Half-Bloods R • 1: Fallen World

C • 4 : Bend the Spine, Crack the Wrists

Elizabeth walked into the elevator with Demi.

This plan wasn't going to work, why would Arva believe that the research teams had sent her instead of calling? Vaelan was underestimating her. Right?

When the door opened, Demi immediately snuck herself into a hiding spot while Elizabeth headed towards Arva's office.

"Second Captain, Arva! The research teams request your attendance to a breakthrough in Order tech," that part was at least true, Vaelan used some of Christopher's notes and stolen tech to assist the researchers, he even bribed them to ensure that they would go along with their plan.

However, Arva was absent from her office. A phone and tablet sat on the desk and Elizabeth signaled Demi to hurry over.

Demi hesitated at first but eventually walked over and looked into the office. She, again, hesitated before walking and waving her hand at Elizabeth and whispering, "Keep watch, If she shows up, keep to our plan."

Elizabeth nodded and turned around as Demi turned on the tablet and scrolled through all the information she could find, even taking out her own phone and taking pictures of the large screen.

Elizabeth and Demi had worn similar clothing today, they both wore hoodies and shorts, though Demi's shorts actually reached her knees and didn't stop dead at her thighs.

Demi had hidden all sorts of items in her jacket, from a small recorder and mini-camera to, of course, her phone. Elizabeth, still doubting that there would be any evidence and trying to reassure herself that there had been some kind of misunderstanding, only brought six chocolate bars and her phone.

This is ridiculous, seriously, why would Arva betray the rebellion?

Demi had just switched to checking the phone when the elevator dinged. Elizabeth ducked into the office and signaled Demi to hide. Demi quickly placed the tablet and phone as they had been and scrambled into the ceiling through the panels.

Elizabeth tried her best to look natural and sauntered out of the room. She turned to her right and caught eyes with Arva.

"Second Captain, Arva. The research teams request your attendance to a breakthrough in Order tech," she repeated herself, her heart racing as Arva stared at her with squinted eyes.

"And why didn't they just call me?"

At a loss for words, Elizabeth blurted out a response, "I don't know, ma'am, I'm just doing them a quick favor before I head out to eat."

Shit! Is that believable? How the hell do I even act on a normal day? She couldn't help but feel mortified as rubatosis wrapped around her.

Arva shrugged her shoulders and sighed, a sight that made Elizabeth flinch.

"Okay then, let me just grab my tablet and we can go," she started, before quietly whispering to herself, "I wish those damn researchers would follow protocol a bit more often."

As Arva picked up the tablet, Elizabeth could feel every fiber in her body itching to run, to defend against some kind of attack, but Arva simply began walking away, obviously expecting Elizabeth to follow. Elizabeth let out a quiet breath of relief before sending a small bolt of force at the panel Demi had crawled through. As Elizabeth was guided away, only one thought crossed her mind.

Good luck, Demi.

• :: • :: • :: • :: • :: • :: •

Something small tapped against the panel, and she couldn't hear anymore muffled talking. Had they gone? Demi waited a few moments, or maybe it was a minute or two, but she eventually stepped out, set the panel to normal, and picked up the phone again. She checked any apps that she could, and after a while couldn't find anything except for a repeatedly called, unnamed phone number. Demi took a picture of the phone number and then ran through the phone a second and third time.