“Yeah,” I admit. “But not soon enough.”
Her steps falter for a heartbeat. Then she keeps moving.
By the time we reach the promenade level, the chaos has shape. The air is thick with smoke and power discharge. The scent of melted circuits burns the back of my throat. Holo-ads flicker in broken loops: SHOP SMART / STAY SAFE / CELEBRATE LIFE.
Reflector’s voice buzzes through my implant. “Security has eyes on the main atrium. They’ve barricaded civilians near the north gate. I count fifteen pirates, maybe twenty. No sign of Pyramus.”
“Any hostiles near the stage?” I ask.
“One. Vrek.”
Of course.
Isolde grabs my arm, nails digging in. “We go together.”
I meet her eyes. “You see him—you keep distance. You find Pyramus first.”
“And if I can’t?”
“Then you run. You hear me? You run and youdon’t look back.”
She opens her mouth to argue, but the sound dies on her lips. Because we both hear it then.
A voice.
Small.
Echoing.
Familiar.
From somewhere beyond the smoke and the hum of broken lights.
“Mom?”
Isolde goes rigid.
My stomach drops clean out of me.
“Reflector,” I whisper. “Trace that voice.”
He’s silent for half a second. Then—“I’ve got it. East quadrant mezzanine. Upper platform.”
I grab Isolde’s hand before she bolts. “Wait.”
“Garokk—”
“Wait. He’s baiting us.”
“I don’t care.”
“You should.”
Her eyes snap to mine. “You think I’d leave him there?”
“I think if you go first, you’ll never get to him.”
The fury in her face flickers, replaced by something else. Fear. Raw and quiet.
