I cut across campus toward Field Gamma. The paths got darker the further I went from the main buildings.
My skin started prickling around the third turn.
That feeling when you know soone’s watching but can’t see them.
I stopped. Scanned the shadows.
Nothing.
The system interface sat quiet in my peripheral vision. No threat warnings. No notifications.
Just that crawling sensation up my spine.
I kept walking. Slower now.
Field Gamma was on the edge of campus. Past the training annex. Past the equipnt sheds.
Why the hell would Misato call a eting all the way out here?
Movent to my left.
I spun.
A figure in black dropped from the building overhang straight at my face.
Instinct took over.
I ducked. Felt the body pass over .
My hand shot up. Palm out.
Wave Motion activated before I thought about it.
Golden white energy spiraled from my hand. Slamd into the masked attacker mid-flight.
They flew backward. Hit the ground hard. Rolled three tis before stopping.
Holy shit. That actually worked.
More movent. All around .
Fuck.
I turned. Raised both hands.
Two more figures in black rushed from opposite sides.
I fired left. The spiral caught one in the chest. Sent them sprawling.
Spun right. Fired again.
Direct hit.
The third attacker crashed into a bench.
My legs shook.
Stamina drain hit like a truck. Three shots. That’s all I had at Copper rank.
My chest heaved. Vision swam at the edges.
Five more shapes materialized from the darkness.
Oh you’ve gotta be fucking kidding .
I opened my mouth to scream.
"HE—"
A hand clamped over my face. Another grabbed my throat from behind.
Sothing cloth shoved between my teeth. Tied tight.
I thrashed. Tried to throw them off.
They held firm.
Three of them pinned my arms. One got my legs.
I looked up at the five surrounding .
Green eyes. All of them had the sa green eyes glowing above their masks.
Wait.
Li green.
My muffled sound ca out garbled but the tone was clear.
Misato?
The closest one leaned down. Her ponytail swayed.
"If I remove my hand will you listen to ?"
I glared. Every muscle in my body scread to fight.
But five clones versus at zero stamina?
Math didn’t work.
I nodded.
Her hand lifted from my mouth. The gag stayed.
She started reaching for it.
I sucked in air.
"HEL—"
Her hand chopped my neck.
Vision exploded white. Then black.
What the... fuck...
Rope dug into my wrists.
I blinked. The world ca back fuzzy.
My head throbbed like soone used it for batting practice.
Where...
Dorm apartnt. Sobody’s dorm apartnt.
Cream walls. Standard furniture. On a couch. Summit House maybe?
I was on a couch. Hands tied behind my back. Ankles bound. That cloth gag still in my mouth.
Misato stood near the window. Li green ponytail catching moonlight.
Another Misato paced near the kitchen.
The pacing one stopped. "He’s awake now."
The window one turned. Nodded.
Fuck. Am I gonna die? What the hell is happening?
My heart hamred. The ropes cut into my skin every ti I moved.
Misato walked over. Crouched in front of .
Her green eyes were serious. Worried even.
"I want to apologize."
My glare could’ve lted steel.
"Really. I had no idea what Blair was going to do. The bribe. The threats." Misato’s hands twisted together. "She didn’t tell any of that until after you left."
I tried to say sothing. The gag turned it into angry noises.
Fuck these ropes are tight.
"I know you don’t believe ." Misato reached for the gag. "But I need you to understand. Blair is... she’s complicated."
She pulled the cloth from my mouth.
I worked my jaw. Tasted cotton and blood where I’d bit my tongue during the knockout.
"Complicated?" My voice ca out rough. "She tried to buy . Then threatened to ruin my life when I said no."
"I know."
"And you kidnapped because...?"
"Because Blair’s planning sothing worse." The other Misato spoke from near the kitchen. "We needed to warn you."
"Warn by knocking unconscious and tying up?" I leaned forward as much as the ropes allowed. "Great plan."
"You were screaming." Window Misato pointed out. "If anyone heard, they’d co running. Then you’d tell them about Blair’s proposal."
"So?"
"So Blair’s family has lawyers that make IHC investigators disappear." Kitchen Misato crossed her arms. "Your word against a Davenport heir? You’d lose."
Window Misato nodded. "Worse. Blair would escalate. Make sure you never made it to Friday’s assessnt."
The cold reality of that sank in.
Blair had money. Connections. Power.
I had what? A perverted milk system and six days to live?
"What’s she planning?" I asked.
"Nothing yet." Window Misato dismissed her clone with a gesture. The other one dissolved into shadows. "But I know Blair. She doesn’t handle rejection well."
"No kidding."
"You humiliated her tonight. Saw her exposed. Said no to her face." Misato sat on the coffee table across from . "She’ll want revenge."
"So untie and let deal with it."
"Can’t." Misato shook her head. "If I untie you now, you’ll go straight to administration. Report everything. Then Blair finds out I warned you."
"And that’s bad because?"
"Because I need her." The words ca out quiet. Honest. "My family works for her family. My mom’s entire career depends on the Davenports. If I betray Blair, my mom loses her job. Her housing. Everything."
I stared at Misato.
The li green ponytail. The athletic body that looked like it could break in half.
She was trapped just like I was.
Different cage. Sa lock.
"So what’s the play here?" I asked.
"You fail Friday’s assessnt. Quietly. No theatrics." Misato leaned forward. "Squad ranks low. I request transfer to Blair’s team. She gets what she wants. Everyone moves on."
"Except my squad gets fucked."
"Your squad survives." Misato’s eyes hardened. "Blair wanted to make sure you had an accident before Friday. Training injury. Simulation malfunction. Sothing permanent."
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