The scent of ash lingered in the air as Kael clutched his younger brother's hand, pulling him forward through the scorched ruins. Every step kicked up debris, the sound grating against his nerves. He wasn't used to leading. Not like this.
Rion followed closely, occasionally glancing over his shoulder, his face pale but determined. Despite the chaos they'd escaped, his brother had yet to shed a single tear. At 11 years old, Rion wasn't supposed to carry that weight.
"Do you hear that?" Rion whispered.
Kael stopped, tilting his head. Faint voices carried through the ruins. He tightened his grip on the crude iron dagger he'd scavenged. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.
"Stay close," Kael said, pulling Rion behind a crumbled wall.
The voices grew louder, accompanied by the steady hum of Dominion tech. Peering through a crack in the rubble, Kael saw a group of Dominion soldiers patrolling the area. Their black armor gleamed unnaturally against the destruction, their glowing visors scanning the surroundings.
"Did you see anyone escape the blast radius?" one soldier asked.
"No. Orders are to secure the perimeter and sweep for any survivors," another replied.
Kael's heart pounded in his chest. The shard embedded in him pulsed faintly, reacting to his heightened fear. He clenched his fist, willing it to stay dormant.
"They're looking for us," Kael whispered, his voice shaking.
Rion nodded, his eyes wide. "What do we do?"
Kael hesitated. They could wait for the patrol to pass, but the soldiers were methodical, checking every crevice and corner. Sooner or later, they'd be found.
A memory of his mother's voice cut through the haze of fear: "Protect Rion. No matter what happens."
Kael took a deep breath, his resolve hardening. "When I say go, you run. I'll distract them."
"What?" Rion hissed. "No! I'm not leaving you!"
"Rion, listen to me," Kael said firmly, gripping his brother's shoulders. "If they catch both of us, we're dead. You have to get to the scavenger hideout. Jorik will keep you safe."
"But—"
"Do you trust me?"
Rion's lip quivered, but he nodded.
"Good. Then go when I tell you."
Kael rose slowly, his dagger glinting in the faint light. He stepped out from behind the wall, his stomach churning. The soldiers immediately turned toward him, their weapons raised.
"There!" one shouted.
Kael didn't wait. He bolted in the opposite direction, shouting to draw their attention. "Hey! Over here!"
The soldiers pursued Kael through the ruins, their boots pounding against the cracked earth. Kael's lungs burned, but he didn't dare slow down. He ducked under collapsed beams and vaulted over rubble, using his knowledge of the terrain to stay ahead.
"Stop running, kid!" one of the soldiers bellowed.
Kael gritted his teeth, his mind racing. He needed to lose them, but the shard inside him buzzed with suppressed energy, tempting him to unleash it.
Not yet. Not until I have no choice.
He rounded a corner and skidded to a halt. Dead end.
The soldiers closed in, their weapons trained on him. Kael backed against the wall, his dagger trembling in his hand.
"Drop the weapon," one of the soldiers ordered.
Kael's mind raced. He could feel the shard's power rising, heat spreading through his chest.
If I use it, I might survive. But what if I can't control it? What if…
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden crash. One of the soldiers cried out as rubble rained down, burying him.
"Rion?" Kael gasped, spotting his brother atop the debris.
Rion had climbed the rubble, his small hands gripping a makeshift slingshot. He fired another projectile, hitting a second soldier in the visor and staggering him.
"What are you doing?!" Kael shouted.
"I'm not leaving you!" Rion yelled back, his voice cracking.
The distraction was enough. Kael lunged at the nearest soldier, driving his dagger into a gap in the armor. The man screamed, collapsing to the ground.
But the remaining soldiers recovered quickly. One raised his rifle, aiming at Rion.
"No!" Kael roared, the shard's energy surging uncontrollably. Flames erupted from his body, forming a protective barrier around him and his brother.
The soldiers hesitated, fear flashing across their faces. Kael seized the moment, hurling a wave of fire that forced them to retreat.
"Let's go!" Kael shouted, grabbing Rion's hand.
They fled into the depths of the ruins, the shard's power flickering like a dying ember.
Hours later, they found shelter in an abandoned subway tunnel. The air was damp and cold, but it was better than the surface.
Kael collapsed against the wall, his body trembling. The shard's power had drained him, leaving him lightheaded and weak.
"You're an idiot," he said, glaring at Rion.
Rion sat across from him, his arms crossed defiantly. "You're welcome."
Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I told you to run. Why didn't you listen?"
"Because you're my brother," Rion said quietly. "And I'm not letting you do this alone."
Kael's anger melted away, replaced by a deep sense of guilt. He reached over, ruffling Rion's hair. "Thanks… but you scared the hell out of me."
Rion smiled faintly. "I'll try not to next time."
Kael leaned back, his eyes heavy. "No promises."
As they sat in silence, Kael couldn't help but think about the shard—and the cost of using it. If he couldn't control it, it might save them one day and destroy them the next.
But for now, they were alive. And that was enough.