Chapter 3 - The Trap in the Courtyard
The heavy oak doors of the estate slammed shut behind her.
The guards shoved Victoria down the slick marble steps into the rain.
Her high heels snapped on the wet stone.
She ripped them off without hesitation, standing barefoot in the pouring rain.
The cold water washed over her bare shoulders, stinging her scars.
The rain felt like reality returning after a nightmare.
"Get out of the perimeter before we open fire," one of the guards ordered coldly.
Victoria wiped the rain from her eyes and looked at the guard.
He was wearing the crest of the 7th Vanguard—her former unit.
"Rookie," Victoria called out, staring directly into his helmet visor.
The guard stiffened slightly.
"You were at the siege of Oakhaven," she said, taking a slow step toward him.
"I pulled you out of a burning transport."
"Back off, lady!" the guard shouted, raising his rifle.
His hand was trembling on the trigger.
He recognized her.
"They ordered you to forget us, didn't they?" Victoria asked softly.
Suddenly, a red laser sight painted a bright dot on the guard's chest.
Before Victoria could scream a warning, a suppressed gunshot shattered the night.
The guard collapsed onto the wet pavement, blood pooling beneath his armor.
A second laser dot snapped onto Victoria's chest.
"Sniper!" she roared, diving behind a marble pillar just as a heavy round shattered the stone.
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The ambush hadn't been set to throw her out.
It was set to execute her.
