Chapter 17: The Next Blade
The hum buzzed in my chest as I woke, a low growl like a beast pacing its cage. Norwegick's gray dawn oozed through the blinds, and the town still simmered from yesterday's fire. Governor Hale's downfall plastered every screen—his smirk shattered, his lies exposed, his empire unraveling. Protesters roamed the streets, shopkeepers slammed shutters shut, and Dr. Carter's wife was still screaming about the secret kid. I'd lit the match. Norwegick was burning.
But I wasn't done.
The Female King had more blades to sharpen.
I slid Dad's knife into my sleeve, the weight grounding me, steadying me. His notebook lay beneath my pillow like a loaded weapon. Marcus's name stared back, slashed through in thick ink. Liriwick. The pact. The day everything shattered. Mystery M might've pulled his spies out of Norwegick, but I could feel his shadow in the cracks.
I wasn't just waiting anymore. I was hunting.
Downstairs, Mom's purse sat on the table—stuffed with the cash I'd left from the news outlet's payout. Thousands. She hadn't noticed yet. When she did? She'd probably cry, maybe think it was divine intervention or Dad from beyond. I smirked. Let her believe in miracles. I believed in chaos.
Next on my list: Judge Ramsey. Norwegick's golden boy in a crooked robe. Word on the street? He fixed trials, pocketed bribes, and buried justice under cash. Rumor said his dirty ledger was locked in his office safe.
Perfect.
I threw on my hoodie, shoved my curls under a cap, and stepped into the chill. The hum guided me through the streets, sharp and eager. Protesters shouted outside the courthouse, fire in their eyes. It was beautiful.
By dusk, I met Denis in the alley behind the diner. His scar caught the light like a warning sign.
"Ramsey's filthy," he muttered, handing over a key. "Swiped it off the night guard. Safe combo's 4-19-36. Don't screw this up."
I smirked. "Aw, you care."
He didn't smile. Just nodded, quiet and serious. "Mystery M's mutts may have backed off, but they'll sniff back eventually. You're making noise."
"Good." I slid the key into my pocket. "Let them hear me."
The courthouse was quiet. Cameras blinked lazily. The guard snored behind his desk. I moved like a shadow, the hum pulsing through my bones. In Ramsey's office, the safe clicked open with a satisfying twist. Inside: the ledger. Names. Payments. Case files rigged for cash. Enough to bury the judge six feet under courthouse marble.
I didn't smile. I grinned.
Back home, I climbed the oak and slipped through my window like a whisper. The ledger hit my desk beside Dad's notebook. I opened a new message to Channel 7, fingers trembling from the thrill.
"Judge Ramsey's house of cards just folded."
I hit send.
The hum roared, a symphony of piano chords and rusted chains.
Tomorrow, Norwegick would bleed again. And Mystery M? He'd feel the fire creeping closer.
I smiled into the dark, blade hidden in my sleeve.
This was my war. And the next blade was already in my hand.