She had told Wayne the Society had begun to feel like the real world, and everything else a dream. But one interaction with a real, living, breathing human (well, android) had erased that feeling almost entirely. Out there, that’s what was real, that’s what they were fighting for—a chance to live a normal life once again. To breathe clouds of white air in winter and to be known by more than just the seven people in the mansion.
Or, if nothing else, they’d die on their own terms when the Society was brought to its unnatural end. It may not be a fair decision to make for her fellow Society members, but Jo suspected they would all rather go out fighting than be slowly picked off one by one at Pan’s discretion. Freedom or death—how often had that been a rallying cry throughout time?
First things first: There was no point in further worry over what could or would happen next until she figured out a way to actually destroy the Society, or fundamentally change it.
Jo pushed away from the Door and started through the empty briefing room and down the hallway. Her reprieve was minor; there was no time for breaks. Now was the time for action—and action, Jo had decided, meant finding Takako.
Really, she had only two options—Wayne or Takako. They were the only two who knew about her mission to destroy the Society and had any reason to assist her as a result. Given Wayne’s earlier reactions toward the Bone Carver—Charlie, Jo mentally corrected—she didn’t want to invite him into Charlie’s home. Takako, however, was the one who had also identified the idea that those in the Society lived in a glass house, and shouldn’t throw stones at a vigilante. Additionally, Takako seemed far more eager and invested into the idea of dismantling the Society.
Jo popped her head into the common room. Eslar and Samson sat on the couch. The former was stretched out on the cushions, a book in hand. The latter tinkered away with something he had spread out on the low table in front of him.
Sneaking away without being noticed, Jo headed toward the bedrooms. She went all the way to the end of the hall and knocked on the door. It opened promptly.
“What is it?” Takako asked, straight and to the point, but not harsh. Jo liked the tone; it was the voice of someone who was ready for action.
“I need your help with something,” Jo said firmly.
Takako picked up on the unspoken matter and merely nodded. She didn’t question, didn’t object; she simply followed behind Jo as Jo headed back toward the briefing room. Miraculously, there was no one in the hallways, and no one to stop them.
Yet Jo couldn’t help but feel as though they were being watched. Ever since she had made the connection that Pan had some sort of ability to look in on them, Jo was suspicious of everything. She didn’t know if it was just the recreation rooms, or the whole of the Society. Either way, Jo was taking no chances.
“We’re going out?” Takako asked.
“Yes, there’s something I need you to do.”
Takako merely nodded.
Jo found herself hesitating, hand hovering over the keypad of the Door. She had yet to fill in Takako about her magic going awry. It was a fact that now seemed even more urgent, given the malfunctions of the Door and the fact that the Bone Carver could see her even when she wasn’t clocked in.
With a breath, Jo pushed the hesitation away and keyed in the numbers. If Takako was going to find out, Takako would find out. There was no time for second-guessing; she had to make every moment count, and she would cross every bridge as it came.
Opening the Door, Jo was pulled through, Takako at her side. They landed in the small foyer of Charlie’s house.
“Sure, now you work right,” Jo muttered over her shoulder at the already fading Door.
“What was that?” Takako asked.
“Nothing, it’s not important.” It likely was very important, Jo admitted to herself, but she would share that knowledge when the time was right. And now was not the time. Now was the time to find Charlie, but he was no longer in the living area.
“What are we doing here?”
“You have to meet him,” Jo said simply.
“What?” Takako came to a full stop, almost rearing back. “Meethim? You mean the Bone Carver?”
“Yes. I promise it will all make sense—“ Jo was cut off by an interjection from behind a door down the hallway.
“Jo? Is that you?” Charlie’s voice called.
“Yes, I’m back.”
“Come on in.”
Takako gave her a sidelong look, pointedly glancing down at Jo’s bio band. Jo had no doubt that she was making careful note of the fact that Jo had yet to clock into time. And, as if to emphasize the fact, as if to alleviate some of the burden of explaining what was going on, Jo held up her wrist to confirm her time wasn’t being used.
“How?” Takako whispered.
“I don’t know.” Jo wished she had an answer for the other woman. She wished she had an answer for herself. But she didn’t, and that fact must have been apparent since Takako didn’t ask any further questions.
