Then he moves, a single step in front of the veil, blocking our way.
My heart clenches.
It pins to my chest, like my breath sticks to my throat.
Serena didn’t see this coming.
I know it, because she falters.
Her determined, purposeful steps hesitate—
And the guard extends his hand. “Papers?”
Serena’s lashes flutter. They are short and blond on the face of the master—but I see the fracture in her resolve.
I don’t think.
I just act.
I unloop the bag strap from my shoulder. My voice comes and it almost startles me. A man’s voice, “One moment.”
His suspicions don’t fade, but they do drop enough that he lowers his hand and waits as I unzip the side pocket on the bag.
I don’t have papers.
I didn’t know masters needed them to leave.
Neither did Serena, apparently.
But I hope she reads minds all of a sudden, because I’m screaming at her in mine,do something, do something, do something.
I can only stall for a few moments.
I rummage through the slender pocket, my hand tight in the narrow slot. Then my gloved fingertips graze over the curve of an aerosol can.
I still.
I didn’t pack that.
It’s old. Been in there a while. And I don’t remember exactly what it is.
But it might be all I have.
One prayer of mine in a lifetime, finally answered. Maybe.
Serena is twisted around, facing me with wide panicked eyes, a face of someone who doesn’t know what to do, the look of someone caught and cornered.
So I know I’m on my own with this move.
I tut. “There it is. It’s stuck, wait a moment.”
The guard sighs softly, a faint impatience.
He folds his arms over his chest.
My fingers clasp around the small can.
I wrangle it out.
