Kaela moved like a blade unsheathed.
Her heel struck the tiled floor with a fierce snap as she met the closest assassin head-on, ducking low under his opening slash. Her shoulder rammed into his midsection, lifting him slightly off the ground as she twisted and flung him sideways into one of the support beams. The crack of impact echoed through the chamber, followed by a burst of dust.
But the others were already in motion.
Kaela didn't have time to chase the first down. A second assassin came in from behind, slashing diagonally at her spine.
She pivoted, blocking with the flat of her arm brace. Sparks flew. Her elbow snapped up, connecting with the side of his visor, sending him staggering.
Lucas hadn't moved yet. He stood still, watching. Measuring.
Kaela danced backward, breathing heavily. All four surrounded her now, the one she threw already back on his feet.
She whispered to herself, "Come on, stay sharp..."
---
Liam's house.
One of the assassins lunged at him with brutal speed, blade whistling for his neck.
Liam ducked low, sliding forward under the strike. He pivoted on his palms, kicking upward like a spring-loaded trap. His heel slammed into the assassin's chin, knocking him airborne.
No time to celebrate.
Another came from the left, slashing inward with twin daggers.
Liam twisted to avoid the first, but the second cut grazed his shoulder.
Pain flared hot.
He gritted his teeth and drove his elbow back into the attacker's gut. As the assassin recoiled, Liam grabbed his wrist and flipped him over, slamming him into the floor.
A third one barreled in from behind. Liam felt the shift of air—too late.
A blow crashed into his ribs, launching him into the far wall.
He hit it hard. The breath fled his lungs.
Dreck remained still, observing silently. Trusting.
Liam pushed himself up, wiped blood from his lip, and gave a savage grin.
"Still standing."
---
Kaela backflipped over a sweeping blade, landing squarely on the shoulders of one of the assassins. He swung wildly, trying to throw her off, but she drove her heel into the side of his neck and vaulted off him.
She spun in the air and came down with an ax kick aimed at another's shoulder.
He blocked it just in time, but the force of the blow dropped him to one knee.
Before she could follow up, the one she stunned earlier swept her legs from behind. Kaela fell hard, but rolled instantly, dodging a stab that pierced the floor where her head had been.
She came up swinging, catching her attacker in the ribs.
He staggered. She pressed in, landing three rapid strikes to his sternum before being forced to retreat from an incoming blade.
Her lip bled. Her arms trembled slightly.
But her eyes burned.
---
Liam ducked and weaved.
The assassins came in tight formation now, forcing him to stay on the defensive.
He blocked a vertical slash with his forearm, twisted, and countered with a jab to the throat.
It landed—but the assassin barely flinched.
They're tougher than before.
One swept his leg; Liam leapt over it, kicking off another's shoulder and flipping back.
He hit the ground and immediately pushed off it, launching into a punch that cracked a visor.
Glass splintered, and the masked figure fell back.
But that left him open.
The last assassin slashed his thigh, drawing blood.
Liam hissed but twisted to reduce the cut.
His foot lashed out, catching the attacker in the knee.
The man stumbled. Liam pressed in, but a fist caught him in the ribs again.
He coughed, stumbling back, breathing hard.
---
Kaela gritted her teeth as she narrowly dodged another flurry of blades. One nicked her side.
She used the pain.
With a primal yell, she launched into a spinning elbow that caught the nearest assassin squarely in the jaw. He fell back, dazed.
She didn't stop.
A flying knee sent another into the wall.
Two left.
One grabbed her from behind—a chokehold.
She stomped down hard on his foot, leaned forward, and flipped him over her shoulder with raw force.
She turned just in time to block a punch, then countered with a double palm strike to the chest, staggering the last attacker.
She was panting now, sweat trailing down her temple.
They kept getting up.
But so did she.
---
Liam stumbled sideways, narrowly dodging a blade to the throat.
He slammed his elbow into the attacker's ribs and spun into a low sweep that dropped another.
He was fighting purely on instinct now—training, reflex, will.
One assassin tried to flank him—Liam jumped and kicked backward, catching him in the jaw.
Another tackled him from the side.
They rolled.
Liam wrestled for control, took a few punches, then headbutted the attacker and flipped him over with a growl.
He stood slowly, chest heaving.
His vision blurred slightly, but he kept his stance.
---
Kaela lunged once more, trading blows in a savage exchange. Her forearm clashed with a blade. Her shin connected with someone's ribs. A fist caught her across the cheek, spinning her.
She snarled and retaliated with a brutal roundhouse that flattened the nearest assassin.
Blood trickled from a cut on her brow.
Still, she stood tall.
Still, she fought.
---
Two fights. Two homes. Two warriors.
Neither giving ground.
Neit
her backing down.
The assassins circled again.
The next wave was about to begin.
And neither Liam nor Kaela looked ready to lose.
This is kinda hard I wish kaela were here.
Liam said