Iris~~

A few feet away from me in the armory, Colton and Gwen select handguns.

The location of the rebels' second entrance was discovered by another group of Society members who had been gathered in another bedroom in the Estate. Based on the footage, the entrance is to a garage. Or at least what the rebels have made into a garage.

The first few transports to Cinderville have already left. I leave in thirty minutes with the twins, August, Bently, and Seong-ho. Enzo volunteered to take Seong-ho's place because of the twins, but Seong-ho insisted he go, having lived with rebels, and now Enzo will be babysitting.

Colton and Gwen finish choosing which handguns they want and come to my table where buckets of clips are arranged by type.

I'm already dressed in fitted black cargo pants and my boots are laced up. My backpack leans against the wall near the door. I've got gloves and a bullet proof vest tucked inside.

I grab another clip.

I'm about to take on the rebels, to go against the organization that raised me and abandoned me, all to save the Society's Preeminence. And I'm going to have to go against the man who saved me from death to do it.

And I'm . . . I'm okay with that.

Colton and Gwen eye me before pulling out the proper clips. They haven't said anything, but it's not in a snooty way. Rather it's clear they're anxious.

I finish grabbing what I need and carry it to my backpack.

Once I have everything packed, I sling it over my shoulder.

It's time I save the Preeminence.

*****

The SUV rumbles underneath my feet. Colton and Seong-ho sit across from me, with Gwen on the other side of Colton. August and Bently are seated on either side of me.

Cinderville is not far away. For most of the trip, we've been silent unless we're discussing the impending mission. Though I try not to think about it, I can't help but feel that Bently, August, and Gwen hope the rebels take care of the tiny little issue of me on their behalf.

Even if Colton says he doesn't want to kill me any longer, that doesn't mean he doesn't hope someone else won't do it for him.

Seong-ho—well I babysat for him, he better not want me killed off.

"Have any of you been in a battle that hasn't been at an Estate?" I run my hands over the tops of my pants. "Besides at the inn." Gwen wasn't there for that though.

"No," Bently says. "So this practice will be good."

Gwen rolls her eyes. "I'll be keeping my distance then." She meets my eyes, and it's hard for me to hold them when they're the same as Jonas's. "I've dealt with my fair share of kidnapping attempts, unlike Bently. Not a battle but it taught me to fight in unfamiliar surroundings."

I nod because I don't know what I can say.

Outside the van, the green of the mountains begins to thin and a sign announces Cinderville coming up in fourteen miles.

I tried to sleep on the way. I really did.

But how could I when there's so much at stake?

Colton reaches for his backpack, unzipping it.

Our goal is to keep the rebels unaware of our presence for as long as possible. They'll have other exits than only the two we know about.

I strap on my bulletproof vest.

The plan is for us to enter through their second entrance we found. Veil will be stationed around the gym entrance but are to stay out of sight until anyone tries to escape.

The van passes the city limits for Cinderville, and soon the van is driving into the city's downtown district. It's a mixture of old and new, most of the buildings no more than three

stories.

I strap my guns into their holsters, the extra ammunition already packed into the proper pockets and in a pouch on my belt. Retightening my ponytail, I breath in and out, falling into a steady pace to calm my heart and, in extension, to keep my legs and arms from feeling like jelly.

Our driver pulls the van into a parking lot for a fast-food restaurant across the two-lane street from the garage.

Society vehicles will be pulling up on the street on the other side of the garage.

I know that some of the other cars I can see from here belong to the Society but of those I am only sure of the vans.

The earpiece tucked in my right ear crackles. "Unit one close in," a voice says over the main channel.

The backs of three vans open, and on others side doors slide open, Veil in tactical gear exiting, their guns drawn as they close in on the brick building.

Gwen stands, moving toward the back of our van. "Remember we don't go in until after they've gained entrance past the garage." There will be one blast for the garage door and one for whatever awaits the Veil inside.

The goal for the five of us is to reach Bently's mother and Jonas.

Does Colton have a plan if he encounters Vienna? And what about me if I run into L? Or my uncle?

Or if any of us come face to face with Erik?

I pick up the gun I'll be carrying when I go in.

If death is still trying hard to claim me, I'm about to make his chase easy for him.

Standing, I roll my shoulders back just before the first explosion shakes the van.

It's time for me to fight my childhood.

Also you can now officially buy Once Upon Now. I really cannot believe that a story of mine will be in stores. By buying this book, you are not only supporting me, but giving Wattpad a reason to create more of these anthologies that maybe you could be published in. If you tweet me a photo of you holding the book (@ MikaelaBender) I will follow you on Twitter!

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