Clair de Lune

43. Go time

Arms tightened around me when the first sounds of the morning began to echo around us. I could hear something from above me, far above, leaching beneath the cement and surrounding us. Through my groggy haze, I could barely come to the conclusion that it was cars, more than one. The early morning emptiness was soon enough filled in with looming dread, and I burrowed deeper into Necro's chest in an attempt to comfort myself. He'd be the only one who could make me feel good about this whole operation.

"Guys, come on. Get your things."

"Dammit." I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut as Marshall's footsteps echoed down the hall while he went to welcome our guests into the building. Figures began moving around us and I gave up trying to hide from the light.

I pulled out of the sleeping boy's grasp, watching with regret as he stirred. Before I did anything I leaned down and kissed his forehead, moving onto my own mattress and pulling out the clothes I'd picked out for this day. They were the same that I'd been wearing when I met Kelvin for the first time, save for the shoes. I slipped into a pair of combat boots that held pockets for knives on the sides and zipped them up tight. With a small nod I stood up and walked towards the entrance, feeling a blank gaze on the back of my skull. It sort of hurt.

When I walked out I instantly rounded the corner, grabbing my knuckles from the wall and placing them in my back pockets before snagging a pair of knives and shoving them in my boots. I turned just in time to catch a belt that Sergei had thrown at me; I reached up to grab two pistols and fill the holsters, and I almost felt heavy carrying so many weapons. There was a tap on my shoulder and I turned to see Marshall standing there, holding a cloth face mask out to me. It was the jawbones of a skull, and a lot more breathable compared to the one Sergei had used. He nodded at me and I gave him a small smile before wrapping it around my face and neck.

The mechanical whirr of the elevator stopped, and I looked up to lock eyes with Kelvin instantly. He had a stern gleam to his irises, one that made me shiver slightly. I steeled my nerves and stood up straight though, attempting to ignore my heart throbbing in my chest. He was followed by quite a number of operatives behind him, all of whom were armed to the teeth and wearing masks to hide their identity. One girl in particular caught my eye; half of her head was shaved and her hair was cut to her shoulders and bleached; her eyes glowed like rubies, and when she caught sight of me she winked. I shivered even more than I had when I saw Kelvin, but I realized with a start where I'd seen her before: she was the girl on the gurney. My eyes flicked to Sergei and I saw him staring at her with eyes full of hidden and stifled emotion.

"Alright, is everyone ready?" Kelvin asked somberly.

"Getting there." Murmur yawned as he walked out of the room, reaching up and grabbing a set of daggers from the wall and wrapping them around his hips. Osiris grabbed a pair of scimitars and slammed them into her back scabbards, her hair having been tied back into a two-tiered ponytail. Lily had no weapons, and neither did Thamyris. Necro's only protection was me and a single pistol he shoved into the holster on his hip. Marshall and Sergei were both carrying numerous guns and knives, and I wasn't surprised to see the signature rifle adorning the man's back.

"Does anyone need any reminders about what he plan is?" Kelvin asked, a certain tone in his voice causing me to perk up slightly. I narrowed my eyes, getting the feeling that he might have an inkling about Osiris and I.

"Nope, we've all got the routes ingrained in our minds," Thamyris sighed, "can we go now? I want to get this over with."

"What the lady says." Marshall nodded, and Kelvin made a noise of confirmation before turning around and sending his lackeys back towards the elevator. We piled in behind them and it rose, slowly, to the top.