More Than a Battle, Less Than a War || tøp AU

19

{Tyler's POV}

The only guards in this area are the few by the entrance to the statehouse. We have to move quick, before any more guards show up.

Day eleven:

It was an honor to be chosen as one of Tyler's escorts. He's grown a lot as a person since we first met. I'm really proud of my brother.

- Josh

We press our backs against a neatly trimmed hedge in front of the main entrance. Scarlet still isn't in the best condition, so she has an arm slung around Josh's shoulder.

Nervous tension crept its way to my neck, and I find myself desperately relying on the stars in the sky to possibly remove the anxiety taking over my bloodstream. This night would've seemed so lovely to me, if we weren't on the verge of breaking into the president's residence.

It's almost as comedic as it is inconceivable; how I got tangled up in this mess. How some kid on the streets would be chosen to revolutionize the world as I barely knew it. Even so, I know I wouldn't be laughing after I leave this place.

"Tyler, you'll trail behind Scarlet and I. We'll take out the guards while you keep moving forward." Josh ordered, and I nod my head in reply. "On the count of three. One, two... three!"

The three of us bolted and caught the door guards by surprise. Scarlet, although unable to even walk on her own, seamlessly brought the guards to their knees until they collapsed.

"They'll wake up in a day or two." Scarlet assured us.

I sighed of relief. I was really hoping she didn't kill them on the spot. I was expecting more action, but luckily we can make it inside without too much trouble.

This is it. My hands hover over the gold plated door handles, carefully considering what could happen if I opened them. There are inner guards in there, who knows how many.

"We made it... We actually made it!" I said. I look back at my teammates, my family. Josh and Scarlet smile back at me.

I felt slightly reminiscent. I looked at them and remembered everything we went through - Halsey's camp. Fighting off brutes. Breaking into and destroying a captive camp. Almost dying at the hands of Josh's rose-scented ex.

Through it all, it was stressful and plagued with hardship. But everything we went through is behind us now.

Peace will win, and fear will lose.

I get a firm grip on the door handles and swung them open.

***

In contrast to the darkness of the night outside, the building was illuminated beautifully. We were greeted with checkered floors and grand staircases on either side of the main room.

I shake my head. I don't have time to gaze at the place! I have to move forward.

Josh beckons me behind a thick column when he spots an inner guard.

"How are we gonna get past him?" I breathily ask him.

"We don't even know where Xenon is at," Josh whispered. "My guess is that he is in the very center of this place."

Josh was abruptly silenced by the sound of footsteps around the column. I gulp. We can't get caught. My face flushes of color. We can't go back home after coming this far. Heck, I won't even leave this place after coming this far.