Counter Attacks

memories but gotta go

As they finally slowed down, catching their breath, Iris turned to the group. Her mind was still reeling from Dante’s betrayal, but she couldn’t let her emotions cloud her judgment. If he had faked his marks, who else could be lying?

"Everyone, roll up your sleeves," she ordered, her voice firm.

Silas frowned. "Iris, you think there's more?"

"I know there could be more," she replied, her eyes scanning each of them. "I won’t take any more chances."

One by one, they revealed their scars. Evan, Silas, Caitlin, Rose, and the others. The real scars had a depth to them, a way they formed naturally over time. Iris traced her own, feeling the ridges that had appeared without warning.

She inspected each one carefully. Real. Real. Real. But she hesitated when she got to one of the newer members, a girl named Ava.

Iris narrowed her eyes. Something about Ava’s marks felt… off. The texture was almost too smooth, too precise. Like they had been placed there, not formed naturally.

"Ava," Iris said slowly, reaching for a cloth like she had with Dante. "Let me check something."

Ava stiffened. "Iris, you don’t have to—"

Before she could finish, Iris wiped the cloth over her mark.

It smudged.

The room fell into heavy silence.

Ava’s face paled as everyone stared at her.

"You too?" Caitlin whispered, her voice laced with disbelief.

Iris’s jaw clenched. "Who else is working with the orphanage, Ava?"

But Ava didn’t answer. Instead, she bolted.

"Stop her!" Evan shouted.

Silas lunged forward, tackling Ava before she could escape. She struggled under his grip, but it was useless—he was stronger.

Iris kneeled down beside her, voice cold. "You’re going to start talking. Now."

Ava's eyes darted to the side, as if looking for another way out. But they were inside an abandoned market, surrounded by shelves stocked with food that had somehow been left untouched. There was nowhere to go.

And that's when Iris realized—this place wasn’t a random find.

Her stomach dropped.

It was a setup.

Iris sat apart from the group, nibbling on a snack bar while the others talked, their voices a mix of exhaustion and frustration. The abandoned market had plenty of food, but something about it felt too convenient. They had just escaped, only to stumble upon a fully stocked place? It had to be a trap.

She glanced at Ava, who was tied up against a shelf, her expression unreadable. How many more were there? First Dante, now Ava. The orphanage was always one step ahead, like they had planned everything.

Caitlin sat next to her, nudging her lightly. “You okay?”

Iris exhaled, still staring at Ava. “No. I should’ve seen it sooner.”

“You caught her,” Caitlin reminded her. “That’s what matters.”

Silas, being his usual self, tried to lighten the mood, tossing a can of food at Evan, who barely caught it. “Well, at least they gave us dinner. Guess the enemy has a soft spot for starving kids.”

Evan didn’t laugh. He was watching Iris, noticing how distant she looked. “We can’t stay here too long,” he said, directing it at everyone but mostly at her. “If this is a setup, we need to move before they close in.”