A dozen Enforcers encircled the Cultivar, their rifles raised as two heavyset thugs y pio the ground, cursing furiously. More Enforcers stood ready at the mairah smaller teams at both side entrances.

  The Cultivar had no rear entra wasly a normal freestanding building but tucked away amongst a series of tightly packed buildings, blending into the metallic works of the Uy.

  Amid the shouts of the thugs, the deafening sms of sledgehammers against the hinges echoed as Enforcers worked to break through.

  Caitlyn and Greyson stood a distance away, just ihe encirclement with two more Enforcers standing guard nearby. Both women held rifles, though Greyson appeared visibly rexed pared to Caitlyn, who clutched her rifle close to her chest with both hands, her body tense and hunched.

  Caitlyn flinched as the doors broke away from their hinges, rattling loudly against the flreyson's gaze hardened but she said nothing, merely nodding to the Enforcers waiting for the signal.

  Aggressive, muffled ands echoed out. The Enforcers surged forward, their boots pounding against the pavement before fading into the darkened building.

  Uling silence followed. Caitlyn held her breath, her mask fogging slightly through her exhations. The silence was stretched unbearably thin until shattered by gunfire, screams, and the sounds of a vicious battle.

  The Enforcers surrounding the building turned in arm when the gunsh out, raising their rifles with expectation for bat. Caitlyn's head whipped up as the gss ceiling of the Cultivar shattered, a thick cloud of pollen puffing out into the air before settling like a toxic mist around the building, obsg vision.

  "Get to cover Caitlyn!" Greyson shouted, shoving her back as stray bullets whistled through the air, one past her ear.

  Caitlyn stumbled befaining her footing, retreating to a nearby building for shelter with one of the guards close behind. Her hands trembled as she tightly gripped the rifle, her eyes fixated on the unfolding chaos. The Enforcer beside her sed the area, his stance protective and alert.

  "You two - you two! Move up!" Greyson barked ands through the chaos, pointing at two Enforcers from each side and motioning them forward.

  At her and teams sprinted forward, taking cover at the entrances and peering cautiously into the darkened hallways, their guns raised and fingers origger.

  Gesturing at two more closest to her, she sprinted as fast as her older body would allow toward the entrah them. Caitlyn could see her momentarily raising her rifle, her world starting freeze befreyson lowered it.

  Sidestepping, Greyson's eyes widened with horror as two bloodied Enforcers struggled out with one supp the other with a limp leg. Caitlyn couldn't hear her words but watched as she and one of the Enforcers disappeared inside.

  Sug in air, Caitlyn's eyes darted apprehensively across the chaotic se. The sounds of gunfire and fighting faded shortly after Greysoered, but her emotions were a blur. She watched in shock as more pairs of wounded Enforcers made their way out.

  Her eyes flicked up to the shattered gss ceiling, catg a flicker of motion. The pollen had already fallen, leaving the view retively clear from a distance.

  "No..." Caitlyn whispered in disbelief, her voice shaking. While faint, she spotted the unmistakable fpping of a familiar iic jacket, gusts of wind catg it.

  Raising her rifle instinctively, her stomach dropped, breath catg ihroat. She peered through the optics that gave her a clear view but flinched araying it was an illusion.

  Hesitating, she ghrough the optics again. It was Orion- bloodied and visibly battered. He'd fought.

  'Why is he here...' Caitlyn's head inning and her heart stinging with sharp needles pierg it.

  Hearing shouts, Caitlyn pulled away and turned, watg as Greyson walked out with two Enforcers apanying her- and her parents. Outside of bruising and some cuts, they were fine. Relief flooded her immediately, but the weight on her chest remained as her thoughts drifted back to Orion.

  'We had the building surrounded...' Caitlyn's thoughts ed slowly, tears f as needles of betrayal prickled her heart. 'That means...'

  Caitlyn stepped out and began walking back toward the se with her guard, catg their attention. She was fully expeg the typical reprimands and disapproval from her parents- her gaze cast downward in anticipation, though also because of her previous thoughts.

  Instead, Cassandra and Tobias rushed toward Caitlyn, Cassandra pulled her into a tight hug, with Tobias ing around them both. Uo hold back, but speaking in a much softer, g tone, Cassandra whispered emotionally, "You shouldn't be here..."

  Caitlyn clutched at her mother's dirty clothes, her aowledgment subtle as tears fell down her face. She cried softly between sobs, "I didn't want to lose you...I had to be here."

  After a bittersweet moment of tears and relief, the family broke apart. Caitlyn's gaze drifted to the Enforcers beginning t out dead rades and foes alike. It was a short, intetle, to say the least.

  "Was anyone familiar there," Caitlyn turned and asked hesitantly, her voice faltering as she looked to Greyson. Greyson, dividitentioween the Enforcers and Kirammans, briskly shook her head as she juggled both worlds. "No. Should there have been?"

  Greyson's gaze lingered on Caitlyn who froze us weight in the current situation. Caitlyn's eyes dropped to the ground, her mind in turmoil again, but she shook her head and said in a low, strained voice, "No...I suppose not..."