CHAPTER 11: the Divide

Emma moved through the chaos, her glowing hands stabilizing an injured Jace. In front of her Juni suddenly raised both hands, his barrier expanding in a blinding surge of energy.

“Wave of Destruction!” he shouted, unleashing a shockwave that blasted dozens of Deviants off their feet, sending them crashing to the ground like ragdolls. For a brief moment, the battlefield cleared—just long enough for the instructors to regroup and finish off the stragglers.

Rebel slowed, sweat streaming down her face, blood dripping from her blades. She dropped to the ground with a heavy thud.

“This isn’t over,” Constantine muttered, the flames around him flickering out.

Ava paced restlessly, her forearm blades retracting with a bloody snap.

“What’s the plan now, Rebel?” she demanded. “Those damn things just keep coming. I’m running on fumes here…..my blades won’t regrow forever.”

Rebel’s expression mirror what they were all feeling: exhaustion, frustration and a sliver of doubt. She wiped the sweat from her face, smearing a streak of blood across her cheek. For a long moment, she said nothing. The silence pressing on them while Juni trapped the Deviants on the other side of his barrier.

Constantine broke it first. “We need eyes and ears. Veronica, Ma—scout the area. Give us intel on their numbers and movement.”

The two nodded and slipped away, vanishing into the haze.

“Emma,” Constantine continued, his tone softening, “can you help Rebel recover? Even a little?”

Emma stepped forward hesitantly, her hands glowing faintly as she pressed them to Rebel’s chest. Healing energy pulsed outward, steadying Rebel’s breathing and easing the tremor in her hands.

“I can’t do much for exhaustion,” Emma said quietly. “But I’ll do what I can.”

Rebel sat up, rolling her shoulders. “Better,” she said, though her voice was strained. “But I need food to fully recover. Anyone got something?”

Felicity fumbled through her pack and tossed her a ration bar. Rebel caught it midair and bit into it like a starving wolf.

Ava turned on Felicity, her frustration spilling over. “Can’t you predict their movements? Isn’t that your whole thing? Do something!”

Felicity flinched. “I—I’m trying,” she stammered. “They’re too fast, their patterns don’t make sense….”

Rebel raised a hand. “Enough,” she said firmly. “We don’t have time to waste blaming each other.”

Ava looked away, muttering under her breath.

“We need to stay sharp,” Rebel continued. “You all know the plan, get to it.”

Ava nodded reluctantly. “Fine. Michael, Adell…. step it up. We need more from both of you. Emma, hang back and provide support. Frank and Phoebe, you’re her shield. Protect her at all costs.”

Constantine gathered his second-class initiates, pointing toward the inner gates, where smoke rose in thick black plumes. “Our people are holding the line for now, but if this keeps up, they’ll be overrun..”

Juni stepped back, the Deviants behind his barrier increasing in number. Cracks were beginning to spiderweb across the barrier, it wouldn’t be long now.

“Juni...Can you hold them back,” asked Rebel.

Juni, still catching his breath, nodded. “I can block off the wider paths, force them into choke points. But I’ll need you guys to help.”

Rebel smiled. “Controlling the flow, nice. Ava, Constantine….you’re our anchors.”

“What…about us?” Jace asked finally feeling his body under control.

Rebel’s gaze locked on him, too long like she wanted to stop him from going. But the situation wouldn’t allow for such….emotions.

“You move in small teams,” she finally said. “Cover civilians, take down any Deviants that slip through. Felicity, Ma, Veronic…you’re their control. Intel is very important in missions. Stay consistent, this is your time to show everyone what you got, okay?”

The three of them nodded.

In the distance the sound of the barrier collapsing startled everyone. Juni raised his hands, forming new rectangle-shaped barriers to the side, sealing the wide avenues into narrow corridors.

“Okay, guys say bye to the kids…we got some incoming,” Juni said.

The battlefield twisted into a maze of glowing lines, with the Deviants heading for them. Ava and Constantine stood shoulder to shoulder, the air around them crackling with heat and energy.

“We can’t hold them forever,” Constantine growled, flames fluttering.

“Yep,” Rebel said taking out her dual blades. “Just long enough.”