The city shone beneath, a horizon of gold and neon. Pong stood braced against the railing, arms folded tightly around her chest. The wind swept through her cropped hair, but she didn't mind. She was too absorbed in thought—thinking ahead, plotting traps, thinking of Kai, Noah… Ryn.
Footsteps approached behind her.
"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" Pong asked, not turning around.
Shiphier's quiet voice replied, "Could say the same to you.
Pong finally glanced over. Shiphier stood with her hands in her pockets, hoodie half-zipped, eyes squinting at the horizon. The quiet between them lingered—not awkward, just. Loaded.
"You're worried," Shiphier said. "About Ryn."
Pong didn't respond right away. She looked down at the streetlights flickering far below. "She won't stop until she breaks everything… Noah, Kai… all of us."
Shiphier inched forward, her shoulder catching against Pong's. "Then we don't give her the chance."
