Arachna

Chapter 29: Shattered like Glass

Rotoya sat in silence. Rachel sat next to her, arms crossed, leaning against the wall in the barroom. Both sat within arm's reach of the kitchen door. Rotoya combed through the plan in her head over and over. If more soldiers came than anticipated, Eric's group would jump out, and they would ambush them together.

For now, silence was their only company. They sat for what felt like forever, and Rotoya stole glances at Rachel. She hadn't bothered putting her helmet back on, raking a hand through her short hair.

"You know," Rotoya started, "I think I overestimated the drug when we first took it."

Rachel looked at her but didn't respond.

"I thought once we had the drug, we wouldn't get nervous anymore. Though this is the first time since I took it that I've felt this way, so who knows?"

Rachel looked down then asked, "You're nervous too?"

Rotoya nodded, and Rachel gave her a reassuring smile. Nervous was an understatement, but she swallowed every ripple of anxiety that washed over her. Nerves had never done anything good for her before, and they wouldn't now. Still, she wrung her hands and swallowed the lump forming in her throat.

What happened to her in this fight against Caleb didn't matter. It was her officers that sent her nerves into a frenzy. At any moment, he could order them to the slums and make them self-destruct.

Rotoya let out a shaky breath. Rachel was acting like herself—the way she sat, ran her hand through her hair, and bounced her leg over and over. The slight twang in her voice was as prominent as ever. She was Rachel.

But Rotoya had to know. "Rachel."

Rachel looked at her, meeting her eyes with those bright-purple ones.

"Point your gun at yourself."

Without so much as a blink of hesitation, Rachel pointed her own pistol at her head.

"Point it at me."

Again, without any pause, she pointed her gun, this time at Rotoya's face.

Rotoya cupped her hand over her mouth, hot tears welling in her eyes. She dug her nails into her cheek. She'd done this. Shoot me, she almost said. It was what she deserved.

"Put it down," Rotoya said, her voice cracking. She wiped her eyes as Rachel obeyed. She hadn't even taken direct control—just asked her, and she did it. "I'm so sorry."

"For what, Ro?"

Rotoya almost burst into tears. Her nickname, of all things.

The rumble of a vehicle vibrated under Rotoya's palms resting on the floor. She shoved her tears and nerves far under the waters and stood. The vehicle parked in front of the bar.

"Let's do this," Rotoya said. She marched out of the bar with Rachel following behind, gulping as the car doors opened.

Four soldiers stepped out of the car. A single squad. And no Caleb.

Perfect.

"Chief Rotoya? What are you doing here?" asked one of the soldiers. Two were armed with rifles, and the last two had pistols at their hips.

Rotoya ordered Rachel to flank them. A silent order from her nanobots. Doing so hurt, but it would be worth it when this was all over.

Rachel rounded the vehicle, silent as a wraith and casual, as if simply inspecting it.

"Caleb sent you too?" Rotoya sighed. "We've searched the place up and down, but we haven't found any sign of the fugitives."

Rachel balled her hands into one fist and slammed it into the back of a soldier's neck. He collapsed. The remaining soldiers spun at the sound. Rotoya sent her fist through the nearest soldier's visor, dropping him like a brick.