Chapter 30: Dead Run
They'd put a good stretch of distance between themselves and Clearwater before Edmond and Rufus finally stopped. Where they were headed was still about fifteen miles north, and the sooner they got there, the better.
Levi scanned the area, brow furrowing.
"What're we stoppin' for?"
"Don't get itchy yet. We're stoppin' for you."
Levi rolled his eyes.
"Look, I know my part. It's just leavin' some food."
"It isn't that. We're about to speed up. You need to start paying attention."
"I am."
Rufus spat on the ground, eyeing Levi like he was some kid mouthing off.
"Not what he means. You ever run through the desert at night?"
Levi blinked at him.
"Yes."
He deadpanned. Was this a joke? Running through the desert was something he was painfully familiar with.
"Oh… right. Shit. Well, high speeds—ah, fuck it. Let the cocky bastard figure it out."
With a middle finger over his shoulder, Rufus took off, vanishing into the dark like a ghost.
Edmond glanced at Levi.
"Watch your toes. We'll stop to rest when you need."
Then, with a gust of dust and wind, he was gone too.
Levi exhaled through his nose. Now this… This was what he'd been waiting for. A real test. A chance to push his body, see what it could really do.
He crouched slightly, tension coiling through his muscles. His legs bulged.
And then—he ran.
The cold desert air whipped past Levi's face, rushing through his hair and tugging at his clothes. His boots barely touched the dirt before he was pushing off again, momentum building with every stride.
Edmond and Rufus were ahead, moving steady, their shapes cutting through the night like shadows.
He was gaining.
He knew they were holding back for him. Didn't sit right.
Levi leaned in, legs driving harder, the Vaporguard in his muscles building heat. The desert floor stretched wide, open, nothing to stop him. Wind roared in his ears.
Up ahead, Rufus glanced over at Edmond.
"Kid's movin'."
Edmond didn't look back.
"He's gonna trip."
Rufus grinned, shaking his head.
"You gonna tell him?"
Edmond shrugged.
"We'll say something when he catches up."
Crash!
A burst of dust and tumbling limbs. Levi went flying past.
"Hey dumbass—slow down or you'll trip!"
He bounced off the dirt like a thrown sack before rolling to a dead stop, flat on his back.
Next thing he knew, Edmond was standing over him, hand outstretched. Levi took it, pulling himself up with a grunt.
"You can't go all out."
Edmond frowned, dusting him off.
"Just follow my pace. Keep your eyes on the ground. Rufus will handle scouting."
"Think I killed a gopher."
Levi shook off the dirt, rolling his ankle to make sure nothing was busted. Up ahead, Rufus wasn't waiting. He was laughing his ass off as he ran.
Levi ignored him, nodding to Edmond before they took off again. This time, they kept an even twenty-mile-per-hour pace. Still fast, but steady. Levi's pulse pounded in his ears, muscles starting to burn, but now he could think, feel the rhythm.
"You're gonna wear out running like that! Look at my feet!"
Levi glanced at Edmond's stride. His mistake was obvious. He was taking twice as many steps, pushing too much energy into every movement. Again.
"Thanks!"
Levi focused. Build and release. Not constant. Just like before.
Took a few rests, and another crash or two.
But soon, he got it. Every step carried him farther. His strides stretched, clearing the length of a man with ease. The heat in his muscles evened out, the burn settling into something manageable.
Up ahead, Rufus's red eye glowed, catching Levi's like he was looking at him.
Levi grinned, flipping him the finger as he vaulted over a cactus. Just as he landed—
Thwunk!
A bolt buried itself in the dirt right at his foot.
Levi veered aside, laughing as he ran.
"Oh, he's dead. He's fuckin' dead!"
"Quit it!"
Edmond's voice cut cold through the night.
"He shot at me!"
Edmond exhaled. Why did he put up with these two?
Still, the rest of the way went smooth. Rufus led, scanning the terrain. Edmond and Levi followed. By the time they slowed to a walk, Levi didn't need to keep his eyes glued down anymore. His steps flowed easier. He was getting the hang of it.
His chest burned as he walked it off, taking a long swig from his canteen.
"Got the bluffs in view."
Rufus's eyepatch slid shut as he stepped up beside them. He gave Levi a once-over, taking in the dirt and bruises, then shook his head with a chuckle.
Edmond's hands rested on the hilts of his sabers as he looked north, his voice taking on a weight that made Levi pause.
"You feeling good about this?"
Levi frowned. Strange question. He glanced at Rufus, waiting for his answer.
"So far, so good. No tingles yet."
"Tingles? You sick or somethin'?"
Edmond didn't shift his focus. Still watching the bluffs.
"Even though he starts most of it, Rufus has a sense for when things go south."
Levi could see the swell in Rufus's stance. Pride. Almost looked like he grew an inch taller. Levi thought about giving him shit for it—decided against it.
Not the time.
They walked in silence. The formations stood taller against the night sky. Time dragged, stretching like the quiet before a duel.
Levi drifted closer to Edmond, voice low.
"She got hearing or vision augments?"
Edmond didn't look away.
"Not sure. Report doesn't have specifics. Only the stitcher who messed her up knows exactly what she's got. But considering she's always reported with glowing red eyes? Assume at least vision."
A pause.
"Actually, assume she's got everything."
Levi's jaw tightened. The words sat heavy as he turned them over in his head.
'Assume she's got everything.'
"All you need to worry about is getting up there and getting down. In and out. Right?"
Levi blinked. Shook his head.
"Yeah. Don't worry about me. No hero stuff."
He patted the slot in his arm where the grappling claw rested. Between that and his reflexes, he was certain he could get out easy—even if it meant diving off.
They eventually stopped. Crouching low, they held still as Edmond slipped a bag off his back.
He handed it over. Levi took it, feeling the weight as Edmond's eyes locked onto his.
"In and out. Return here immediately. We'll take it from there."
Levi nodded. He knew the plan inside and out. A thousand times over. Still, he nodded. Took the bag, then turned to move.
Rufus stopped him.
"I'll have my eye on you the whole time."
Not a threat. A reassuring promise. It sat awkward in Levi's gut, but he nodded anyway and slipped off into the brush.
Once he was out of earshot, Edmond took off his coat and kneeled beside Rufus.
"If anything moves, shoot it."
Rufus smirked, extending the arms of his bolter.
"Don't worry. She won't get an inch of him."
Snap.
'Goddammit.'
Levi froze. Looked down. Brush cracked under his boot. Sloppy. Then he rolled his eyes when he remembered—he was supposed to make noise once he got some distance.
Didn't want to spook her.
He'd left his hat behind, hoping she'd recognize his hair, his clothes. Maybe that would buy him a second—enough time to do what needed doing.
Ahead, the first of the bluffs loomed. Red clay towers, carved by time, littered the desert. Tall. Wide. Watching.
He remembered the way.
A cluster of brush toward the middle. Push through, find the trail. A path winding up.
Levi retraced his steps.
Soon, he stood at the base.
So far, so good.
If she had hearing augments, she'd have heard him by now. And if she had, and wanted him dead, he'd already be bleeding.
That was... reassuring.
He started to climb.
The path wasn't easy. More like a series of ledges, cracks, and loose rock that could be scaled if you knew where to step.
'Calm down.'
His heart pounded. Sweat trickled down his brow.
Nothing to worry about. As long as he didn't fuck up.
Didn't matter. His adrenaline was pumping.
He stopped. Not quite to the top to take a breath.
'What the hell is wrong with me?'
Levi nearly slapped himself.
He gritted his teeth, knelt down, and opened the bag.
A wave of citrus hit him instantly.
Inside, apples, oranges, and other food sat packed tight. His job was simple. Leave the food outside the shack, make a bit of a show of it, and get the hell out.
Every Waster shared one thing.
Didn't matter their origin, mental state, or augments.
They were starving.
Hard to find food on the run. Even harder when you couldn't blend in. Food was always the first crime. Killing came after.
Levi took a deep breath.
He gathered the food. Set it in a bowl from the bag. Then he took the last steps up.
'In and out. In and out.'
The mantra didn't do much. But a little was enough.
He felt stupid, faced death before. Guess Wasters just had that effect. Even he had to admit—they made damn good campfire stories.
Levi reached the top.
Far off, Rufus saw him through his glowing eye.
"Got him."
The shack sat ahead.
A dark entrance. The monster's lair.
Levi swallowed.
His feet felt heavy as he moved forward, the air thick with silence. As he got a safe distance directly in front of the opening, he stopped.
"Thank you for letting me sleep that night."
His voice felt small.
He set down the bowl.
Then, slowly, carefully, he backed away.
After a few steps, he turned to leave.
"You're welcome."
A static voice.
Frozen. His heart stopped as he whipped around.
Nothing.
No movement.
The entrance stared back.
Levi's breath caught, but he forced himself to move.
He hurried down the trail, thoughts racing.
'She answered?! Why?'
A pang of guilt hit him, but he shook it off. Not now.
Rufus kept his aim steady as he watched Levi leave.
"He's done it."
"Hold it steady, Wait for him to signal."
They had given Levi a lighter.
One spark, and they'd know he was clear.
Rufus watched.
Crimson Song stepped out.
"She's here!"
Rufus could barely contain it. There she was. The infamous four-star bounty.
His fingers itched. His heart raced. He was about to shit himself with joy.
Then—
His face drained.
"Shit."
His eye locked on her.
And the red glow of hers locked on him.
His stomach dropped.
"Fuck."
"What is it?"
"Think she can see us."
A blur.
"She's gone!"
Rufus jumped up, bolter swinging.
Edmond moved to follow—
A scream.
Horrible. Deafening.
Their ears rang.
And the world shook.