The Gauntlet MOVE! the tide roared as tendrils of water ensnarled my waist.

The water surged forward, sliding across the grey sand. The hissing of drowned victims snaked towards me. The voices withdrew as the water pulled back, drawing screaming pebbles into its grasp, but they resurged when the water lunged back again. MOVE! it repeated. But I couldnt. I was trapped up to my waist in sand, courtesy of Nightshade, a rogue officer. She was a murderer and I had been sent to capture her. But she had somehow gotten the jump on me, taken my magic, and now was trying to drown me. I scrabbled to gain leverage and climb free of the trap: but every time I shoveled sand away or thrashed, more saturated sand refilled the depression. I looked around the beach. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. The water was just below my ribs. I had to concentrate. I had to do what my mentor told me the first day of the academy: analyze the environment. Behind me, the beach opened to the steel-grey water, and only water as far as the eye could see. No help there. Starting from around 12 paces behind me, charcoal grey cliffs lined the beach. The space between them widened with the curve of the beach, then gradually narrowed into the shape of an hourglass bulb. At that junction between the two cliffs, there was a barricade of driftwood made of thick trees jutting from the sand at awkward angles, like the remains of a picket fence in an abandoned yard. Thinner trees, with knife-like branches and blackened spurs protruding from their trunks, lined the gaps between the ancient trees. Twisted seagull corpses hung like macabre wind chimes from those knife-like branches. Little fly, caught in my web, a melodic soprano sang from above the cliff. Soon to be wrapped up by a tiny little spider The voice. So Nightshade had come back for the kill. Nightshade, you filthy traitor! I roared. The tide continued to urge me to run, but the sand still held me firm. I twisted from side to side, looking for the glint of a gun aimed at my chest. Wherere the hostages? Dead, she crooned back. All dead. My gut clenched. You killed the Senators baby son? What kind of monster? What can I say? she shrugged. Casualties of war. At least hell never grow up without his family. Such a pity. He was adorable. Murderer, I hissed as the rogue officer appeared from above the cliff. She was fairly far away, but I still had enough magic for above-average vision. Nightshades pale, moon-shaped face looked a bit sickly probably from the gas shed unleashed at the Senate chambers. Her skeletal fingers twitched erratically the rings she had stolen from her victims cooling corpses were flashing to the rhythm of her fingers. She had ditched her police uniform for jeans and a ripped

shirt, keeping only the black finger-less gloves and the belt lined with weapons she had worn while massacring half a city about half a week ago. Nightshade swung her sheet of nut-brown hair and smiled down at me. Something about that smile rankled my heart. It wasnt fair that she could walk free when even a baby couldnt escape her noxious grasp. Then again, life was never fair but it was my job to fix that balance. Still, I was trapped in the sand with the tide rushing in and not a drop of magic left in my veins. I was human: nothing more, nothing less. But I was going to die like an animal unless I rallied against Nightshade. Youre not just a traitor. Youre a fucking murderer! I roared. What happened to protecting others at the cost of your own life? For what? For a couple of pennies and broken ribs? To be on every gangs hit list? To be spat on by the very people I save? Nightshade cracked her fingers. I could hear the bones dislocating even above the groaning tide. The tide was almost at my neck now and it was turning the sand into a soup. Finally, a bit of luck! If youre a cop because you wanna save others, youre a fucking idiot! Nightshade ranted, staring at the sea. I began to thrash, trying to free my legs from the soup. The police are just as corrupt as Putin! Let the civvies deal with their own problems. Let them reap what they sow! Let the fire harden them! Let the weak die off! Why should we sacrifice our friends? I finally freed my left leg from the sand. With a twist of my ankle, my other leg was free. I contorted my back, kicking as hard as I could and then I was treading water. I didnt even bother considering the sea. Without magic, I wouldnt survive a swim to the mainland of wherever I was. Nightshade had taken me prisoner at Seattle for all I knew, I could be on another planet. She had stolen my magic with her poisonous elixir, but she wouldnt steal my life. If I wanted to survive, I would have to run the gauntlet. Sentinel! she yelled. Go on! Show me how a true officer faces death! Nightshade flipped open one of her holsters, swept up a pistol, and centered the muzzle on my chest. I dove underwater. The bullet powered through the water, clipping my shoulder. A cloud of blood rose from the wound. Trying to keep every bubble of precious air in my lungs, I kicked furiously, scissoring through the water like one of the dull brown rice-paddy eels my mentor taught me to catch and eat during my training. The meters inched past. My lungs burned. Oh, those years depending on magic to breathe underwater were kicking my ass now. The ground changed, until I was gliding over pebbles rather than fine sand spattered with white-ringed stones. Halfway there, halfway there gotta swim just a little further My lungs screamed. The underwater world alternated between the variegated light playing across the seabed and a darkness that lurked around my vision like a shark waiting for its prey. White spots blinked before my eyes. My thighs burned. Blood leaked from my shoulders in thin ribbons. And above water, a murderer was waiting to blow out my brains.

Three-quarters of the way there. Needed air. Couldnt go any further. I sank to the seabed, summoning strength. My legs flexed. I shot towards the surface. The first breath of air mingled with water in my lungs. The gun cracked. The bullet zipped along my shoulder, sending pain shooting across the impact line. I covered my head with my arms, and despite the coughs racking my chest, took a deep breath. It wasnt enough but it would have to do. Wait. I was in Nightshades sights. She had a clear chance of killing me. But she didnt. She hit my shoulders. She was toying with me before she killed me. The land sloped upwards, bringing me closer to the barricade, but Nightshade had an even better view. Her bullets scored my back and sides, growing more frequent as I slowly stopped swimming and began running. I sprinted over the grey sand and clambered onto the nearest stump. Blood spurted from my foot. Shit! I muttered, looking at the half-inch deep gash on my left foot. The stumps were encrusted with barnacles. No good. There was no telling what would come next if I climbed the barricade and Nightshade had taken everything from me but my uniform. No. Not everything. Nightshade hadnt checked my clothes for weapons. There was a tiny survival knife, not much longer than a piece of chalk, sewn into my pants waistband. It wasnt standard wear: Nightshade, as a medium-ranking officer, would never have worn one. The knife was for high-risk occupation officers, so if captured, they could stab their guards and escape or stab themselves. The latter was more likely. After all, we were taught it was better to die than to betray our friends. I bunched up my pants waistband until the blade poked against the elastic. My fingers searched for squarish hilt once found, I punched the hilt. The stainless steel blade tore through the elastic like wet tissue paper. I smiled, if wearily, and began to slice off strips of my pants. The fabric was coarse, and had to be wound so tightly around my feet that they turned white. My knifes hilt had been hollowed out, but it only had four water purifying tablets and a suicide pill instead of anything useful for tying up the fabric. I looked up. Nightshade would have seen everything, especially magic powering her eyesight. She stared at me, then pointed at the sea with her right hand. Waves larger than horses began rolling up the inlet. No time to waste. I tentatively stepped onto the stump. The sharp shells still cut my foot, but the worst of the pain was gone. The waves were galloping closer I had mere minutes to get to the top of the barricade to

escape. The salt-crusted bark cracked under my feet, wafting the stench of salt-bloated wood skywards as I stepped onto an ancient pine. The waves cantered faster theyd already reached the beginning of the cliffs. Not too long until they reached me. I reached up and selected the least spiky branch overhead as a handhold. The thorns protruding from it would go right through my hand, but the waves were tearing up the channel and would be here in a minute. I grabbed the branch and swallowed a scream as two-inch long spikes poked through my fingers. The salt crystals clinging to the thorns irritated my wounds even more. Blood dripped down the thorns, but I couldnt stop. I dug in harder, and scrabbled for footing on a slim birch IDIOT! I should have covered my hands! I stripped a bandage from my foot. The waves were almost at the barricade. I could only wrap one hand. The other would be at the mercy of the splinters. This was going to suck. After quickly tying the strip around my uninjured right hand, I grabbed another branch. The splinters pierced the fabric easily, but less blood spread along the blue cotton. I gritted my teeth and scaled a redwood. The waves were churning behind me, licking the cliffs hungrily. It was fairly easily to climb up the trees until I was halfway up the barricade, where the bark was slick with filamentous green seaweed, still moist from the last tide. While maneuvering my left foot around a sea gull skeleton, I placed my right foot on an algae patch. I slipped. Suddenly, I was dangling over a branch that would spear me between the legs if I fell. The crest of the wave was closing in. I looked up. Just within my reach was an oak branch. But the branchs bark had been torn off. Splinters as long as my knife stuck out of the hewn wood. There wasnt enough time to switch hands or wrap my left hand the wave was just about to hit the barricade. I gritted my teeth, then grabbed the branch. I yelled. I couldnt help it. A splinter had speared my palm. At that moment, the wave crashed into the barricade, shaking it from tip to bottom. Tears leaked out my eyes, mingling with the salty spray thrown up by the wave. Three more waves rattled the barricade, but I held on. Then a monstrous roar filled the air. I turned around. A wave bigger than the entire barricade was bearing down, and Nightshade stood at its crest, pointing a sword at me. The wave crashed against the barricade, dragging the splinter dragged along my palm, ripping it open before it finally yielded and I was thrown into the water. Trees collapsed, lowering the barricades peak. Nightshade laughed, and dove from the wave, the sword held at the ready. The water surged downwards with her. Just as her arm rose up to cleave me in two, I jumped and grabbed her hand. Her eyes widened. She whipped her arm from side to side, trying to throw me off. The water thrashed in response to her wild waving. It struggled like a drowning beast, then bucked us skywards and began to recede. We flew towards the barricade summit, Nightshade still trying to rend me with her sword. The wan sunlight played on the black blade, jumping up and down like electrical sparks. The sword

was solidified magic then. It seemed oddly familiar. Like the blade? Nightshade sang, as chirpy as ever. You should recognize it! she said, slashing the air an inch away from my gut. Its your magic that made the blade! First you take my magic, then you try to kill me with it? I lashed out. My foot connected with Nightshades sternum. She cried out and plummeted toward the sand below. I reached out, and grabbed the barricade. My left hand was raw like a slab of meat my legs were streaked with blood. But the worst was over. From the peak of the barricade, it was roughly half a football fields worth of sand to a steep cliff. The land was shaped into another hourglass bulb. It didnt seem too bad, but knowing Nightshade, my life would get much, much worse. Since the knife-like branches formed a sort of stepladder, the climb down was easier. There was something yellowed in the sand far ahead of me. It didnt look like a mine. The sand up here looked relatively undisturbed as well, so there probably werent any buried explosives. I took off at a run, but skidded to a stop when Nightshade landed in front of me. Why wont you die?? I yelled. She winked and tossed her hair back. Oh, sweetie. Heroes never die! Heroes? Heroes? Youre a fucking murderer! You betrayed the police, betrayed your comrades you betrayed the people! I spat. Youre more like Herod than a hero! Her face tightened. Because Im not willing to die? she asked quietly. Fire burned in her eyes. Because Im not willing to get torn up like you did? Look at your hand. This is what youll do for the people? This is what youll do for complete strangers? How is it worth it? How is a life of pain worth it? She leveled the sword at me and began to circle like a wolf around its wounded prey. Im free now. You know, Madison, even though we were once friends, we never called each other by our real names, Nightshade said, as if we were simply going out for a coffee. Protocol. We were born with a codename, and well die wearing that codename. I refused to respond; instead, I searched the beach for a way out. Ah. Ive hit a nerve! she giggled, back to normal. What, scared of life without some blowhard ordering you about? What I wouldnt give to smash your face in, I growled. I dont have time for this. I charged and shoved my shoulder under her chin. She cried out and dropped the sword. I picked it up, but dropped it like hot iron when it burnt my hand. I took off down the beach, but Nightshade was still right behind me. Oh, sweetie. Is that the best youve got? she drawled, strolling up the beach. She swept her arms, and a wave crested over the barricade, rushing towards her. But just before it hit her, she threw her arms out. The water parted around her and lashed the cliffs instead. I opened my mouth to swear, but the water surged forward and gagged me.

Oh no. No naughty words from you! she said. I turned my head just enough to keep her in focus. She was shaking her finger reprovingly, like a first-grade teacher with a little kid. After all, perfect officers dont swear. Well, FU I got another mouthful of seawater. Would this nightmare ever end? What did I just say, sweetie? I yelped as she lashed my back, right over the bullet wounds that still streamed blood. You never learn, do you? I didnt bother responding, choosing to run instead. For the third time today. The sand was softer now. The fine grains were bone-white, turned ash grey as soon as the water touched them. I was almost halfway to the cliff. I was badly injured, but if I could just scale the cliff, I was free. Once free, my first priority was to survive and find civilization. There were no ships sailing the seas or smoke trailing into the sky, so I was fairly far away. But my master Fireblade had trained me for this, so I should be okay. Then, I needed to call in the forces and capture Nightshade. Only then would justice be done. And then, maybe my friends in the senate would be avenged CRACK! I looked down. Holy shit, I muttered. Underneath my heel was a dislocated finger bone and the owner of that finger lay half in buried in the sand to my right. Scraps of still rotting flesh hung around the cadaver like rags. Have I introduced you to Nick? Nightshade laughed. You knew him as Fireblade. You killed my mentor? I sighed. Nightshade had taken almost everything from me: my magic, my friends, and now my master. He tried to arrest me a week ago. I caught him and ranim through the gauntlet. Pity He almost made it out. The snakes took got him. Snakes? Where did you find all these deadly toys? I asked resignedly. I traded my soul for unlimited power, she shrugged. Oh, and cookies. I rolled my eyes. Really. You couldnt have traded it for something more grandiose? Or I could just be lying. You never know. Maybe I am, maybe Im not. Psyche! She grinned, stretching her skin further over her cheekbones. In the half-light of the dreary day, the shadows on her face stretched and warped her until she looked more like a childs nightmare than human. There was no time to mourn, no time to give my master proper rites. I darted past his corpse no, the corpse. I had to emotionally distance myself. My first priority was survival. Fireblade was dead. Even my magic couldnt bring him back. I had to leave him behind. If I survived, then maybe I could come back and say good-bye. But for now it was time to run! The waves were lapping the corpse now. Nightshade was still walking unconcernedly up the beach, shielding herself from the water. I was barely twenty-five meters away from the cliffs now.

Almost there, almost there, almost there! I looked back. The tide had carried the corpse up from its resting spot, and now the corpse was merrily bobbing away with the rhythm of the waves like a buoy. The rags of flesh rose and sank out of sight. A seagull flared its wings and swooped by the body. It nabbed a bit of flesh, downing it in a single gulp. Its wings seized up. It dropped like a stone. The body flopped over. The empty eye sockets were staring right at me. Those sockets used to hold my mentors vibrant black eyes. Oh, come on, cant throw up, cant throw up! Another bolt of pain shot through my head again. I stopped and contemplated the sand. It seemed oddly still. Too still. Whatever drug Nightshade had given me was still coursing through my veins, but I could still sense some movement underneath the sand. Hmm. It wasnt worth the risk to step on the sand. I could cut up my pants even more and see if that would disturb whatever was underneath, but I doubted the pants would be heavy enough. I could sacrifice my knife, but I wanted to keep it just in case. Damnit, I should have kept the sword! Well, the pills in the knife hilt would be too light, but got it. If I detached the knife hilt and wrapped the bandage from my hand around it, the resulting bundle should be heavy enough to set off the trap. I made the bundle, then hurled it into the midst of the sand. The sand erupted into a mass of hissing, spitting golden snakes. Why does it have to be snakes? Why cant it ever be kittens or butterflies? The tide was lapping at my ankles again. If I waited too long, the snakes would be free to swim and would have a clear shot at my vital organs. As it stood well, I was still going to be covered in bites, but I had a better chance at surviving. For the last time, I took a deep breath and dug my heels into the sand. Then I sprinted into the fray. The snakes reacted furiously, lunging forward biting every inch of skin and cloth they could find. I kept on running, trying to keep my breathing steady. My heart was racing. Not good. The snakes poison would spread quicker through my body. I tread over tails and got bitten on the thigh; I slipped on snakeheads and the sickening crunch of breaking bone was quickly followed by a sharp, excruciating pain at my feet. The mat of snakes was beginning to thin, but the snakes grew more and more aggressive as I slipped and slid over their bodies. Clouds swirled in and out of my vision. My mouth was as dry as cotton, and the salty crust of seawater on my skin only worsened my discomfort. Despite the fact that, well, I was dying, the hissing of snakes around me reminded me of the days spent training with Fireblade one hot, muggy day, the two of us ran out of water in the middle of the jungle with not a cloud in sight. Fireblade just smiled and told me to search for

lush, green flora because plants became greener the closer you got to water. We followed a trail of ferns and ruby bromeliads whose curved petals taunted us with the cupolas of water hidden at their centers, until the roar of rushing water reached us. Through the thick trees, we could just barely see a waterfall, cascading around emerald green leaves into a frothing cauldron. Frogs cricketed and ribbited birds chirped and called and over the cacophony of jungle life, the sweet clear sound of water sang. As we waited for the water purifying tablets to do their magic in our canteens, Fireblade taught me how to catch the rice-paddy eels. Sure, they were thousands of miles away from any rice-paddy, but they thrived in the mud between the rocks encircling the waterfall pool. God what I wouldnt do to see my master again. Focus, you moron! Nothing will bring him back! I need to survive! A snake as thick as a club, whose golden scales shimmered with an eternal light, lay just at the end of the snake pit. I was almost there. I needed to get there quickly. I crushed another snake with my feet, dug my heels into the largest snake-free patch of sand possible, and leapt over the huge snake. It didnt move. Hmm. That was too simple. Suddenly, the snake flexed. Its skin distorted. Protrusions began to bubble at four points on its supple body. The golden scales darkened until they were pitch black. Then the snake widened and thickened. Its head rounded the protrusions became legs and arms and then I was staring at Fireblade, who looked just like he had on that muggy day. Hey, Maddy, he said in the same clear tenor voice I remembered. Whats up? Master? Youre oddly casual. He shrugged, then raised his hands to his bare chest and ripped his skin off. How do you feel? he hissed, advancing. His heart pulsed inside the ribcage. I couldnt tear my eyes away from it. Theyre dead. Youve failed. Everyones dead. Everyones SHUT UP! I yelled. Oh, god no. The tears were threatening to fall again. No! You arent Fireblade! Youre just one of Nightshades tricks! He laughed, but underneath the heartiness was the grating of bone on bone. Really, Sentinel. No, you dont deserve respect. Youre just Maddy. The girl who failed her duty. The girl who let the Senators die! I-I I couldnt let let the city die the needs of the many Outweigh the needs of a few? He chortled and raised his hands to his face. I closed my eyes, and clapped my hands to my ears, but the gory ripping of flesh pierced me nonetheless. Youre a failure, Maddy darling youre nothing but a failure. I couldnt take it anymore. I charged into him, colliding into the hard edges of his body, and ran for the cliffs. I had to get out of here. I had to get cops to bring Nightshade to justice. Aww. You didnt fall for it? Nightshade asked, popping right next to me as I started to

climb. Fuck you! She tutted. He would be so disappointed in you. I didnt reply, choosing to find footholds in the cliff face. It was good, solid rock by climbing standards there were no crumbling edges or sandy ledges of frail rock. The only problem was that the rock was worn smooth, so I was struggling to hang on. Mmm. Hey, Maddy. Ill just call you that from now on, kay? We can pretend were still friends for a while. Nightshade mused. The tide had rose enough to lick my ankles in the distance, the barricade of trees was half submerged. I found a foothold and pulled myself up a few more inches. Oof. This climb was difficult enough without the poison running through my veins. Nightshade sighed, then whipped me with a ribbon of water. Aww. Youre no fun! Play with me! she pouted. What the fuck is wrong with you?? You just tried to kill me! Fine, be that way, she snapped. Nightshade raised her arms. The water billowing around her knees started to wrap around her in a twisting, shimmering ribbon. It coiled around her body, then tensed like a spring. The water uncoiled, shooting skywards like a geyser. Nightshade casually walked off the waterspout onto the cliff top and began to shoot. Her first shot went deep into my left bicep. You know, Maddy thanks for the memory. It fed the illusion. I just had to tinker the illusion to fit onto me and voila Fireblade, revived from the dead. That was you? I asked, stopping my climb. Sweat was pouring down my forehead, mingling with tear tracks and salt spray. My arms shook with the strain of the climb. The tide below me was still steadily rising, but it didnt seem too harmful. Mmmhmm. You know its nice to use magic for myself. Back in the force, it was drilled into us. Never use magic except for others, yada yada yada. Thats because our magic can give us cancer if we overuse it! Nightshade shook her head. No. Thats just propaganda to control us. And yet we squander our gifts. Just because of a couple of jealous fuckers in the brass! Maybe they were right, I said through gritted teeth. Especially if that freedom breeds murderers like you. Youre a slave, Maddy. Open your eyes! I chose this path long ago, Silva! I yelled. I suffer so others won! I chose to suffer I choose to suffer because Im doing whats right! Can you say the same? Can you? Nightshade stared out into the distance. Silva she said quietly. I havent heard my name in so long. Come back, Nightshade, I said tiredly. Drop the games. Face the punishments. Everyone

can rise again. I survived your damn gauntlet. You owe me a favor. She stared into the distance. Even halfway down the cliff, I could see the glint of tears welling up in her eyes. No, she said. Nightshade! I yelled. Come back this instant! It wont solve anything. Our police will still be as corrupt as ever. I choose to live free, Maddy. I choose to die free, in the name of things I, and not some bureaucrat, believe in. Youre just going to have to continue playing my game, she said, the madness returning to her voice. So come on, sweetie! When you get to the top, well have a duel! Winner takes all! Stop the fucking games! Lets just go home! I screamed, swaying precariously. The snake venom was taking over my body. I would die very soon unless Nightshade was carrying the antivenom, and even them, it was probably too late to help me. Im not a slave! she sang, continuing to shoot me. I was three-quarters of the way up the cliff and her shots were landing closer and closer to my chest. Im as free as the waves! No youre a slave to your madness I murmured, clenching the rock. Nausea enveloped me as the granite rock-face multiplied into two walls, then four walls. I shook my head and the double-images disappeared. And yet, there was this warm sense of peace welling up in me, as if I was holding a mug of hot chocolate to my chest. There was definitely pain from the splinters I drove further into my palms with every inch of the climb, and the snake venom was fucking with my head. If I listened closely, I could almost hear voices in the surf thrashing the rocks below. Its not time to go yet, Maddy, Fireblades clear tenor voice said. I could almost imagine him smiling. Fight her! Show her what a real officer is! I took a deep breath. The granite cliffs were scarlet with my blood, but I had enough to fight Nightshade. One last fight one last chance to take down this murderer. Come out, come out sweetie! Nightshade sang from above the cliffs. Whats it going to be? The tide or me? I gritted my teeth and dug into the rock. If I went up, Nightshade would dice me up like a chicken at the butchers. If I went down, I would smash against the rocks and drown. Well? Are you going to duel me and die like an officer? Or are you going to cower and die like an animal? she asked cheerfully. My arms collapsed. I couldnt go on. The snake venom was paralyzing me too quickly. I had to do something while I could still move. The knife blade. I still had it tucked into my sleeve. My right hand shook wildly as I reached for the knife. I tried to take deep breaths, but my chest was closing in. One shot. One kill. I only needed to aim. I raised my right arm. The blade fit snugly into my hand. My arm arced back. I hurled the knife.

Nightshade drew her sword and cut the knife out of the air. I had failed. You gotta do better than that! she giggled. Is that all you got? I smiled back at her. Youve taken almost everything from me, Nightshade. I have only one thing left to give. But Im not going to give you this last pleasure, Silva. What? See you in hell, sweetie! I called, and let go of the rock. Her eyes widened. Her gun hand shot up, centering the muzzle on my chest. But I was falling, tumbling head over heels, and the sky and the cliffs and the shadows playing in my vision blended together in a wheel of charcoal and steel grey. The rocks smashed into my head. There was a blinding flash of pain. The tide lulled me to sleep as the blackness cocooned me.