Chapter 180
- Evan -
Josh looked up at me.
"Good then!"
His soul-fire ignited again.
"Because now we can fight!"
The demon's head erupted from the top waters as it was slowly breaking through.
Duke landed next to me, his wings snapping inward.
"Evan," he said quietly, you used it."
Josh looked between us.
"What's he talking about?"
I wiped the blood from my nose with the back of my hand.
The answer was obvious.
The cracked pavement and burn marks across the ground mixed with the smell of burnt ozone still hanging in the air.
Duke's jaw tightened.
"I told you," he said lowly, "never to use that power unless there was no other choice."
"There wasn't," I held strong but respectfully.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Josh tried to cut in, coming to my unneeded rescue.
"Hey—people would've drowned!"
Duke turned to him, giving him a side-eye.
"And how many more will drown tonight?"
Josh fell silent.
The wind carrying Micah's barrier was weakening, and the demon was pushing farther through.
Behind us, the city stretched out, apartments, families, and lights still on, glowing through the windows where people remained unaware of what was coming.
The silence grew heavier.
Baby landed beside Duke.
"They saved who they could," she said gently.
Duke still didn't look at me.
"This operation was never planned to save everyone."
His voice was calm and mellow-toned in a muted way.
There was weight behind it.
"The flood zone covers all of District Three."
Josh finally realized and frowned.
"You're saying—"
"Yes, and it won't stop here. We must plan as if the hackers want all of Bushel Shell City. The market evacuation saved a few and bought us minutes."
He glanced at me again.
"Minutes your body can't afford to spend right now."
I know I felt a hollow ache in my chest as my heartbeat struggled to settle. Raishin burns through life.
Duke sighed. "Next time, tell me before you try to die."
"Next time," I answered, knowing there was still a chance I might fulfill his wishes again. But next time I'll be faster.
Baby's released her clawed gauntlet. "I will buy us some time. You get to the incline; take anyone along the path, but don't take any more time."
Becky remained silent, tears beginning to fade.
"With one large ice wall, I could—I feel so useless."
Josh grabbed her hands.
"Your standing here gives me strength."
Kaysi walked over to Micah and placed her arm on his shoulder.
Micah's wind rushed in again.
"You can control it now?"
"No, but I realized that when any of you are drained, my energy will feed you as you unconsciously pull it from me."
"One day, when I figure it out, I will be able to help before you are drained. Until then, I will do what I can."
Kaysi slammed her sword into the ground, so she didn't move from Micah's wind.
"Baby, Micah and I will hold back the waters and the demon as long as possible. Josh, Evan, Duke, and Becky get everyone out of here while we can."
She saw the look in my eyes before I could answer her, and she shouted back at me.
"GO! We will meet again, promise!"
Kaysi's voice echoed behind us as Josh grabbed my arm and pulled me up the street.
I hated it.
Every instinct in my body screamed to stay. to fight alongside them, to hold the line against the demon and rising waters.
But Duke moved past us without hesitation.
"Move forward."
His voice cut through thoughts like a blade.
Behind us, the roar of the flood continued, the sound of the hurricane's winds shrieking against the pressure of the ocean. Somewhere in that chaos, the crocodile demon slammed against the barrier again.
Another thunderous crash down the street.
I force my feet forward.
If we stayed, we'd only slow them down... That's what I told myself.
Water already ran along the pavement in the shallow streams, sloshing around our boots as we ran.
At first, it was just a thin sheet across the road.
Then ankle-deep.
People were finally noticing.
A man stepped out of a doorway holding a bag of groceries and stared down at the water pooling around his shoes.
"What the—?"
Josh didn't slow.
"Flood breach!" he shouted. "Get uphill to the next district! Move now!"
Doors began opening along the street.
Confused faces peering out from apartments and shops.
Some listened immediately, grabbing family members and running.
Others just stared at the water like it didn't make sense yet.
Denial.
One, they could afford to take. Wasting seconds of precious time by hesitating is their only chance at potentially surviving.
We passed a small jewelry store with the lights still on inside.
Through the glass window, I could see a man frantically stuffing velvet trays into a bag behind the counter.
Josh skidded to a stop.
"HEY!" He shouted, pushing the door open.
A bell chimed above the frame.
A shop owner spun around, clutching a handful of gold necklaces.
He had to be in his sixties.
"What are you doing?" Josh demanded.
The man hurried to safety behind the counter, fumbling with the dial.
"I'm not leaving!" he snapped. "You people already caused enough trouble in this city!"
Water sloshed through the open doorway behind us.
Josh blinked.
"Buddy, the ocean is about thirty seconds away from redecorating your floor plan!"
"I've spent fifty years building the store!" The old man barked, still cranking the safe open. "I'm not abandoning it!"
I stepped forward.
"Sir, the floor doors failed. This district is going under."
The safe finally popped open.
The old man began scooping handfuls of jewelry into a bag.
"Then you go!" He snapped without even looking up. "I'm not losing everything!"
Josh stared at him for a second.
Then at the rising waters.
Then back.
He didn't argue again, but instead sighed.
"Oh, my lord!"
He walked behind the counter and grabbed him, throwing him over his shoulders like a sack of potatoes.
The bag of jewelry fell from the man's hand.
"HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"
Josh turned and started running back out the door.
"Time for negotiation is over!"
"You can't just—out me down!" the old man shouted, kicking his legs.
Josh didn't break stride.
"Nope!"
Water splashed up around our boots as we stepped back onto the main street.
" I refuse to let you drown today because you want to hug your gold collection."
"I'll sue you!"
"You gotta survive first!"
Duuke walked past us without even looking back.
"Less talking," he teased Josh.
"This is kidnapping! Kidnapping, I tell you.
Josh pointed up the incline with his free hand.
"Congratulations, you have been kidnapped to safety."
Josh dropped him down.
Duke stared him down with his wings fully open, reflecting the water's shine.
"Now, go and don't waste our time for anyone else who wants to live another day."
The old man remained silent. I think he got the point as he walked up the incline in defeat.
As we turned back to help the last few people close enough for us to save.
A woman near the street corner grabbed Josh's arm.
"Please! Help my neighbor!" She said breathlessly, pointing to the apartment building behind her. "The elevators aren't working; she's handicapped and refuses to leave!"
Josh took her hand and followed.