"Good thing Commander Maxwell stuck that blade in when she did. One clean hit! I was worried it wouldn't be enough!"
"If it's not enough, just cut the thing off his belly and toss it down. More bait for the horde!"
The man's mouth gaped open. From his hollow, ruined throat came a ragged, guttural wail.
Blood streaked from both his eyes like crimson tears.
And in those eyes, so like mine, I saw it all.
Joy.
Longing.
Regret.
And sorrow.
My heart felt like a fist had closed around it and squeezed until I couldn't breathe.
I ran. Fled hundreds of yards back into the ruins.
My hands wouldn't stop shaking as I placed a video call to my brother inside the Bastion.
This time, it rang for over a minute before someone picked up.
A handsome face filled the screen. I spoke immediately:
"Do you know about the bait operation at the front gate?"
"Wait, are you outside the Bastion?"
I didn't answer. I pressed on:
"Where are you right now?"
"I'm at a tailor's, trying on suits. You're acting strange. Are you outside the Bastion?"
He asked the question a second time.
This time, I hung up.
I raised my head, eyes sharp as a hawk's, tracking every movement on the wall.