The Harvest Trials

Chapter XXIII

Reyna

The city was quiet and cold in the night air. It wasn't called the 'windy city' for no reason, that's for sure.

We all stood, like a great army, at the city limits. The city didn't glow and buzz like it did when there were a lot of people here. Not many lights lit up the skyline. There wasn't any electricity for that. The buildings that were running were being supplied by Jason. 

Really, the only buildings that were fully lit up and bustling, were those that made up the Harvest Compound. There were three buildings in total, all interconnected. I had the layout memorized. 

Even though it was far away, it still looked so impossibly huge and made me feel so impossibly small. But my friends are in there. And I'm not leaving here without them. Thalia put a hand on my shoulder and nodded. 

I sucked in a breath before clearing my throat. "Let's go over the plan," I announced. "We'll wait for a break in the schedule, at approximately 5 p.m. so everyone is where they're supposed to be. I'm leading Team 1 with some Hunters. We will enter the side entrance on Building Three and take the left hallway and staircase to get to New Rome. There should be about 250 people in total. Then we will extract them and lead them to the landing pad at the fortieth floor." I gritted my teeth at that detail. I had no idea what state everyone would be in, whether or not everyone could make it to the landing pad. I was counting on my Bellona abilities. 

"Team 2, that's you, Piper. You will lead some of the Amazons with you two Building Two, the middle one, and to the main cells where all of the able demigods are being held. There's about 400 demigods from both Camps, so about 35ish cells to infiltrate." I could see the hopeful look in her eyes as she stood up a little straighter. Jason would be there. And the rest of our friends. "You also need to get them to the landing pad on level forty of the third building."

"Which is down the right corridor to cross over and up. Got it," she confirmed. 

"Team 3," I said, turning to Hylla who had a proud glint in her eyes. "You will take a dozen Amazons with you, split up into four and infiltrate each building. You know what to do, plant bombs, take captives, destroy the place. But you have  to wait for my signal. We need to make sure everyone is out first. We all have our comms, so that shouldn't be a problem."

"Team 3a," I said, glancing at Thalia. She groaned. "Why do we have to be 3a? Why can't we have our own number?" I rolled my eyes. "Because your group is smaller."

She grunted. "Anyway," I said, "You will be leading group three up to command. As of now, that is where Annabeth will be. You will need to go and retrieve her and get her out. Expect to run into Everette on the way."

Thalia's expression darkened at the mention of his name. I smiled. "And make sure he die's a painful death," I told her. She saluted me. "Will do. It would be my pleasure."

"And 3b," I said, turning to Calypso who was rubbing her hands together in anticipation. "You have one of the most important jobs of all. Calypso and Rachel, you will be leading four Hunters to the hanger, where you will hijack three...what did Leo call them?"

Calypso smiled. "Sky canoes," she supplied. "Well, you'll steal three sky canoes and fly them to the landing pad. We'll be counting on you to get everyone out. And Callie, your side job?"

"Hack into the controls and shut down surveillance and lift the power dampener."

"Good," I said, "Is everyone clear on their roles in this rescue? If everything goes as planned, we'll be on our way to the Safe Haven by tomorrow morning."

"Don't jink it," Rachel muttered, biting her nails. "Hey, it'll work," Piper reassured. "It has to."

"And the Drop Zones?" Rachel asked. "You, Piper, a healer, and a few others will go first to Hashima Island, and then Chernobyl as soon as possible. We won't be leaving anyone behind," I told her. She nodded, mostly satisfied with that answer.

"Now what?" Piper asked, anxiously peering at the glowing compound in the distance. 

"Now we wait," I said.