dragons choose who they will bond with - and a rider after.

"Parapet should be over soon. Go find the redhead with the roll - she's usually carrying a crossbow - and tell her that Dain Aetos put all of you into his squad. If she questions you, tell her she owes me for saving her ass in Threshing last year. I'll bring Violet back soon."

Rhiannon and I exchange a look, and I nod.

"Go before someone sees us," Dain barks.

Rhiannon and I jog over to the redhead. "Dain Aetos wants to put three cadets in his squad, Second Squad, Flame Section, Second Wing. Rhiannon Matthias, Violet Sorrengail and Ruth Melgren."

The redhead arches her eyebrow. "And why should I do that?"

"Because Dain saved your arse in Threshing last year and you owe him," I butt in. She narrows her eyes and nods.

"Fine then. Go on, cadets."

We head back to Violet. Dain has already left, going up to the dais with his fellow leadership. The dark looking man I saw earlier calls them over. I can't hear what they are saying from the distance, but I make out many patches on his black jacket. He must be someone important.

I suddenly recognise a swirling rebellion relic, stretching up his neck and below his jaw. Xaden Riorson.

Looking over at Rhiannon and Violet, Violet is staring up at the dais, her eyes switching between Dain and Xaden. I watch as Xaden says something, and Dain seems to protest. But Xaden snaps something back and Dain looks down at the ground. Good. Xaden seems to put Dain in his place.

A clap sounds throughout the hall. "Attention cadets," Xaden's voice booms.