She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a single key, theworn metal glinting dully in the dim light. It’s not the rusted key she uses for the waste cart.
“You need to leave,” she whispers, her voice barely audible as she glances nervously over her shoulder. “Tonight.”
I stare at her, my mind racing. Is this a trap? Some cruel test the guards have concocted to see if I’ll try to escape?
“Why?” I ask, my voice hoarse.
“They’re planning to kill you tomorrow.” Her eyes dart to the door again. “Any of you without a gift.”
Lithia.
My wolf rises with a snarl.No. Not happening.
“Why help me?” I press, still not moving from my position against the wall.
She looks down, her fingers twisting nervously around the key. “Consider it my one good deed to atone for all the others.” A bitter smile crosses her face. “Not that it makes up for anything I’ve allowed to happen here.”
I study her face, searching for deception. All I find is exhaustion and regret.
“What about the guards?” I ask.
“Skeleton crew tonight. Most left after what happened with Thaddeus.” She swallows hard. “Three guards on this level. One at the main door, two patrolling.”
“And my silver restraints?”
“The key only opens the doors and removes the chains, not the cuffs. Those are welded on. You’ll have to find another way to remove them.” She presses the key into my palm. “There’s a service tunnel at the end of the east corridor. It leads to the old mining shafts. Follow them up and out.”
The silver around my wrists, ankles, and neck continues to burn, but the promise of freedom makes the pain secondary. “What about you?”
She shakes her head. “My fate was written a long time ago.”
I hesitate, studying her. “You should come with us.”
“No, I’ve been complicit for too long. There’s no redemption for me.” She glances nervously over her shoulder. “You need to hurry.”
“Thank you,” I say, though the words feel inadequate.
She nods once, then slips out the door, leaving it ajar. I hear her quick footsteps fading down the corridor.
The moment she’s gone, I unlock my chains and move to the door and peer out. The corridor is empty, dimly lit by emergency lights spaced along the ceiling.
My wolf stretches, baring his teeth.Freedom.
“Lithia?”
“I’m here.” Her voice is immediate, tense. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t really get it, but Bucket Woman just gave me a key to the doors.” I palm the key. “We’re getting out of here.”
“It’s not a trap?”
I glance back down the hall. “Apparently not.”
“Thank the gods.”
I slip into the corridor, moving quickly despite the weakness from the silver poisoning. My wolf strains against the metal, giving me just enough strength to function. I reach Lithia’s door and try the key in the lock.
It doesn’t fit.
