Ice Queen (Part Two)

Kai

Caden makes a sharp turn, his jaw clenched. "Send me the location," he says, agitated.

"I've put the address in. Follow the GPS," Eugene replies, his voice tense, like he's trying to stay calm. "Caden, I've estimated her power—it's a danger level of 10."

Caden's expression darkens, and without hesitation, he slams his foot on the gas. The car lurches forward, the speedometer climbing rapidly as we blow past the speed limit.

I glance at Luna. She's sitting next to me, her hands gripping the edge of her seat, visibly shaken. Before I can say anything to reassure her, a booming voice blares through a loudspeaker above us.

"Attention: a drowner has emerged in the Fourth District. All residents are advised to evacuate immediately. Those who cannot should remain indoors."

I glance out the window and see the helicopter broadcasting the announcement overhead. "Eugene said it's a defekt, not a drowner," I say, confusion knotting my brow.

"Of course they lie about that," Caden says, irritation sharp in his tone. "It's easier to abduct someone when there are no witnesses."

As we get closer to the location, I start to notice something strange. It's the middle of summer, but patches of snow begin to appear on the ground. The further we drive, the denser it gets—thick snowbanks lining the streets, frost coating the windows of nearby buildings. By the time we reach the block, it's like we've been transported to the dead of winter.

"Hey, Caden," I say, pointing out the window. "Am I the only one who finds this a little… weird?"

"It's the power of a level 10 defekt," Vlad says, his voice sharp and clearly annoyed.

I swallow hard, my gaze fixed on the frost-covered buildings and frozen cars outside. The air feels heavier, colder, even inside the car.

"What kind of power causes… this?" I ask, my voice quieter than I intended.

"Something we're about to find out," Caden mutters, his hands gripping the wheel tightly.

Luna shifts in her seat, glancing between us. "A defekt strong enough to freeze an entire district… That's no ordinary level 10."

"Exactly why we need to handle this carefully," Caden says. "No unnecessary risks. Kai, you stay in the car."

I start to protest, but Luna shakes her head, her expression serious. "Listen to him, Kai. This isn't training anymore."

The weight of her words silences me. I turn back to the window, watching the icy landscape grow thicker and more surreal with every passing second.

…

"Caden, they arrived. The Blues are coming—no, they're already there," Eugene says, his voice trembling slightly. "I just heard it over the police radio."

"Shit." Caden exhales sharply, scratching his bearded chin as he pulls the car to a sudden stop. The tension in his expression is palpable. "Luna, take the wheel. Get Kai out of here. Take him home."

"No, I can he—" I start to argue, but Caden's voice cuts me off with a sharp, commanding "NO!"

I blink, stunned into silence. He turns to face me, his eyes hard. "You don't understand what's at stake here, Kai. The Blues don't play fair. They don't care who they hurt to get what they want."

"But—"

"Listen to me!" he barks. "This isn't some training exercise or a stupid game. If you go out there, you'll only be a liability, and I can't afford that right now."

Luna hesitates, her hands on the steering wheel. "Caden, are you sure about this? If the Blues are already there—"

"I don't have a choice." He cuts her off, running a hand through his hair. "Just take him and go. I'll deal with the rest."

I clench my fists, frustration boiling inside me, but Luna puts a hand on my shoulder. "Kai, come on," she says softly. "Let's go."

I don't respond. Instead, I look out the window, the swirling storm of ice and snow reflecting the storm in my head. Caden and Vlad step out of the car, slamming the door behind them as they merch toward the chaos ahead.

"I hate this," I mutter under my breath as Luna starts driving, her expression unreadable.

She makes an U turn and we're gone.

…

After about four minutes of driving like a maniac, Luna slams on the brakes. I'm too busy fidgeting with my fingers, annoyed at the situation, to notice why she stopped.

There's a girl standing in the middle of the street.

Any sane person would stop the car—or at least try to avoid hitting her. Luna, however, slams on the gas, accelerating straight toward her.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" I shout, gripping the edge of my seat.

"Look at her uniform. She's a Blue," Luna replies, her hands tight on the wheel.

The girl's outfit makes it obvious—black leather pants, an unbuttoned white shirt revealing a little too much of her chest, and a blue leather jacket that matches her long, straight red hair perfectly. She doesn't flinch as the car barrels toward her.

At the last second, Luna swerves to the left, trying to pass. But the girl moves. With one swift kick, she slams her boot into the back of the car, sending us spinning like a top before we crash into a light pole.

My head is swimming, even though the pole hit Luna's side. I shake it off and glance over at her—blood is dripping from her scalp. Shit.

"Luna!" I call, reaching for her, trying to assess how bad it is.

"No," she croaks, her voice weak. "Run… make a run for it. I'll distract them with Mirage. Go!" Her voice trails off as she passes out.

Over my dead body.

I ignore her entirely and drag us both out of the wreck. My heart is pounding as I place her against the front wheel of the car, keeping her out of sight.

That's when I see them.

Five figures standing in a line like predators stalking their prey.

At the center is a slender man with a black ponytail and an eyepatch over his left eye, wearing a sleek black suit. He's holding a katana in his right hand, the blade glinting ominously under the streetlights.

To his left are a pair of identical twins—both gingers, both wearing green suits with sunglasses, even at night.

To his right is the red-haired girl who stopped our car, still as composed as ever, and next to her is a guy with a mullet. A fucking mullet. He's wearing a tank top despite the freezing weather, casually flipping a knife in his hand.

Behind them stands a massive, bald, dark-skinned man in a mechanic's jumpsuit. His sheer size is enough to make me hesitate, but I shake it off.

I glance back to make sure Luna is secure against the front wheel of the car, then turn to face the group again.

Even if I get my ass handed to me, they're not laying a finger on her.

"Are you the Blues?" I shout, forcing my voice to sound more confident than I feel.

The red-haired girl steps forward slightly, her lips curving into a smirk. "We don't know you. Are you a new member of the 2156?"

"I guess I am," I say, already aware they know the others—especially Luna. She told me about past run-ins with some of these people: the twins, the guy with the mullet, and now, the red-haired one.

"So… who's the first to get their ass whooped by the newbie?" I bluff, stepping into a fighting stance Caden taught me. "One by one."

I see the annoyance ripple through them, and that's exactly what I wanted.

"Bold words," says the man with the katana, his voice calm but brimming with menace. "Let's see if you can back them up, newbie."

It must've worked because one of them sprints toward me.