Chapter Twenty-Three: Capture Protocol
The chamber erupted into chaos.
The Hollow Legion moved as one organism — no wasted motion, no hesitation. Six of them broke from the pack, forming a perfect half-circle around me. The rest pressed against Vire and the man, forcing them back step by step.
—Secure the Queen—
The words weren't spoken aloud, yet they hit like hammer blows inside my skull. I stumbled, clutching my temples. Every instinct screamed at me to obey.
"Fight it!" the stranger barked. He thrust a small blade into my hand — not resin, not steel, but something pale and ridged, like bone. "This cuts their links. Use it."
One of the soldiers lunged. I slashed wildly, the blade slicing through the air — and when it met the soldier's arm, the hum in my head stuttered. The link to that one… broke. It froze mid-stride, antennae twitching erratically, before collapsing like a puppet with cut strings.
The rest closed in tighter.
Vire fought like a storm, her resin blades a blur, but even she couldn't hold them all. "Move her to the north wall!" she yelled at the man. "That's the only gap in their formation."
He didn't hesitate. One arm around my waist, he shoved us toward the wall while blocking strikes with his other hand. Every time his blade met their armor, a high, keening ring filled the chamber.
A soldier leapt to intercept — but Vire was already there, knocking it off balance. For a heartbeat, her eyes met mine. "Don't think this makes us friends."
We burst through the gap she'd made, but it was already closing. The Legion adjusted instantly, their movements reshaping to seal every escape.
—Queen—return—
The pulse in my chest thundered so hard I could barely breathe. The urge to step toward them was overwhelming — but when I looked down, I realized my fingers were no longer gripping the bone blade.
They were sparking.