Chapter 21 - Lines We Don't Cross (Until We Do)

The mission should have ended there.

We should have wrapped it up, filed the reports, grabbed a meal, and called it a day.

But no.

Because apparently, the system couldn't let me have one clean win.

"Hunter Vayne, remain on-site," the operator crackled through the comms. "New directive."

Elren's expression didn't change, but I felt the air shift.

"Orders?" he asked.

"Proceed to Subsector 9. A secondary Grave has been detected. Additional observation required."

"They're sending us straight into another one?" I hissed. "Are they serious?"

"Obviously."

"Stop agreeing with their nonsense!"

"I am agreeing with reality."

Oh, I'm going to strangle him. Later. If I survive.

"This one's on the move," Elliot added, reading his terminal. "Target is fast, erratic, and they want us to pursue immediately."

"Perfect. Chasing unstable monsters on low stamina. What could possibly go wrong?"

"I'll carry you if you collapse."

"Don't you dare."

"Oh, I absolutely will."

Elren interrupted, his voice cold. "Stay close. We move now."

-----

Subsector 9 was deeper into the Grey Zone, almost entirely abandoned. The streets narrowed, lined with skeletal buildings and hanging wires like broken veins.

"What are the odds they're just testing us again?" I muttered.

"High."

"They know I'm exhausted, right?"

"Obviously."

"Can you stop agreeing with them?"

"I am agreeing with fact."

"It's annoying."

"Obviously."

Elliot grinned. "You two are adorable."

"I will fight you."

"Please do. I could use the entertainment."

Oh no. I might actually be enjoying this.

We caught the Grave's trail quickly—scratches along the walls, distorted static lingering in the air. This one was different. Faster. Smarter. The kind of Grave that didn't just attack, but observed.

"I don't like this one," I muttered.

"Then let's finish it quickly," Elren replied, blade already drawn.

The creature didn't charge like the others. It kept its distance, flickering in and out of sight, pulling us deeper into the ruins.

"It's leading us," Elliot said, frowning.

"Obviously," Elren agreed.

"Stop. Saying. That."

"Correct."

The Grave vanished around a corner. I bolted after it, ignoring Elren's sharp warning.

"Ava—"

"I've got it!"

Except I didn't.

The ground gave out beneath me, and I tumbled into a lower level, landing hard. My blade skittered out of reach.

Pain shot through my shoulder, but I forced myself to sit up.

"I'm fine!" I shouted, scrambling for my weapon.

"Obviously not!" Elren's voice barked through the comms.

"I'm not dead, so that's a win."

The Grave hissed from the shadows, its form glitching wildly. It didn't charge. It waited.

"What are you doing? Come on!"

It didn't move.

Oh no. It's not after me. It's waiting for something else.

Static erupted in my comms.

"Hunter Vayne, hold your position."

"Negative," Elren snapped. "I'm going down."

"This is a controlled observation."

"She is compromised."

"Remain."

"Override."

"You do not have clearance—"

Elren cut his comms.

I heard the crashing footsteps as he dropped into the lower level behind me.

"You weren't supposed to come."

"Obviously."

"You're going to get in so much trouble."

"Obviously."

I grabbed my blade and faced the Grave. "Well, let's make it worth the paperwork, huh?"

"Obviously."

I swear to every deity in this world, one day I will make him say something else.

We moved in tandem, Elren forcing the Grave into the open while I aimed for its weak points. Elliot covered us from above, precision shots pinning it whenever it tried to retreat.

"You two are a problem," Elliot called over the comms. "A dangerous, rule-breaking, highly effective problem."

"Thanks!"

"I'll let you know if I get demoted for this."

"I'll bake you apology cookies."

"Please don't. I value my stomach."

The Grave lunged for Elren. I blocked its strike, deflecting just enough for Elren to drive his blade through its core.

The creature let out a static scream and dissolved.

I collapsed to my knees, breathing hard. Elren dropped beside me, steadying me with one arm.

"You are reckless."

"Obviously."

"You will get yourself killed."

"Obviously."

"I will not allow that."

Oh no. That landed harder than I expected.

"Thanks for breaking the rules for me."

"Obviously."

Elliot's voice crackled back over the comms. "Just a heads-up, the system is probably going to roast all three of us for this."

"Obviously."

"Are you stuck on that word?"

"Obviously."

I groaned and leaned against Elren's shoulder, too tired to fight him off.

"Let's get out of here."

"Obviously."

"You're going to pay for that later."

"Obviously."

I swear I'm going to kill him. But not today. Today… today I think I'll just stay right here.