Chapter 97 | An Ambush of Lime-Green Clones

I cut across campus toward Field Gamma. The paths got darker the further I went from the main buildings.

My skin started prickling around the third turn.

That feeling when you know someone’s watching but can’t see them.

I stopped. Scanned the shadows.

Nothing.

The system interface sat quiet in my peripheral vision. No threat warnings. No notifications.

Just that crawling sensation up my spine.

I kept walking. Slower now.

Field Gamma was on the edge of campus. Past the training annex. Past the equipment sheds.

Why the hell would Misato call a meeting all the way out here?

Movement to my left.

I spun.

A figure in black dropped from the building overhang straight at my face.

Instinct took over.

I ducked. Felt the body pass over me.

My hand shot up. Palm out.

Wave Motion activated before I thought about it.

Golden white energy spiraled from my hand. Slammed into the masked attacker mid-flight.

They flew backward. Hit the ground hard. Rolled three times before stopping.

Holy shit. That actually worked.

More movement. All around me.

Fuck.

I turned. Raised both hands.

Two more figures in black rushed from opposite sides.

I fired left. The spiral caught one in the chest. Sent them sprawling.

Spun right. Fired again.

Direct hit.

The third attacker crashed into a bench.

My legs shook.

Stamina drain hit like a truck. Three shots. That’s all I had at Copper rank.

My chest heaved. Vision swam at the edges.

Five more shapes materialized from the darkness.

Oh you’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.

I opened my mouth to scream.

"HE—"

A hand clamped over my face. Another grabbed my throat from behind.

Something cloth shoved between my teeth. Tied tight.

I thrashed. Tried to throw them off.

They held firm.

Three of them pinned my arms. One got my legs.

I looked up at the five surrounding me.

Green eyes. All of them had the same green eyes glowing above their masks.

Wait.

Lime green.

My muffled sound came out garbled but the tone was clear.

Misato?

The closest one leaned down. Her ponytail swayed.

"If I remove my hand will you listen to me?"

I glared. Every muscle in my body screamed to fight.

But five clones versus me at zero stamina?

Math didn’t work.

I nodded.

Her hand lifted from my mouth. The gag stayed.

She started reaching for it.

I sucked in air.

"HEL—"

Her hand chopped my neck.

Vision exploded white. Then black.

What the... fuck...

Rope dug into my wrists.

I blinked. The world came back fuzzy.

My head throbbed like someone used it for batting practice.

Where...

Dorm apartment. Somebody’s dorm apartment.

Cream walls. Standard furniture. On a couch. Summit House maybe?

I was on a couch. Hands tied behind my back. Ankles bound. That cloth gag still in my mouth.

Misato stood near the window. Lime green ponytail catching moonlight.

Another Misato paced near the kitchen.

The pacing one stopped. "He’s awake now."

The window one turned. Nodded.

Fuck. Am I gonna die? What the hell is happening?

My heart hammered. The ropes cut into my skin every time I moved.

Misato walked over. Crouched in front of me.

Her green eyes were serious. Worried even.

"I want to apologize."

My glare could’ve melted steel.

"Really. I had no idea what Blair was going to do. The bribe. The threats." Misato’s hands twisted together. "She didn’t tell me any of that until after you left."

I tried to say something. The gag turned it into angry noises.

Fuck these ropes are tight.

"I know you don’t believe me." Misato reached for the gag. "But I need you to understand. Blair is... she’s complicated."

She pulled the cloth from my mouth.

I worked my jaw. Tasted cotton and blood where I’d bit my tongue during the knockout.

"Complicated?" My voice came out rough. "She tried to buy me. Then threatened to ruin my life when I said no."

"I know."

"And you kidnapped me because...?"

"Because Blair’s planning something worse." The other Misato spoke from near the kitchen. "We needed to warn you."

"Warn me by knocking me unconscious and tying me up?" I leaned forward as much as the ropes allowed. "Great plan."

"You were screaming." Window Misato pointed out. "If anyone heard, they’d come running. Then you’d tell them about Blair’s proposal."

"So?"

"So Blair’s family has lawyers that make IHC investigators disappear." Kitchen Misato crossed her arms. "Your word against a Davenport heir? You’d lose."

Window Misato nodded. "Worse. Blair would escalate. Make sure you never made it to Friday’s assessment."

The cold reality of that sank in.

Blair had money. Connections. Power.

I had what? A perverted milk system and six days to live?

"What’s she planning?" I asked.

"Nothing yet." Window Misato dismissed her clone with a gesture. The other one dissolved into shadows. "But I know Blair. She doesn’t handle rejection well."

"No kidding."

"You humiliated her tonight. Saw her exposed. Said no to her face." Misato sat on the coffee table across from me. "She’ll want revenge."

"So untie me and let me deal with it."

"Can’t." Misato shook her head. "If I untie you now, you’ll go straight to administration. Report everything. Then Blair finds out I warned you."

"And that’s bad because?"

"Because I need her." The words came out quiet. Honest. "My family works for her family. My mom’s entire career depends on the Davenports. If I betray Blair, my mom loses her job. Her housing. Everything."

I stared at Misato.

The lime green ponytail. The athletic body that looked like it could break me in half.

She was trapped just like I was.

Different cage. Same lock.

"So what’s the play here?" I asked.

"You fail Friday’s assessment. Quietly. No theatrics." Misato leaned forward. "Squad ranks low. I request transfer to Blair’s team. She gets what she wants. Everyone moves on."

"Except my squad gets fucked."

"Your squad survives." Misato’s eyes hardened. "Blair wanted me to make sure you had an accident before Friday. Training injury. Simulation malfunction. Something permanent."