"Toxic," El called out, his voice smooth yet commanding.
She stepped into the room silently, her movements measured and deliberate as always. El's sharp gaze landed on her, and a pleased smile spread across his face. "You did well," he praised. "Bringing the kid, the girl, and the machine—it was a job well done. I trust there was no one else?"
El's words sent Miles's thoughts racing. Wait—where the hell is Ray?
Before he could dwell on it, a sharp, mechanical whine filled the air. The sound grew louder, resonating through the glass walls. El's brows furrowed, his sharp eyes darting around the room. "What is that?" he demanded, his voice edged with caution.
The noise intensified, and suddenly, the glass floor shattered inward with a deafening crash. Shards scattered like lethal confetti as a figure burst through, hovering on a sleek board powered by thrusters. The intruder moved with precision, landing gracefully amid the chaos.
Miles craned his neck, his heart skipping a beat as the figure turned toward him. "Ray!" he shouted, his voice a mixture of shock and relief.
Ray didn't waste a second. His movements were fluid and practiced as he unsheathed a blade from his side. With a sharp throw, he sliced through the ropes binding Miles's hands.
"What the hell? Who is that?!" El roared, fury flashing in his eyes.
Toxic stepped forward, positioning herself defensively in front of El. Her movements were smooth as she raised a sleek black gun, her expression cold and unreadable. "I thought you wouldn't be a problem," she said, her voice steady as steel.
Ray's eyes narrowed. "Guess you thought wrong."
He raised his left arm, the gauntlet on his wrist glowing faintly. As Toxic fired, a holographic shield erupted from the device, intercepting the laser shot with a sharp, electric crackle. Sparks flew as the shield absorbed the impact, leaving Ray unscathed.
Toxic's expression tightened, and she stepped forward, her aim unwavering.
Ray turned sharply, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Miles! Get Page out of here—now!"
Miles nodded, adrenaline surging through his veins. He scrambled toward Page, who was still kneeling, her hands bound tightly behind her back. With quick, frantic movements, he began untying her.
"Focus!" El snapped, shoving Toxic aside with a forceful hand. His irritation boiled over as he grabbed the gun from her, his sharp gaze fixed on Miles. "You fool! Don't get distracted. They're the priority!"
El leveled the gun at Miles, his finger hovering near the trigger. But hesitation flashed in his eyes. His grip faltered, and a thought crossed his mind. I can't shoot. We need him alive—and the girl to operate the machine.
Miles freed Page, pulling her to her feet as the tension in the room reached a fever pitch. Toxic growled in frustration, her gaze shifting to Ray once again.
Ray stood firm, his shield still raised as he barked over his shoulder, "Move it, Miles! There's a ship waiting for you below!"
El's teeth clenched as he snarled at Ray. "You're not getting away with this."
Ray's grin was sharp, almost mocking. "Watch me."
Miles grabbed Page's hand, pulling her toward the shattered glass floor. The roaring wind from outside whipped through the room, and Miles looked down to see a sleek, silver ship hovering just beneath the platform. The escape was in sight, but they had to act fast.
El's voice rang out again, cold and calculated. "You won't escape, Miles."
Miles tightened his grip on Page's hand, his body tense as he faced the gaping void below. The wind howled around them, threatening to swallow their every move. "We'll see about that," he muttered, his resolve firm.
But as he was about to leap, Page yanked him back with surprising force. "No!" she shouted, her voice trembling but resolute. "We can't leave—not without the Finder!"
Miles froze, a string of curses running through his mind. She was right. He turned, his eyes locking on the mechanical sphere on the floor. The Finder sat innocently in the chaos.
El's gaze followed Miles's, a sinister smile spreading across his face. He stepped forward, his expression mocking. "Go ahead. Try it."
Miles's grip on Page's hand tightened for a moment before he released her. "Ray!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Get her out of here—now! I'll meet you. Trust me!"
Ray hesitated for the briefest second, his eyes narrowing as he processed Miles's words. But he nodded, his board hovering closer. Without a word, he swooped down, grabbing Page by the waist.
"No!" Page screamed, struggling against Ray's grip. "Don't do this if you get caught it's the end!"
But Ray didn't stop. He shot toward the hole in the glass floor, his thrusters roaring as they descended toward the ship below.
Miles turned back to the Finder, his jaw clenched. There was no time to waste. He bolted toward it, his boots pounding against the shattered glass as his heart raced.
El mirrored his movements, his cold grin never faltering. "Not so fast," El hissed, his footsteps quickening as he sprinted toward the same goal.
The distance between Miles and the sphere closed rapidly. He leaped, his hands outstretched. The smooth, metallic surface of the Finder met his palms, and a triumphant smile spread across his face. "Yes! Laurel, I'm coming for you!" he exclaimed.
But his victory was short-lived.
El's hand clamped down on his wrist, the man's grip cold and iron-strong. "Not so fast," El growled, his mocking tone replaced with venom.
Miles's smile faltered, replaced by a look of pure determination. He yanked the Finder toward him, twisting his body to break free of El's grasp. With a grunt of effort, he wrenched the device out of El's reach and shot to his feet.
El snarled, slamming his fist into the floor. "You damn bitch! He's getting away!" he bellowed, his voice echoing in the room.
Behind him, Toxic sighed audibly. "Fine," she muttered, almost lazily. Crossing her arms into an X, holes along her forearms hissed open, releasing a cloud of green gas.
The gas spread quickly, swirling around Miles like a living thing. His breathing became shallow, his vision blurring as the toxin took hold. His steps faltered, and his knees buckled beneath him.
El's lips curled into a wicked grin as he stood, moving toward Miles. "This is the end for you," he said, his voice low and menacing.
The Finder slipped from Miles's grasp, rolling across the glass floor toward the hole. El's eyes widened in panic as he saw it teeter on the edge. "No!" he shouted, sprinting after it.
Miles's head swam, the world around him a distorted haze of green. Images of Laurel flashed in his mind—her head cradled in Grey's arms, lifeless and cold. A guttural scream tore from his throat.
"That's not happening!" Miles roared, his voice breaking through the fog. His muscles burned as he forced himself to his feet, his vision sharpening with pure willpower.
El turned, disbelief flashing across his face as Miles charged past him. "Impossible…" El muttered, his voice laced with shock.
The Finder slipped off the edge, plummeting through the hole in the glass floor. Miles didn't hesitate. He launched himself after it, his body cutting through the air like an arrow.
The wind howled in his ears, the ship below rushing up to meet him. The Finder was just within reach. With a desperate lunge, Miles wrapped his arms around it, clutching it tightly to his chest.
The impact was brutal.
Miles's body slammed into the ship's silver deck with a sickening thud. Pain exploded in his right arm as it struck the hard surface, the sharp pop of a dislocation tearing a scream from his throat.
The searing pain from Miles's previous wounds surged through his body like a wildfire, threatening to consume him entirely. Yet, even as his vision blurred and his body trembled, he refused to release his grip on the Finder. His knuckles whitened as he held the sphere close, the determination in his eyes burning brighter than the pain coursing through him.
The ship's deck trembled beneath him, the roar of its engines drowning out the chaos above.
"Miles!" Page's voice cut through the haze. She rushed to his side, her knees hitting the cold metal as she grabbed his uninjured arm. Her hands trembled as she helped him sit up, her eyes brimming with tears. "You made it," she whispered, her voice thick with relief.
She turned her head toward Ray, her shout echoing over the din of the engines. "Ray, let's go! He is here!"
Ray glanced back at them, his expression a mix of frustration and begrudging admiration. "Hang on!" he barked, adjusting the ship's controls. The vessel tilted slightly, its thrusters roaring loudly.
Page turned her tear-filled eyes back to Miles, her expression shifting from relief to anger. She gripped his shirt tightly, shaking him as she yelled, "You fool! Do you have any idea what could've happened?!"
Miles blinked at her, the adrenaline still pounding in his ears. "Page—"
"If you had been caught, it would've been the end of my world!" she interrupted, her voice cracking with emotion. "I can rebuild the machine, but I can't rebuild Amethyst! You risked everything!"
Miles winced, his body aching as he struggled to sit upright. He cradled his dislocated right arm, the pain evident in his clenched jaw. But even through the agony, a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Don't worry," he rasped, his voice hoarse but steady. "I got the Finder."
He raised the sphere with his left hand, holding it up for Page to see.