Abigail Ketner - Branded

Keegan and I make eye contact. In that glance, we both understand we’re witnessing something important—something the others obviously missed.

“You’ve abused the system enough. You’re consumed by the power of your position. You’re not the brother I grew up with. You’re not the person I used to know,” Sutton replies. “Hamilton saw that before I did. He was right.”

I peek under a table and see Sutton standing before the dark silhouette. Confusion rocks me. I crawl farther in under the cover of large desks and computers. The blank, blaring noise is just enough to cover our movement but not loud enough to hinder the exchange of words. I duck my head down and struggle to keep my composure.

Sutton has a brother?

“So I’d like to know… how exactly do you plan on taking over?” The silhouette says in a condescending manner. “I’m suddenly curious how you think your little so-called army could manage to take mine out?” He clears his throat.

His army?

“Tell me, please. Enlighten me,” the other man says. “Do you honestly think by killing me that you’ll save the world? You’re pathetic.” He laughs.

Oh my gosh, that must mean…

“You do realize another leader will just take over where I’ve left off?”

The commander is Sutton’s brother.

“Yes. But I’ve also figured out that behind every genius mind somewhere hides a fault. Yours just happens to be pride.” Sutton pauses. “I remember even as kids, you always overlooked small details because all you could focus on was the big picture. And you’re right, getting rid of you might not solve the problem, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

My father wasn’t just murdered—he was betrayed and murdered by Sutton’s own brother.

I glance over my shoulder to see Keegan ten feet behind me, peering through cracks between the desks. The bloodlust in his eyes tells me he’s ready for action.

He and I move in an arc, closing in on them as they speak.

In an abrupt movement, the commander levels the gun at Sutton’s head. “You have lost your mind,” he says with a spiteful voice. His finger tightens on the trigger. “Over a stupid decision to follow a dead man’s dream. I don’t know if I’m surprised.”

Without thinking, I leap over a desk and pounce on him, knocking the gun sideways as he pulls the trigger. It goes off with a resounding bang and Sutton falls, but I’m so wrapped up with the commander that I can’t help him.

We wrestle on the ground, each of us grasping for the gun that skidded a foot away. He elbows me in the face, and I blink with teary eyes while hitting him.

I break free and reach for it, but he wraps his arms around my waist, dragging me back. I fold my fingers around the stock, but soon his large hands wrench it from my sweaty palms.

Keegan springs in to help, but as we tussle, the gun goes off again. Keegan crumples, holding his abdomen—his eyes shocked. Blood seeps through his fingers, flowing over his hands like the trickle of a stream, and I know it’s bad.

Anger and fear rage through me. I shove the gun aside and use my free hand to gouge out the eye of the commander. He howls with agony, dropping the gun as his hands cover the gaping hole. I pull away from him, focusing on his face for the first time.

It’s my stepfather.

Dark memories resurface as I stand, grabbing the gun and slowly pointing it at him. His expression, smirking and arrogant, hasn’t changed. Even as he stares death in the face, he smiles. He raises his hands in front of him.

“Now, this—just became very interesting.”

I glare at him, tightly clenching the gun. A battle wages in my mind—kill him or let someone else take care of him. Every muscle in my body wants to be the one to punish him. Thoughts of the revolution flee as I focus on the pain he inflicted upon me and my family.

“You’re sick.” My hands and voice quiver with rage as I stare down the monster. “I get it. I get all of it. The Hole is just your life-sized closet that you think you can control.” In the moment of decision, I teeter on uncertainty for a second too long.

He turns, hopping over a desk and toppling some equipment. He almost makes it out but slams into Cole in the doorway. Both of them recoil into heaps on the floor.

“Get him!” I scream.

Cole, unfazed, punches him several times. My stepfather returns the favor, and I run, tripping to where they wrestle.

Holding the gun, I aim for my stepfather, but they roll back and forth, trading positions of dominance. I don’t want to hurt Cole, but as they exchange punches, a flicker of light catches my eye. My stepfather pulls a knife out of his boot, giving me no other option.

I pull the stiff trigger, hitting him in the shoulder, and his blade clatters across the floor. Cole grabs it, stands, and kicks him in the stomach.

“Again! Now! Lexi, shoot him, damn it!” he shouts.

Still holding my gun, I shake my head.

“Shoot him!” Cole yells at the top of his lungs.

The commander backs himself into the wall, looking defeated and holding his gushing shoulder.

I’ve waited years to see him like this. He took everything away from me. He’s taken so much away from so many others. But I won’t sink to his level.

I glare into his eyes. “You’ll get what you deserve. I’ve had enough of your filth on me and I don’t want your blood on my hands,” I say. “My father was twice the man you’ll ever be, but one day justice will be served and the lethal liquid will run through your veins. The best part? You won’t see my father because you’re going to hell.”

His breaths are raspy, his hands stained crimson.

I see fear in his eyes for the first time. And it satisfies me.

Just then, Bruno and his team bound into the room. Their faces are clouded with dust, smelling like sweat and lead. Half of them attend to Sutton and Keegan, promptly evacuating Sutton, and the rest surround my stepfather, the commander.

“Lexi, get out of here. We’ll take it from here,” Bruno says.

But I stayed glued in place as Cole lowers my gun for me. “That bastard. He’s mine.” He pries the gun from my fingers and holds it steady, aiming it directly at my stepfather’s head. “I’ve waited a long time for this moment and now it’s finally here. Now tell me. What’s it feel like knowing you’re about to die?”

My stepfather arches his eyebrow, giving Cole a look of disgust and scorn. “I’m not sure we’ve ever met, but it seems as if you’ve forgotten your duty.”

“Oh I know my duty all right.” Cole’s eyes flash with dark fury. “My duty is to protect those who can’t protect themselves. Something you know nothing about.” Cole moves closer to him. “See, your form of torture—it’s all about control and trying to break people of their sanity. All the while, you’re the one who’s insane. I know what you did to her, and I’m going to make sure you can never hurt Lexi again. Ever. I made a promise to her—I promised I would kill the sick bastard who did those things to her. And it just so happens… it’s you.”

My stepfather’s face blanches with the loss of blood. He cackles at Cole as he leans against the wall and holds his shoulder where the red liquid flows from his wound down to his forearm and drip, drip, drips onto the floor.

“Go ahead. Shoot me. Just make sure you watch your back. My men will avenge me. And that’s a promise.” His breaths sound ragged between words and yet he still manages to scoff at Cole. At me.

“Don’t,” I say, putting my hand on Cole’s tensed arm. “He’s not worth it. He can’t hurt me anymore.”

“That’s where you’re wrong,” my stepfather says with his wicked smile. “I’ll always be in your nightmares.”