Page 150 of Us Defiant Few

Khalani pushed the button, ending the video.

The room fell silent as the others gazed at her with profound shock and love, like they’d follow her to the gates of heaven…and into the depths of hell.

Khalani grabbed a knife, finally leaving her hesitations and fears behind.

“Let’s go.”

37

My pen won’t remember you, but my blade certainly will.

They raced down spiraling, white marble stairs.

Round and round they ran as a chorus of battle cries bounced off the stone walls. When they finally reached the bottom and burst through the doors, they shuddered to a stop, gasping at the sight before them.

The white city of Genesis was crumbling. She tasted fire and brimstone in the air as wealthy citizens ran for their lives, covering their heads and screaming while guards in black uniforms aimed their rifles down every street, shooting indiscriminately.

Large sections of glass were strewn all over the cobblestones, and the sun’s heat rained down on the city.

The dome was destroyed.

For the first time, the people of Genesis gazed upon the true sky.

Her eyes flickered to several bodies lying on the street, their skin shredded and bloody with sharp glass embedded into their cloaks.

“We have to go!” Takeshi shouted over the torrent. “This way.”

He grabbed Khalani’s frozen arm, and they started running in the opposite direction, toward the White House.

They raced past the opulent shops and buildings she’d once dreamed of walking into. The windows were shattered, and Khalani could vaguely see figures crouching behind tables, shaking and crying.

Up ahead, three guards lifted their guns, aiming into a toy shop. Khalani’s eyes locked on a group of kids huddled inside, covering their heads.

Takeshi and Brock raised their guns and fired at the same time.

Shots exploded, ringing in her ears.

Two of the guards immediately collapsed, the bullets piercing their heads. But the other guard was still lifting his gun, aiming at a little girl with brown hair.

A deep, fiery anger surged through her. The blade was in her hand before she could even think. Khalani didn’t close one eye this time. She kept her sight locked on the target.

And let the knife fly.

Elise flashed in her mind. She relived that fatal moment when the blade sailed a few inches past her attacker, missing, as Ansel shot her in the next instant.

The knife sailed in slow motion, and Khalani saw it happening again.

The consequences of her inadequacies.

The little girl looked up just as the man put his finger over the trigger. But Khalani’s blade struck his arm, and the shot veered toward the ground. He screamed as Takeshi hurtled across the space and shot him in the head.

They all stopped in front of the store, staring in disbelief at the number of children—around twenty—hiding with stunned eyes and ashen faces.

The little girl with brown hair shook uncontrollably as Takeshi crouched to her level.

“It’s okay. You’re safe,” he said in a low voice.

The girl peered up, her cheeks stained with dirt as she softly croaked, “You’re here to help us?”