Area 9

NERO [7] ➴

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Sometimes there's nothing you can do,

except follow the leader.

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The 9 on my wrist gives me the ability to know how the mind works in battle. I understand what their next approach is before my opponent does themselves. I am not slow. Yet, Eliza Rey was faster and left my head a clouded, stinging mess.

I lay near the curb, in the wet grass, someone shaking me back to consciousness. I screwed up.

"Nero, wake up," Luca patted my cheeks, his face filling my view and the car's alarms filling my ears. "What the hell happened man?" he questioned when I managed to sit up.

What happened? I still couldn't piece it all together. One moment the four of them had been talking, I'd seen them far away over my shoulder before, then the next- I was knocked out. Just like that. Just like that I'd messed up to the point where my life was suddenly on the line, and Commander Taelum isn't one to forgive.

"It was Eliza," I told him, his face hardening into a scowl. "She hit me."

He growled, "That girl, I swear."

Luca rose with a sigh, and I got myself up to his side. He looked off into the distance, where I assumed they had escaped to. There was only one vehicle up here on the hill, so I also supposed the rest had headed off after the fugitives. There would be no time to waste.

"By the look on your face, I'm guessing you haven't found them yet?"

"No," Luca frowned. "We got a call in that their car was found, but they weren't." He placed his fingers on the bridge of his nose.

"They can't make it far on feet," I pointed out, my arms folded as I thought.

He nodded, dismissing the fact, "You'd think, but they are nowhere to be found. Looks like these Areas hold a lot more traitors than we thought."

"And your father...?"

"He's not happy," he laughed, running a nervous hand through his curly hair. "He's not happy at all, Nero. Not happy with me, and not happy with you."

I straightened myself, brushing the dirt from my sleeves. "Your father is a bad man, Luca."

Talking and speaking your mind around the Commander's son comes with a death wish, but when the Commander's son has been your only friend for as long as you can remember- it's no big deal at all. He knows my opinions.

He looked at me dead in the eyes. "I know, but I'm not too good myself either." He gave me a nudge on the shoulder, walking past and towards the truck. "Look what side your on, Nero, I guess you're bad too."

I followed him, hopping into the passenger seat. "Yeah, but not in the same way."

He turned on the radio. Music fresh from Area 6.

"What's the plan?" I wondered, surprised he hadn't mentioned some crazy idea yet. Luca is one of those if-you-can't-do-it-then-I'll-have-to-do-it-myself kind of guys. "We're going after them, right?"

"No," he shook his head, shifting the gear. "My father sent me direct orders for us to return immediately. He doesn't want us out there."