Page 151 of Eight of Swords, Part Two

Riley has memorised the heartbeat pattern of everyone he has ever met.

‘Zachary,’ he utters, sitting up in bed.

The man slips inside, glancing around. His scent is crushed metal and dirty water boiled into bad steam. He’s sweating, pulse racing but still uniquely identifiable as Zachary’s rhythm.

‘Riley,’ he says near-silently. ‘Troy is away. Power’s out. It’s time to go.’

Despite his fear, Riley’s heart leaps. ‘Go where?’

‘Just get up and follow me.’

Riley is already dressed, can never sleep during his non-roof nights, so he leaps eagerly out of bed, thinking that his favour to Zachary all those years ago has finally paid off.

‘You need shoes.’

‘I don’t have any.’

Zachary makes a face. ‘Fine. Let’s go, then. I drugged them but we only have minutes to get clear.’

Riley only hesitates at the bottom of the stairs, but Zachary is his friend.

He can trust him.

In darkness, he follows Zachary down and down until they’re out the main doors, actually outside, and running through the night. It’s just like when Céliane came, except everyone is unconscious and Troy is out, so this time, it’ll actually work. Riley can run so much faster than Zachary, but he matches pace, ignoring the euphoric warmth growing in his middle.

‘Where are we going?’

‘Just keep quiet, kid.’

‘Did my aunt send you?’

‘Be quiet, Riley.’

They walk and walk.

When he looks back, he sees the tower from a distance for the first time in his life. It’s a massive, looming thing, ugly and foreboding. Riley feels like it’s watching him, staring.

‘Keep moving,’ Zachary instructs.

When they reach a road and make it across, it’s the furthest Riley has ever made it from the tower. Each step is new ground.

‘Are we going into the city?’

‘Yes.’

‘Am I staying with you?’

‘Yes.’

Riley frowns.

Zachary’s scent is sweet, rotten earth. Lie.

The road leads to buildings.

New buildings.

Riley devours the new sights, sounds, smells.