"Carrie had an ability, but she was a person, not a monster. She had hopes and fears, and we pushed her. You can only push a person so far before they break."
A dark veil fell over Chamberlain, Maine, after tragedy struck the quiet town at the hands...
Jago recalled Maya's story of her sister while he read the Intel a few times to find an error, but everything was precise. He pitied Maya; losing a family member was one thing, but learning that the person returned as a vampire was overwhelming. "How was this possible?"
"Mira might have survived but was near death until the Coven 'nursed' her to health," Orchid said.
"This can't be true...my irmà, a member of the Coven?" Maya kept crying. "This must be a lie."
Orchid rubbed her sobbing friend's back. "Maya, the evidence is there, with video footage. I checked the information so many times for-"
"No! Mira would never...she..."
Maya sprinted out of the dungeon, ignoring her friend's calls. Darkness crept into the City of Dawn as the sky rumbled. She dashed through the forest while cursing the Coven, tears streaming from her blue eyes. The rain poured as though the heavens wept with her. She found shelter under a tree and slashed the trunk with her daggers until she exhausted herself. She curled herself against the tree; her heart shattered into pieces.
"Maya!" Orchid called, but the Night Guard leader kept crying, pretending she did not hear her. Orchid and Thunder arrived as the former agent wrapped her arms around her friend. Thunder scanned for any signs of Mimics, but he glanced at Maya with sympathy. "Shh, everything will be okay."
"How could this happen? Why the fates snatch the ones I love away from me?"
Thunder planted his hand on Maya's shoulder, though still on guard. "I can't imagine the pain you're in now. I lost my brother to Ultratech long ago; they turned him into those war machines. On the day you confront Mira, will you save her or do what's crucial if she's beyond saved?"
Maya fell silent, swallowing hard to relieve her sore throat. A part of her heart urged her to rescue her sister; the mercy killing will stay as her last resort. Orchid and Thunder helped Maya to her feet, returning to the citadel.
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Maya sat at the collapsed arch, listening for assignments on the radio the next day. Because she needed time to mourn, she stayed behind at base. She stared beyond the rainforest, uncertain what the future will hold. Deep in her trance, Maya was unaware of Carrie climbing on the arc to join her.
"Are you okay?" Carrie asked, bringing the Night Guard leader out of her thoughts.
"Carrie, how come you didn't go with our friends?"
"I don't want to be a burden or hurt anyone."
"Oh, you're no burden. Had Jago been helping you with your powers?"
"He and Orchid have been trying. Is Mira still on your mind?"
Maya sighed morosely. "I still can't wrap my head around the fact that Mira's part of the Coven. I must confront her one day, but could I save her is the question. Can I ask you something? If I make that choice, and on my deathbed, God asks me why I killed my sister, what will I say to Him?"
