The Girl Who Dared to Think (The Girl Who Dared #1)

Instinctually, I cast my lash onto the ceiling and activated the gyros inside at full tilt, snapping off my feet and through the air at what felt like terminal velocity. I disconnected the line as I flew over everyone’s heads, and tucked my body like I was diving into a pool, burning off excess speed as I curled my back and rolled forward onto the floor in a controlled tumble.

I rolled into a standing position and brought my baton out in a fluid motion, then stepped into Theo’s attack, my baton arm blocking his oncoming blow while I slammed the baton into his side. There was a sharp pop, and he flew back a few feet, landing on his backside.

My heart skipped a beat, thinking that Maddox’s modifications had killed him, but he sat up abruptly, his blond hair practically standing on end. His gaze was confused as he stared at me; then his eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped over.

I was already running when he started to fall, leaping over his still form. A quick check told me he was still breathing, and then a glance over my shoulder told me I had lost precious seconds. Devon was now close enough that I could see the hard gleam in his eyes. I poured on the speed, then switched to the lashes, trying to create some distance between us.

Ahead of me, Zoe, Eric, and Grey had reached the doorway, and were already rounding the corner, heading left. I had no idea whether Devon had seen them or not, but I made a decision, and peeled off to the right, my lashes flying. Another look over my shoulder showed him right behind me, his own lashes working.

My heart picked up speed as I threw and connected with the very edge of the platform ringing the outside. I swung into it, letting momentum draw me back up and over the ledge, where I disconnected quickly and began to run again, my finger tapping my indicator to start a net.

“Contact Alex Castell!” I said, and I felt my net buzz. Almost immediately, Alex’s voice filled the line.

Liana?

I heard Devon’s heavy footsteps landing behind me, and threw my lashes again, hooking onto the ceiling above and winching myself up off the ground.

“I went to rescue Zoe and had to split off from the group to draw away the Knights. Contact Zoe and tell her to keep going with Grey. I’ll meet them back at Sanctum.”

Liana, are you in danger?

I tossed the next line, and then the next, weaving around pillars and staircases, climbing ever upward.

“Yes,” I said through clenched teeth, as I landed hard on a ledge and stumbled a few steps. Stupid—every second counted, and I could not afford mistakes. I began to run again. “I love you, but I gotta go. Get my message to Zoe.”

I disconnected the line before he could respond, my lashes starting to fly again as I launched myself into the air.

Devon was relentless, I realized, as I disconnected my lines and angled my fall through the staircase and to the level below. I spotted a bridge and made for it, needing to get out of here and to a plunge. I had no idea where Grey, Zoe, and Eric were, but as long as Devon was after me, that meant they had a chance of escaping. I trusted Grey to get Zoe to Sanctum.

I just prayed I could get there as well.

I was nearly to the bridge when something yanked sharply on my foot. I was in the middle of transitioning lines, and Devon’s lash was cast with perfect precision, tearing me from the air and forcing me down. There was no time to cast a new lash before I hit the ground.

The air escaped from my lungs as I slammed down, rolling a few feet before coming to a stop. I gasped, pain erupting from my back, and then sat up, the strong doses of adrenaline coursing through me helping to eradicate some of the confusion of the fall.

I scrambled to my feet, looking up in time to see Devon’s lash darting for me, and I managed to shift to one side, avoiding getting hit, but also nearly tumbling over in the process. I righted myself in time to avoid another lash directed at me, and Devon retracted them, the sounds of the cables whistling as they slid back in.

Looking around, I saw the edge of the platform just a few feet away.

“Don’t do it, Squire Castell,” Devon said, his voice sharp. “Just come here, and we can make all of this go away. All you have to do is tell me where they are.”

I met his gaze, heart pounding in fear. “‘They’?”

Devon’s mouth practically disappeared as his lips thinned in disapproval. “The undocs you’ve been hiding out with. I know that you didn’t kill your mentor—that you didn’t have any part in it. I can help you, keep you safe, but you have to tell me where they are.”

He knew about Cali and the others. How much more did he know? How much more could he know? Had he killed Gerome? Or did he not know who had either?

I had to lose him. I had to get back to the others and warn them that the Champion knew they existed. Glancing again at the edge, only a few precious steps away, I considered it. I had no idea what was over the side, or if my lashes would even work after he had hit me with his, but if I didn’t get out of the Medica, his backup was going to arrive, and there was no way I could take on the entirety of the Knights.

“Don’t,” he said. “Think of everything you’ve worked so hard for. You’ll throw it all away.”

“Good,” I said defiantly.

Then I turned, and leapt.

I heard him shout, and then the air was rushing past my ears as I angled my body into a streamlined form, trying to get as far away from the Medica and Devon as possible. My eyes were already searching for lash points, and I saw one approaching fast—a footbridge that connected to the Core.

I freed my lashes and threw for it, praying Devon’s lashes hadn’t destroyed mine. But the first lash tinked off the side and then fell free. I tossed the second one on impulse, my horror growing. I watched it soar, praying I hadn’t just killed myself.

The lash hit, and I immediately felt the tug as it caught me. I swung into it, relieved that it was holding my weight, and looked up, half expecting to see Devon in hot pursuit. The air above was clear, but I didn’t trust it—I was still too close to Devon and the Medica for comfort. I had to get out of here, quickly, or else they’d get me.

I quickly cast another lash, crossing under the bridge to the Core and heading up, ignoring the shouts of the Eyes walking in their exposed halls below who spotted me climbing the walls of their precious Scipio. I continued to climb, angling for a massive bridge that stretched over the shell, and crossing underneath, my eyes searching for any Knights.

As soon as my feet were firmly on the ground on the other side of the bridge, I began to walk, heading to the nearest doorway leading into the shell and disappearing within, following the signs for the closest plunge shaft, and keeping an eye out for any pursuit.



Even though there wasn’t any sign that I was being followed, I took the longest, most convoluted way possible back to Sanctum, first going down one plunge, then back through another, going up and down stairs and through halls, randomly changing directions.

The entire time, I searched, paranoid that at any moment Devon was going to show up and finish what he had started—and worried about the status of my friends.