I step out into the corridor, and the door slides shut behind me.
Idris turns and walks the few wide steps to Em’s quarters. He presses his palm to the reader. The panel flashes green. Her door slides open right after.
I follow him inside, feeling dread knot my stomach even more.
The lights are low. The room smells faintly like flowers and ginger. It’s sweet in here, despite the tension.
On the nightstand, her glasses are lined up exactly parallel to the edge. Her tablet’s there too, face down. The digital clock beside it reads 6:01.
I stop by the end of her bed. Em’s curled under the blanket, knees drawn up tight. She looks deeply asleep at first glance. Then I see the sweat darkening the collar of her shirt. The tremor running through her shoulders. Her fingers clenching into the blanket like she’s clinging to it.
Idris whispers, “I helped her finally get some sleep about half an hour ago.” He sighs for a second. “Before that, I heard her crying. In a room I didn’t expect to find her in.”
I glance at him. “What happened?”
Idris sighs, shaky for someone who’s usually so composed. “She saw something she shouldn’t have.”
Frowning, I stare down where Em’s feet are barely tucked into the blanket. My fingers reach to fix it, covering her curling toes.
Idris is being cryptic, probably for good reason. I’m sure he’ll tell me soon. So for now, I nod.
“What do you need from me?” Iask.
Idris’ smile returns, small and lopsided. He rubs a hand over the back of his neck. “I would’ve asked Stan too,” he says. “If he’d been awake.”
My eyes dart back toward my door. “What do you need from us?”
“I need another set of hands,” he says. “Someone Em trusts. Someone who won’t push her too hard when I can’t be around to deal with the fallout of this situation.”
My head tilts. “Situation?”
Idris’ voice lowers. “Something happened earlier. Something we haven’t told everyone yet. Em saw more than she should have, and it’s affecting her more than she’s letting on.”
I look back at Em. She’s shivering under the blanket. I want to go over there and check on her, but Idris is here. And I need to hear him out, trusting him to know her better than anyone, that he’d make the right decisions while she’s out cold.
Besides, there’s no doubt in my mind that I’m willing to do anything to help to fix this.
“Tell me what you need me to do,” I say.
Relief cuts across his face. “Darius is speaking to Set as we speak. They’re discussing containment and next steps.” He lets out another sigh. “There was another incident. Another murder. Em found the aftermath before security did.”
I keep my face still. I’ve heard and seen worse. But my throat still grips.
Idris frowns. “She couldn’t sleep after.”
I look down at Em again. There’s nothing more I want to do than run over to her and fix the hair that’s fallen over her face.
“I helped her settle down with tea and…” Idris trails off, face flushing. He clears his throat when I wait for his words. “But sleep won’t fix what she unfortunately saw.”
“No, it won’t.” I know too well that those moments turn intonightmares sometimes.
Idris lowers his voice. “I’d stay with her. Under normal circumstances, I’d never leave her side. But Set asked Darius, Damon, and me to stay until we resolve what’s happening here.”
“Damon’s coming?” I ask.
“He is. Kaye will be with him. They’ll be in Cairo soon, and so will we,” Idris adds. “I’d like you to take Em with you to Darkhaven.”
“Darkhaven? With me?”
