𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𓆩⟡𓆪 𝕏𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕟 ℝ𝕚𝕠𝕣𝕤𝕠𝕟

「 ✦ 0.28 ✦ 」

"Squads don't mean shit today," he seethes, menace curling his lips into a sinister smile.

"I guess you will also just be staying to watch me die?" I toss over my shoulder again, and the golden dragon chuffs low in its throat in response. "Great. Well, if you could, you know, somehow claw their eyes out so I have some advantage, that'd be fabulous."

It chuffs twice, and I look down at its claws. Or lack thereof.

"Of course you don't have claws, because we wouldn't want to make it easy for me." I growl, cursing whoever it is that wants me to die today.

I turn back to the three men just as Jack roars a battle cry and sprints towards me. I don't hesitate. I whip my blade out and toss it right towards Jack, smiling in satisfaction when the dagger imbeds itself right into the shoulder of his sword arm. His sword falls as he hits his knees, crying out this time in pain.

Good. Serves him right.

But Oren and Tynan have charged at the same time, and they're almost on me. I throw another knife towards Tynan and it slices into his thigh, but it only slows him down for a split second.

I quickly duck under Oren's swing for my neck, slicing him along the ribs as I avoid his second strike. I kick out and connect right where I cut him, sending him flying to the ground, crying out.

He gets up quickly, catching me in the stomach, staggering my steps slightly but I regain quickly. I ignore the red-hot blood soaking my shirt, not having time to think about it.

"She's destroyed my shoulder!" Jack cries, stumbling to his feet and distracting the others. "I can't move it!" He clutches the joint, and I grin.

"Pity." I say, smirking.

"Kill her!" Jack orders, still clutching his shoulder as he backs away a few steps, then turns and runs in the opposite direction, disappearing into the tree line in no time. Coward.

Tynan jabs with his swords and I spin away, plunging my dagger into his side, then punching Oren right in the nose, as he tries to attack, sending him stumbling back once more. I ignore the pain in my knuckles, knowing they will be bruised in the morning.

"You fucking bitch!" Tynan screams, pressing his palm against his oozing side.

"And proud to be." I fire back, smiling. I take advantage of Oren's dazed expression and slice open his hip. The move costs me, and I bite back a scream as Tynan's sword cuts into the right side of my neck, right behind and slicing down where my neck meets my shoulder.

This is bad. I better not bleed out before I can even get out of this field.

I wrench myself away, blood flowing freely as I peel myself off the sword.

"Behind you!" Xaden shouts.

I spin around to see Oren's sword held high, ready to separate my head from my shoulders, but the golden dragon snaps its jaw and Oren stumbles to the side with terror-filled eyes, as if he's just now realized that it has teeth. Idiot.

I sidestep and knock the handle of my blade against the base of his skull.

He crumples, unconscious, and I don't wait to see him fall before turning back toward Tynan, who has his bloodied sword ready. I feel the blood pool from my neck, at alarming rates and I know I will lose consciousness soon.