How Much I Know - a Renegades | Marissa Meyer fan fiction

Chapter 22

When the explosions started, Mara was hugging her knees to her chest. She didn't want Gene or Narcissa to die. She cared for them.

Nova carried the Detonator out of the building. "Official. Renegade. Business," she grunted. Nova used a pair of handcuffs to affix one of Ingrid's wrists to a nearby fence. Once Nova had left, the villain detonated the fence, freeing herself.

Kahless scooted closer to Mara. She put an arm around Mara's shoulders and squeezed. They stayed silent. There was nothing to say. They were both churning in grief. There was nothing that would save them but each other. Just being there for one another was as much support as they could give.

The library was engulfed in flames, and Gene Cronin was struggling to retrieve his precious books from the collection. Mara's heartstrings tugged desperately, and she wanted very badly to run through the wall of glass and help the old man save his collection.

Kahless held her down. "There is nothing you can do."

Mara knew the older girl was right, but she couldn't halt the annoying urge to run to the man.

"Grandfather! Get out; save yourself!" Narcissa screamed. Her voice was tinged with exasperation.

"Listen to your granddaughter, Gene. She's right," Nova said. Mara hoped that Gene took the villain's advice. It seemed her hopes were too much to ask.

"These are the pride of my collection!" he shouted as he continued to wrap the books in towels and throw them out the window.

"Gene!" Narcissa pleaded.

Suddenly, the Sentinel jumped out of the abyss. "Gene Cronin. I can save you. I'll make the Council give you a place to stay and all the necessary amenities. You and your granddaughter can live in peace. We'll clear your record."

Nova looked at the armored figure with confusion. No doubt she was wondering how the Sentinel had that much power over the Council. "What do you need in return?" Gene asked.

"He'll take the deal. He saves himself every time. That's how he lived through the Age of Anarchy," Mara whispered to Kahless. The girl nodded.

"I want to know who Nightmare is," the Sentinel said.

Gene stuttered, "Um... Well... I..." His gaze flickered between Nova and the Sentinel. He swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing. "Uh... That's a difficult question... But, I think..."

"You don't owe her anything," the Sentinel prompted. 

"Nightmare is -"

A gunshot echoed through the glass. It was Ingrid. She was laughing like a maniac. Mara couldn't breathe. Gene was dead. It was too much for her.

"No!" she screamed. Her voice was muffled by the glass, but Narcissa heard her and turned her devastated face toward Mara's. She turned away reluctantly, returning her gaze to her grandfather's corpse.

Mara's gaze tunneled. She would make things even the Detonator no matter what happened.

Mara clenched her jaw so hard it hurt. She was too full of hate to realize what else happened in the fight, except that Narcissa escaped and Nova shot the Sentinel multiple times.

Kahless hugged her tighter. "Survive. That's the best thing you can do right now."

Mara sniffled and wrenched her gaze away from the scene. She rested her head on her knees and cried. She didn't hold back. Kahless held her tightly, but she didn't pull away. It was strangely comforting having a friend hold her. It grounded Mara. It proved that life still existed. Revenge was still possible.

Finally, Mara looked up and saw the sad smile Kahless was wearing. "Go back to HQ and tell Max what happened. I'll tell my father and try to find Narcissa." She wiped the tears on her uniform pants.

"Are you sure?" Kahless asked.

"Yes," Mara said.

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When Mara got home,  Narcissa was waiting in the dining room. Wordlessly, they embraced each other. They let their tears flow as one.

"You can stay here for the night, Narcissa," Mara promised.

"Thank you, Mara. I don't know how I would survive without you. I'm not sure if I can survive anyway," she responded, voice thick with tears.

"Any time."