City of Blood and Iron

The Red Ink Revolt

The glowing red chains bit deep into Elena's shoulders, pulling her toward the open door of the black sedan with brutal speed.

Let her go, Thorne! I shouted, raising my iron gun and firing three rapid shots straight at the chains holding her waist.

The bullets bounced off the magical links with loud metallic rings, showering the wet pavement with bright orange sparks. Director Thorne stood by the car door, his suit jacket unbuttoned, watching me with a cold, mocking smile. He did not even bother to duck.

You still do not understand how this system works, Kyle, Thorne said, his voice carrying easily over the sound of the rain. You spent ten years stamping monsters in the basement because you thought you were protecting the city. But every time you stamped a report, your own employee signature fed the master contract. You built this cage for your sister with your own hands.

Elena struggled against the chains, her dark obsidian wings beating hard against the air. She did not cry or panic. Her amber eyes stayed locked on Thorne, sharp and calculating, looking for a way to break the magic.

Do not listen to him, Kyle! she called out, her voice straining as the red chains pulled her closer to the car seat. "He is lying to break your focus!

I looked at the leather folder still lying open on the wet ground near my feet. The signature on the bottom page was clear. My own employee ID number was stamped right beside my father's name. Twenty years of believing I was a loyal worker protecting my family turned out to be a lie designed by the Bureau to make me my own sister's jailer.

A heavy, burning anger rose in my chest. Not the blind rage of a monster, but the cold, clear focus of a man who realized the game was rigged from the very first day.

You are right, Thorne, I said softly, lowering my iron gun.

Thorne paused, his hand resting on the car door handle. A look of cautious surprise crossed his smooth face. "Oh? Are you finally ready to accept your promotion to chief enforcer?

No, I replied, my voice steady and cold. I am done playing by your rules.

Before Thorne could react, I reached into my coat pocket and pulled out my heavy wooden-handled rubber stamp instead of the gun. At the same time, I pulled out my cheap plastic ballpoint pen and clicked it open.

Thorne's face hardened. Kill him, he ordered the driver.

The front window of the black sedan rolled down instantly, and an armed officer pointed a long silver rifle straight at my head.

I did not wait for him to pull the trigger. I dropped to one knee, pressed my heavy rubber stamp directly onto the wet asphalt of the alley, and slammed my hand down on top of it.

THWUMP.

A massive wave of bright golden light erupted from the ground under our feet. The golden runes shot across the pavement like lightning bolts, smashing into the black sedan and lifting the front tires two feet off the ground. The car slammed back down with a deafening crash, shaking the brick walls on both sides of the alley.

The red chains holding Elena snapped under the sudden surge of golden energy, breaking into thousands of glowing pieces that dissolved into the rain.

Now, El! I yelled.

Elena did not waste a single second. Free from the trap, she snapped her dark wings wide and launched herself forward like a missile. She hit the side of the sedan with her full weight, sending the heavy vehicle skidding sideways across the wet asphalt until it smashed hard against a brick wall.

Thorne stumbled out of the passenger side door, his expensive suit covered in dirt and his hair out of place. His professional mask was completely gone now, replaced by a look of genuine fury.

You fools have no idea what you just did! Thorne screamed, pointing a shaking finger at us. "The Higher-Ups will not just cancel your contracts. They will wipe this entire district off the map!

Let them try, I said, walking slowly toward him, holding my red stamp in one hand and my cheap plastic pen in the other.

Before Thorne could reach into his jacket for another weapon, the ground beneath our feet began to shake violently. The shadows in the corners of the alley started to stretch and twist, turning into tall, shifting shapes with glowing red eyes.

From the main street behind us came the loud sound of dozens of heavy truck engines roaring to life at the exact same time. Sirens wailed, and the sky above the city turned from dark grey to a deep, unnatural purple as a massive golden gate began to open in the clouds.

Elena landed softly beside me, her wings pulsing with a bright, steady light. Kyle, look at the sky.

I looked up. The clouds were parting to reveal a towering digital clock hanging high above the skyscrapers, counting down from sixty seconds. Below it, thousands of glowing red contract papers rained down from the heavens like snow.

Thorne laughed, wiping a streak of blood from his forehead. "Too late. The onboarding test is over. The main board has arrived.