“We’rebothin so much trouble.” Helen waved the gun at me.
At least everyone’s staying calm.
I took a deep steadying breath.
Knock. Knock.
I jumped and Helen pointed the gun at the door.
“Alexis, we have to go right now before Augustus murders us!” Drex shouted from the hall.
Funny story, Drex, you’re actually in more imminent danger than you think.
Helen stared up at me, face contorted with pure panic. She didn’t lower the gun.
“It will be fine,” I lied.
“We can do this,” she lied back.
Nothing in life was more powerful than two women affirming each other’s horrible life choices.
A few seconds later, I ran out into the hall.
Drex grabbed me. “We’re supposed to meet in the villa’s training complex right now. If we don’t hurry, we’ll be late.”
“How far can it be?” I asked.
Our eyes widened with terror as we both realized I’d just cursed us.Crap.
We sprinted out of the villa into the rain.
Nyx sputtered on my neck. “Ughs—I’m melting.” She slithered underneath my clothes.
Lightning flashed.
The electric fence towered thirty feet into the air. Small silver boxes protruded from its base.Spartan solar-powered generators.Sparks sizzled.
Drex pointed at a rock-colored hatch.
Fluffy Jr. pushed his wet nose against my leg. I glanced down at him.What?
He picked up a twig and held it in his mouth.
Don’t you dare. I don’t have time for this.
He choked it down.
Wagging his tail, his tongue lolled out of his mouth—it was covered in bark.
Drex opened the door, revealing a dark stairwell that led into the earth. My kidneys twinged with phantom pain—bomb shelters in Montana were infamously used to store harvested organs.
Drex grimaced. “Ladies first.”
Fluffy Jr. sprinted down the dark creepy steps, tail wagging as he gagged.
I made the sign of the cross and followed him down.
Finally the dark stairwell opened up and I stumbled to a stop.
