Arya ran.
Her lungs burned, every step echoing through the narrow alley, but Mira's voice still clung to her ears like a curse. Run.
Why had she said it? Why warn her, after everything? If Mira truly stood with the lieutenant, wouldn't she have let Arya be caught? Or was it just another trick one more thread in a web of lies?
The questions battered Arya as her boots slapped against the wet pavement. She didn't stop until she reached the safehouse. The door flew open, and Ivy was there instantly, weapon drawn, eyes flashing with the sharpness of a predator.
"Arya?" His voice was low, urgent. "What happened?"
She slammed the door shut, pressed her back against it, and tried to steady her breath. "She's… she's not who we thought. Mira's working with them. I saw her. I heard her."
For the first time since she had known him, Ivy's mask of control slipped. His eyes narrowed, fury darkening his face. "What did she say?"
Arya swallowed hard. "She told him we trust her. That you're suspicious of her. She… she's been feeding them information."
Ivy cursed under his breath, pacing. His movements were sharp, restless, as though he was fighting the urge to storm out and end it right then.
"She betrayed us once before," he muttered. "I should have never let her walk beside us."
But Arya shook her head, her voice trembling. "No, Ivy, it's more than that. She met with one of the General's lieutenants. The scarred one. The butcher from the northern raids."
That stopped him cold. His jaw clenched, his fists tightening. "Havel."
Arya blinked. "You know him?"
Ivy's gaze was unreadable, but his silence was answer enough.
Before Arya could press, footsteps echoed down the hallway outside their door. Both froze, their eyes meeting. Ivy raised a finger to his lips and silently readied his weapon.
The knob twisted.
The door creaked open.
And there was Mira.
Her hood was down, her hair damp from the foggy night air, her eyes wide as she spotted them. "Arya. Ivy. I—"
"Don't," Ivy snapped, his voice like a blade. He stepped forward, weapon raised, and for a terrifying moment Arya thought he would pull the trigger. "Not one more word."
Mira froze, her lips trembling. "You followed me."
"I should kill you where you stand," Ivy said, his tone flat, merciless. "Give me one reason not to."
Arya's heart raced. She searched Mira's face for guilt, for regret, for anything real. Mira's eyes darted between them, shimmering with unshed tears.
"I had no choice," she whispered. "Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I wanted to sell out survivors just to keep breathing? Havel promised me safety. He promised"
"He promised you lies," Ivy cut in. "And you delivered death in return."
Mira flinched as though struck. "I never meant for people to die! I thought" She broke off, voice cracking. "I thought I could bargain with them. I thought I could survive."
Her hands shook as she reached for Arya. "But when I saw you tonight, Arya… when I saw your face, I realized I can't keep doing this. Please, you have to believe me. I want out."
Arya's chest tightened, torn between rage and pity. "You led them to families, Mira. To children. And now you're leading them to us. How do we know this isn't another lie?"
Mira's tears spilled freely. "Because I warned you." Her voice was desperate now. "Because I told you to run."
Silence fell. Arya's breath came hard, her mind a storm.
And then Ivy moved. Swift, deliberate.
In one brutal motion, he slammed Mira against the wall, his forearm pressing into her collarbone, his gun pressed to her temple. Mira gasped, choking on fear.
"A warning doesn't erase betrayal," Ivy growled. "If you're still working for Havel, I'll end this