Abby's Point of View
The hallway smelled like bleach and something burnt—maybe old wires. My heart was racing not from fear but from anticipation. We'd done everything we could to sneak out from the female quarters. Now Hiliana and I were steps away from breaking every rule in this hellhole for the sake of survival, sisterhood… and maybe rebellion.
Tarn's footfalls followed close behind us—reluctant, quiet. He wasn't thrilled, but he was in. That was enough.
"We need to—"
Suddenly, we halted as a figure leaned against the metal frame of a broken door, nonchalantly picking at her nails like she was in the goddamn spa.
My breath caught.
"What the—Ryena?!"
She looked up lazily, arching a perfect brow. "Took you slowpokes long enough. I thought y'all got caught."
"YOU'RE—ALIVE?" Hiliana gasped.
Tarn stared too, blinking like his brain was trying to reboot.
"I mean, yeah?" Ryena shrugged, stepping out of the shadows. "Y'all act like I died. I just needed a walk, some air, and a little chaos detox, you know?"
Hiliana grabbed her and practically squeezed the life out of her. "We thought you were dead, you idiot! You disappeared!"
"Your concern is noted," Ryena smirked, returning the hug in her bitchy, slightly affectionate way. "Now—what's the plan?"
Hiliana told everything to Ryena and I was still processing the fact that she was here, healthy, and glowing like she'd just won a street fight and a modeling contest.
"We're trying to gather info, steal weapons, and figure out how to hack the system before that crazy woman has us all put in body bags," I explained, still catching my breath. "You up for that?"
Ryena tilted her head. "Oh honey, I've been bored. Let's raise hell."
Tarn scoffed from the side. "What can you even do?"
Ryena gave him a slow smile that chilled and thrilled me all at once.
"I can shut this entire place down in six minutes. Seven if I'm being dramatic."
Hiliana blinked. "Wait… what?"
"I memorized the circuit layout and backup flow when I got tossed into solitary last time," Ryena said, tapping her temple. "Between the flickering lights and my boredom, I figured out where the weak spots are. You know, in case I wanted to escape or fry someone."
We all stared.
Even Tarn, usually a sarcastic pessimist, was rendered mute.
"You mean to say… you've been hiding your brain this whole time?" I asked, stunned.
Ryena smirked. "Not hiding. Just didn't want to overshadow your little tech crush on the cameras, babe."
Hiliana snorted, trying to cover her laugh. "This woman…"
I grinned. "You've been acting like a low-key brat with resting pretty-face syndrome, but now you're telling us you've been smarter than all of us?"
"Acting?" Ryena placed a hand on her chest mockingly. "Darling, I am a brat. But I'm also a genius. Balance is important and besides my mother is a scientist"
We all laughed.
It was brief, probably inappropriate given our situation—but it felt… warm.
Hiliana leaned into Ryena, her voice soft but teasing. "You're annoying."
Ryena winked. "And yet, you missed me."
Tarn shook his head. "You guys are all insane."
"I prefer the term 'tactically unstable,'" I replied dryly.
"Enough warm-ups," Ryena said, her voice dipping into that smooth, dangerous tone. "We've got a base to sabotage."
"You really think you can shut the power down?" I asked again, stepping closer.
She nodded. "Find the emergency controls—they keep a manual switch near the laundry shaft, disguised behind the mop cabinet. It reroutes the flow to their internal backup… which I'm guessing is located near the broadcast server."
I stared at her, stunned again.
"Seriously… how do you know this?"
"I flirted with a technician when I got bored and. Poor guy lasted two weeks. Told me everything between nosebleeds."
"Your flirting gives people nosebleeds?" Tarn muttered.
Ryena shot him a look. "Jealousy is a disease, Tarn. Seek help."
I laughed again, not because it was all that funny—but because it felt good to laugh. We were all messed up in our own ways, and this place had tried to drain us of our light. But right now? Right now we were glowing.
"Okay," I said, taking charge again. "Ryena and Tarn—you two go check the shaft and identify the breakers. Hiliana, with me. We'll hit the archive room to see what else we can dig up about the secret files."
Ryena clicked her tongue. "Just don't get us caught. I like my organs inside my body."
"You think that woman who wants to kill you has files on us?" Hiliana asked me softly as we walked.
"I think she has files on everyone," I murmured back. "But I want to know why she wants you dead."
Hiliana's eyes dimmed, but her jaw clenched in determination.
"I'll kill her before she gets to my sister."
I squeezed her hand tightly. "We'll do it together."
We had a plan. We had brains, bonds, and now, apparently, a secret genius with flawless eyeliner and a tactical tongue and I had a strange feeling that this war—this rebellion—was just beginning.