CHAPTER TWENTY — THE LAST verity
The wind howled across the open space, carrying the scent of oil painting and swash water as Marcus descended the fire escape with deliberate slowness. Each step echoed like a preamble. He did n't rush he did n't need to. Confidence wrapped around him like armor.
Daniel planted his bases, placing himself slightly in front of Aisha. Kieran stood to his other side, blood percolating through his sleeve, his posture rigid but unyielding.
" End of the line, " Marcus said easily, leveling his gun. " You should've handed it over when you had the chance. "
Daniel's fritters brushed the flash drive through his jacket. " You were noway going to let us walk down. "
Marcus smiled. " Smart man. Pity you did n't act smarter. "
Aisha's voice cut through the pressure, pulsing but fierce. " People are going to know what you did. "
Marcus laughed — a short, concave sound. " People only know what I allow them to know. "
Before he could pull the detector, Kieran moved.
He hurled a rusted essence shard toward Marcus's face. The shot chimed out, blaring, the pellet tearing into concrete where Daniel's head had been a second before. They scattered.
Daniel seized Aisha and dashed toward the heaps of shipping holders. Kieran followed, firing back despite the pain searing through his shoulder. Marcus cursed, retreating for cover as chaos erupted — steps, shouts, further gunfire rebounding through the jetties.
They ducked behind a vessel, cases heaving.
" We ca n't overrun him, " Aisha rumored.
" We do n't need to, " Kieran said grimly. " We end this then. "
Daniel met his aspect . " You have a plan? "
Kieran jounced formerly. " I distract him. You get that drive nearly safe — anywhere public. Once it's out, he loses. "
" No, " Aisha said sprucely. " We do n't leave you. "
Kieran's eyes softened for just a moment. " You formerly did your part by surviving. "
Marcus's voice echoed between the holders. " You're running out of places to hide! "
Kieran stepped out before either of them could stop him, firing a deliberate shot that drew Marcus's attention. Daniel dithered — also Aisha seized his hand.
" He's right, " she said.However, everything was for nothing, " If that verity dies with us. "
They ran.
Behind them, the wharf exploded with sound — two forces colliding, testament against rapacity, verity against power. Daniel did n't look back. He could n't.
They burst onto the main road just as enchantresses wailed in the distance — drawn by shots, by chaos Marcus could no longer contain. Daniel slammed the flash drive into a public upload terminal outside a unrestricted media office, his hands shaking as the progress bar crawled forward.
Upload complete.
A breath left his body that he did n't know he'd been holding.
Moments latterly, police lights swamped the jetties.
By daylight, the megacity would know.
Daniel and Aisha stood side by side as the verity eventually escaped the murk — no longer hunted, no longer silent. Whatever happed next, the world had changed.
And so had they.
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