Domination (A C.H.A.O.S. Novel) - By Jon Lewis Page 0,19

Jackal, Blizzard, Lightning, Phantom, and Anvil Squadrons, please report to Helipad Delta. This is not a drill.”

“Phantom,” Colt said. “That’s me. I’ve got to go.”

Miranda’s eyes went wide and her dark skin grew pale. “Do you think we’re under attack?” she asked as a group of cadets ran past the study room, their boots echoing down through the hall.

“I doubt it; they would have made all the squads report.”

“Then what is it?”

Colt shrugged. “I guess I’m about to find out.” He started to walk past her, but she placed her hand against his chest.

When he looked down, their faces were mere inches apart. He was intoxicated by the scent of her hair. Her skin. Her breath. It felt warm against his neck, and he just stood there, unable to move as he looked into her eyes.

He swallowed. It felt like ten thousand fireflies were alight in his stomach at the same time, their tiny wings beating. Tickling. He wondered if he was going to faint.

She leaned closer, lips slightly parted. Her hand reached up and flames lit where her fingers caressed his cheek. She reached behind his head and drew him close. He thought about Lily and started to resist, but he was short of breath. As her lips touched his, there was an explosion of sensation.

“Come back,” she said, the words little more than a whisper in his ear.

He nodded, unable to form a coherent thought, much less a complete sentence.

: :

CHAPTER 12 : :

Two dozen cadets were already gathered at the helipad by the time Colt got there. Some were crying. Others looked angry. Most just stood there with blank stares.

He looked around to see if anyone else from Phantom Squad was there and spotted Danielle standing next to Jonas, who was patting her shoulder and speaking to her in hushed tones.

“What happened?” Colt asked.

Danielle turned and looked at him with tears in her eyes. For a moment he thought she was going to say something, but she just shook her head and buried her face in her hands.

“There was another attack,” Jonas said.

“What?”

“A portal opened up over Philadelphia about an hour ago, and it was big enough to let a Class 4 Hydra through—you know, one of the Thule carriers. Anyway, they aren’t sure how many are dead, but it looks worse than Rose Hill.”

“That was ten thousand people.”

“I know,” Jonas said. “They think this might be double.”

Colt felt as though someone had hit him in the chest with a sledgehammer. Twenty thousand people. And if they didn’t do something soon, it was only going to get worse. “Are they sending us to Philly?” he asked.

“We’re still waiting for orders,” Jonas said.

No longer able to hold back, Danielle sobbed openly. Tears streaked her face, and her shoulders shook. Colt placed his arms around her, and she leaned against him. He stroked her hair but offered no words of encouragement. Telling her that everything was going to be all right would only be an empty promise.

More cadets joined them, and soon squads started to form, each distinguishable by its accent color. Jackal had orange insignias on their shoulder pads, chest plates, and helmets. Blizzard was light blue. Lightning was yellow. Anvil was purple. And Phantom was gray.

Besides Colt, Danielle, Stacy, Grey, and Glyph, the other members of Phantom Squad were Pierce, the arrogant blowhard, and Ethan Foley, Grey and Colt’s other roommate, and Jonas. Oz had been part of Phantom Squad before he was expelled, but Superintendent Thorne didn’t replace him. Even though it meant they were short one man, Colt took it as a hopeful sign. Maybe one day she’d let him back.

Most of the cadets milled about the helipad chatting nervously as they waited for orders, but Jackal Squad stood at attention on the periphery as Gulrukh Mirza, their squad leader, inspected their weapons. Colt thought about doing the same, but he was missing a member.

“Anyone see Pierce?”

“There he is,” Ethan said, pointing back toward campus. “Over there with the dog.”

“I don’t think that’s a dog.”

“Agreed, Squad Leader Colt McAlister,” Glyph said.

The creature on the other end of the leash looked more like a wolf than a dog, but its chest was too wide, its snout too short, and its coat was moss green. It loped toward them next to Pierce, taking long strides as it lowered its head to sniff the ground.

“What is that thing?” Jonas asked, taking a step back as the creature sniffed at his feet.

“A genetically altered Malinois.” Pierce smiled as though