The smoke was thick, but the flames were mostly confined to studs in the walls and the furniture burning in the offices. She turned a corner and saw the lobby. The wooden reception desk blazed like a bonfire. The wind rushed in, feeding the fire endless amounts of the oxygen it needed to burn. Waves of heat pushed deeper into the structure, past Peyton, like the tide lapping at a beach. But beyond the desk, beyond the shattered glass windows, the darkness of night loomed. Freedom. She could make it.

Peyton pressed on, putting one foot in front of the other. Her lungs burned. Her head swam. She felt a new admiration for Desmond: days ago, he had carried her father out of a burning building at Aralsk-7. Now it was Peyton’s turn, and she pushed with every ounce of energy in her body.

Her legs didn’t give out until she crossed the threshold of the front doors. She felt herself collapse then, but she didn’t hit the ground. Her mother wrapped her arms around her and dragged her from the blaze.

Through watering eyes, she saw dark hair streaked with gray hanging down in front of her, a curtain across her face. It was drawn back, and Peyton saw her mother staring down, tears in her eyes. She ripped the mesh Kevlar from Peyton’s mouth, turned her head, and held her ear to Peyton’s mouth. Lin let out a cry of joy when she realized her daughter was breathing. She pulled her closer into her lap. “It’s going to be okay, honey.”

Slowly, Peyton’s senses focused. Automatic gunfire rang out in the distance. They’re fighting for the harbor. The Marines must have landed.

Engines roared. High-caliber artillery guns pounded. Overhead, she saw more missile strikes. A few exploded in the air, but many found their targets, churning earth and trees and bodies in massive eruptions of fire and smoke. The entire island seemed to be erupting.

She brought a shaking hand to her collarbone, activated her comm, and spoke with a scratchy, strained voice. “Overwatch, Artemis. Cease fire at my location. We have friendlies in the adjacent building. Confirm.”

“Artemis, Overwatch, confirmed, ceasing air strikes at your location.”

A second later, the CIC operator opened the comm line again. “Artemis, Overwatch. Be advised, there are hostiles inbound to your twenty. Estimate a force of twelve, heavily armed. Reinforcements are two clicks out. Advise you take cover or retreat.”

Chapter 129

Chapter 129

In her peripheral vision, Peyton saw the soldiers closing on them.

Carefully, Lin Shaw placed Peyton’s head on the ground and stood tall, her posture rigid, facing the oncoming troops like a proud mother ready to defend her child with her own life. Peyton desperately wanted to stand with her, but she couldn’t. She didn’t have the strength. Every breath burned.

The soldiers halted their sprint when they saw Lin.