Splintered

Chapter Forty-Four: Bite Back

"Leo," Hazel exhaled. A wave of relief saturated her senses at his sudden presence, though it was tainted with the fresh horror of Ohmric's head vaporizing.

His attention flickered to her, scrutinizing from her head to her toes. His lips twisted upward, seemingly appeased that she wasn't dead or maimed. However, his eyes remained intense, like a thunderous storm raged beneath.

"Marlowe, get behind me."

Vetch's fingers twitched, his arms frozen in an awkward stretch toward his weapon.

"Don't," Leo's command could solidify boiling water.

Vetch grunted but obediently scooched back.

"Hands up. Both of you."

They accepted the rigid direction as Leo approached. His rifle was still squarely targeted on Vetch's chest. "I'm not exactly surprised to see you, Eleven, but ..." His scrutiny slid to the avox. "Why Vesper?"

Vesper kept his hardening stare averted. Vetch levelled his shoulders, chest puffing out as he answered for his cohort.

"Even the dogs who seem the tamest can only take so much. Some of us bite back, eventually."

Leo returned his stare to Hazel.

"Get behind me," he pressed, taking another wide yet silent stride. Something about the rawness in his voice set off warning bells.

Hazel stood, thrusting herself into the space between the peacekeeper and the two injured rebels.

"What are you going to do?"

Leo didn't even flinch.

"Put down a couple of rabid dogs."

More deaths would come. All because of her. She had to try to deter him.

"Wait," she pleaded.

"So help me, Marlowe." Leo's neck muscles pulsed. "Don't think I won't drag you out of here."

"Don't kill them," she implored.

Leo hesitated, and Hazel seized the pause, hurling possibilities at him.

"We can cuff them. Barricade them in a closet. Tie them to the train. Please...just don't, don't kill them, Leo."

Leo didn't budge, but his eyes flared at his name.

Vetch and Vesper spectated silently, hands still hoisted.

Hazel inched forward, Ohmric's blood pooling at her boots. Leo watched her carefully, eyes sliding over her features like he was searching for something. Finally, his shoulders dipped. His grip never slackened, but a battered sigh escaped him.

"There's a set of handcuffs in my left pant pocket. Grab them."

She obeyed instantly, rushing forward, plunging a hand into his pocket and yanking out the cuffs.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"Secure their hands together," he breathed.

Vesper shifted, attempting to slip his shirt back on.

"Hey." Leo lunged closer. "I said, don't move."

The avox quaked, hands jerking back upward, gaze dropping submissively.

"Remove their weapons."

Hazel collected Ohmric's gun, then snatched up Vetch's rifle too. Pooling the weapons on a nearby table, she approached Vesper next. Ransacking his pockets until she encountered the kitchen knife. After concealing it inside her jacket, she slipped his shirt back over his head. Finally, she clamped the two men together.