Dawn Is Coming

Chapter 22

Grant

The rest of the ride was bumpy, but not even the wrecked road or the explosions could knock the worry out of me.

Is she safe?

Was she captured?

Did someone hurt her?

Is she...

No. Letting the worry get to me won't help anything. Won't help her.

I park the MV just as we begin to see the walls of Neorexa in the foggy distance. It looks to be around a kilometre long walk, nothing Crane and I wouldn't be able to handle, even with the heavy equipment we brought. Crane and I start stuffing our pockets with weapons, and Milo stuffs his backpack with his fancy gadgets.

We hop out of the MV, shutting the door behind us, rendering it completely invisible. Hiking to the grand wall, I still find myself unfocused. No blockade, no barrier could keep my thoughts at bay. I don't remember ever being this worried about her, even though this isn't the first time she's in danger.

I feel like trashing the country.

My grip tightens on the gun in my pocket, my fingers fiddling with the safety switch. Crane seems to notice my unease, placing a massive hand on my shoulder.

"Buddy, you look like you're shitting bricks. We'll find her, I know it." He says, giving my shoulder a rowdy shake. It's unlike Crane to be worried – he's usually just as lethal and cold as he looks, with his massive build, muscles even bigger than mine, eerie off-white skin, and ice-blue eyes.

But when it comes to Akira, it's impossible not to like her. She's the sweetest person ever, the sun of this dark world. She's saved the lives of every man in our squadron at least once, and with Crane's aggression on the battlefield, I'm sure he's long since lost track of how many times Akira had all but brought him back from the dead.

I let out a shuddering breath, forcing a nod as I stare straight ahead at the massive metal walls in the distance. Milo struggles to keep up with us, his long, lanky legs wobble with every step on the uneven ground and his messy brown curls bouncing.

Unfortunately, Crane's mini pep talk did nothing to quell my debilitating worry. I feel like I have to do something big. Blow up something, beat someone up. But underestimating Neorexa is beyond lethal. That's the only reason we brought Milo. I'm definitely not the smartest individual, and Crane...

Well, yeah. Him neither.

He looks ecstatic, despite the fact that we're entering a perilous situation blind. We know little to nothing about Neorexan military technology, despite the fact that we've been fighting for 2 decades, ever since the Psychosoma-X outbreak happened. They keep evolving, forcing us to either keep up or die. They might not be strong... but their intelligence is unrivalled.

Hopefully whatever Milo's brought can keep up.

Or we're dead.

But I refuse to die.

Not until I save Akira.

. . .

"Careful, you're too close to the sensors." Milo grunts as his small, metal cube starts beeping vigorously. Crane lets out a frustrated groan, sending Milo a bone-chilling glare. He flinches, taking a cautious step back. I stand behind them, pacing, kicking up the dust beneath my boots in frustration. Milo keeps a watchful eye on the pocket knife I swivel around in my fingers, knowing well that it might end up in his brow if he gets on my nerves.

I'm not usually like this.

I prided myself on having the ability to stay calm and think clearly in the most dangerous of situations, but now I'm starting to feel like Crane – who thinks with his fists and his fists only.