One of the many stories Astoria had overheard in the bunker was the story of Vic's younger brother Mike.
Long before most of them had even known each other Vic, Mike, and a few others had a small group that was doing quiet well. They managed to stay under the radar for a long time, slowly picking through whatever they could find. Mike was always the daring one, the bolder of the two. So it was no surprise to anyone that when supplies ran low he offered to make a run.
He never ran into trouble.
Trouble, however, found him.
A dozen or so soldiers had descended on him as Vic, who'd been scouting a good distance away, watched in complete horror.
He followed after them, never daring to take them on as they escorted Mike through the streets, stopping in the center of the town. In plain sight they interrogated him, and at first Vic wondered why. However, as they continued to shout questions, and as Vic crept closer, he could see what they were doing.
Mike was merely bate, being used to lure his companions out of hiding in order to help him. And Vic almost fell into the trap.
But Mike had a plan, and in the end Vic watched as a bullet lodge itself in his brother's forehead. He watched as the soldiers left his body, an obvious warning. He watched as they walked away as if they hadn't just killed someone. He watched as they vanished from sight.
Astoria had replayed that story in her mind from time to time, usually whenever there was a close call with a scouting group. Each time it brought one clear notion into her mind: these men, these soldiers, had no use for anyone who wasn't worth anything. So it was her goal to make them indispensable.
She managed to keep Patrick stable for the long ride, barely saying anything minus a few less than pleasant words to the soldiers when she needed something. Patrick, it seemed, didn't like her tone or her angry demeanor. He'd just have to get over it, Astoria thought. There wasn't any time for pleasantries.
With Patrick being injured it was no surprised he was whisked away from them the minute the transport vehicle came to a stop outside of a large manor. No one bothered to put Astoria's handcuffs back on as she, Alan, and Alex were escorted out of the vehicle.
The large group weaved their way through the halls and to a large room adorned whit the best the galaxy had to offer. Astoria couldn't help but let her eyes wander in awe at the elegant simplicity of it all. With her bloody hands and messy hair she felt as if she didn't belong in a room so pristine.
Words were exchanged between the Green Leader and the man sitting on the chair, the throne. Astoria glanced over him, the woman beside him, and the two boys that looked liked bookends, situated on either end of them.
"She claims to know how to defeat us. Turn us human, your Majesty," Green Leader said.
"Is that so?" The man who could only be king asked as he stared down at her.
Astoria had heard a story about this man too. How he'd been responsible for taking her father and Brendon, along with Taylor, Gabe, and some others, and had almost turned her and Milo into whatever he was.
While the soldiers would tolerated her rudeness, it was obvious this man wouldn't, so when she timidly shrugged to his question, she was sure to make herself look a vulnerable as possible.
"Bring her up here."
She stumbled her way up the four stairs and winced as the soldiers tightened their grip on her arms. The boy to the king's right caught her eye for a moment, and Astoria swore there was a hint of sympathy.
"What is it you know?" The king asked.
"I'm not sure," Astoria replied. "None of us are."
"Your Ma—"
The king held up a hand to silence the soldier, and pointedly looked at Astoria to continue.
"We were just given a lot of information, and we don't know what to do with it. That man, the one who wasn't with us, he didn't tell us. I just needed to keep him alive."
"Why?"
A spark of anger ignited in her chest, almost causing her to single-handedly destroy whatever she was building. But she shrugged her shoulders and swallowed the anger before answering. "Why wouldn't I, if given the chance?"
"What's your name?"
"Tori."
The king turned to the soldier on her left. "Take her to get washed up, and find her something presentable to wear. She'll be dinning with us tonight. As for the other two, ensure they're taken care of properly."
With one last glance behind her, Astoria let herself be guided out of the room. Alan and Alex were desperately trying to hide the looks of terror on their faces, but Astoria could easily see them. She'd known the two for years and could just imagine what they'd be saying to her if they had the chance.
Part of her wanted them with her to give her some direction, but she had chosen this path by herself. The other part of her was determined to not need them. After all how many times had they shut her out of meetings? How many times had they whispered behind closed doors when they thought she was asleep? How many times had they never given her straightforward answers? How many times had she just been their pawn?
Thinking over it, Astoria came to the conclusion that perhaps this was part of a greater plan. Perhaps they had been meant to be captured; maybe the others would be too. Perhaps they'd planned for her to be scared, to stick to Alex and Alan, the ones who really knew what was going on. And she had just thrown a wrench into it.
Astoria wasn't born to follow, she was born to lead, and she reminded herself that as she stepped into a simple black dress.
She wasn't going to play by anyone's rules except her own.
