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“I’ll take you through the private alley. We’ll break near the shops. Stick to the rooftops, and I’ll stay on the ground and get the stones.”
The pair snuck through the townhome, exiting to the deathly quiet alley. Entrances to homes and fenced yards lined both sides of the road. Maude stopped, pointed to the sky, and split where she promised she would. Lily’s gaze lingered on her disappearing over a fence before finally heading toward a mounted stairway leading up the last residential building on this street.
Lily moved with precision, noting every creak of the metal and every crash and shout that managed to travel over the building from the main thoroughfare. Not wanting such a clear visage from the open roof, she pried at every window, finding one that was open and slipping inside.
Even in the blanket of night, she could tell the space was occupied. Linens and wooden toys littered the floor. The smell of a past meal hung in the air. Lily hoped the residents had taken shelter, and if not, that they wouldn’t attack her as an intruder with ill intentions.
Opening a door, Lily checked for bystanders before moving over to the window, finding the wreckage she and Maude left behind. From the third floor of the building, she saw pieces of ghostsoil and glowing embers glittering throughout the street. Reatian soldiers donned in heavy armor inspected the carnage. One stood out. The sight of him immediately drew her back to the cold feel of the Stalker woman’s skin against her palms. The look on his face when Lily threatened her life.
The Stalkers General Whart brought were the ones that discovered her in Reave. If this one was here, then it was possible Neir would be nearby.
And if he was, that was where Luka could be.
“Anything?”
“No,” an approaching soldier told his comrade. “We tracked them a few blocks down but haven’t encountered any Rogians yet.”
The Stalker didn’t seem to have a clue Lily was nearby. Relief tickled her worry, but it jumped away when she caught Maude slinking into view beyond. Lily moved so her back was to the door to get a better view. Maude approached the shop but didn’t turn the corner.
Lily counted the Reatians she could see. Four, plus the Stalker. No sign of Maude’s men.
It’s too busy. Another distraction wasn’t what she wanted to be, but when she spun to leave, shock held her to the spot.
Someone was blocking her exit.
Lily swallowed a scream, though they didn’t react to her other than stand there.
One of the home’s occupants? No doubt wondering who she was, and why she was here.
“I’m sorry for the intrusion,” Lily said, “but you should get back to cover. It’s not safe.”
They said nothing, breath raspy as if intaking air through a straw. A pair of creased light green eyes lit through the dark. It looked like a man.
Lily took a step forward. “Did you hear me? It’s not safe.”
He backed away, grasping the door frame as if it were the only thing keeping him from collapsing.
Lily stopped.
This wasn’t a civilian in front of her, and he was acting too odd to be a Reatian soldier. It couldn’t be…
Her hand slowly inched to the gun on her hip. The man’s eyes widened at the movement. A low growl gurgled in his throat. He released the frame, gripping his head with a fleshy hand, then one that sheened in the light from outside.
Lily froze. A specter. But it wasn’t like the one she blew to pieces earlier. This one was smaller. Younger, reminding her of the one she fought the day she met Luka. It was only recently melded with a ghostsoil prosthetic. It hadn’t been like this for longer than a few years. There might be some humanity left to reason with.
She took a step forward. “I don’t want to hurt you. Do you understand?”
Artificial fingers dug into his scalp, drawing blood and its aura.
“It’s okay,” she hushed. “Can you hear me?”
“Lily,” he said.
The world spun away.
That voice—cracked, pained, but one she’d never forget lecturing her from her bed in Reave. It hit her like a punch to the gut.
“Lily. Lily. Lily.”
