1
LAI
BRIGHT YELLOW CAUTION tape surrounds the warehouses, almost glowing in the moonlight. Caution tape, and more than a fair number of guards. They patrol the long, low concrete structures. There aren’t many windows, but there are a few gaping holes from the rebels’ attack almost a week ago. More than doable as break-in entrances. If the High Council didn’t have so many other matters to take care of, they probably would’ve ordered the openings boarded up. But between the rebel Nytes’ declaration of war, public panic at the rebels’ infiltration of the sector and successful attack here, and my team’s “betrayal” and subsequent escape from prison two days ago, they’ve had a few other things going on. Still. The rebels must’ve attacked this place for a reason. They wouldn’t have gone out of their way to pull such a risky operation if it didn’t somehow further their goal of wiping out all the ungifted. And the Council wouldn’t have set so many guards here if there wasn’t something to hide.
Even though the attack is long finished, I almost imagine I can see smoke curling up from the ash-stained buildings. That I hear screams in the distance as the civilians who were working here suddenly found themselves face-to-face with death.
I shake my head. Not helping.
Behind me in the underbrush concealing us, Erik cocks his head in question. I wave it off.
The team should’ve had enough time by now to get to their respective positions. I reach out with my gift to check on everyone’s thoughts.
Everyone ready? I ask telepathically.
Yeah. From Erik, both of us hiding across from the main warehouse building. We’ll be the ones who go in. With my extensive history of sneaking around and breaking into places and his useful gift of telekinesis, it was decided we had the best chances of success.
Roger. From Jay, stationed by the back of the warehouses, his gift already sweeping over the buildings to sense and track the people inside. Our eyes.
Can we just start already? From Al, over by the front entrance. Why do I always have to be the distraction?
Because you’re good at it.
Disgruntled, half-formed thoughts come back to me in reply.
Before the rebels ambushed our team almost a week ago, I might’ve smiled. As it is, I hold back my irritation that she can’t just suck it up and follow the plan we all agreed on without complaining.
Okay. Let’s go.
I’ve barely sent the thought to everyone when a flash suddenly splits the night. Flames engulf the wooden bits of the front gate. Guards all over the grounds shout and race toward the entrance. Their swords and badges shine in the light of the fire.
“That idiot,” I hiss. “What are we going to do if the guards call for backup? Not to mention anyone in the area will be able to see an inferno like that. I told her to start a small fire—what part of that is so hard to understand?”
“Guess we better get in and out fast, then,” Erik says. He’s already standing, shadows cast by the trees and shrubs around us flickering over his pale face. His messy blond hair looks duller in the night, his bright green eyes uncharacteristically serious.
I sigh, but there’s no point continuing my rant. He’s right.
We make a run for the nearest opening in the building—a jagged, gaping thing that looks intent on swallowing us whole. All the guards outside have swarmed to the fire by the front, so there’s no one to stop us.
Be careful. There are two guards not far inside the first corridor, to the left. They’re moving fast. Alarmed. Probably trying to figure out what’s happening outside.
Got it. Thanks, Jay.
I pass the message on to Erik and he nods. As soon as we’re inside, we duck underneath a table with two of its legs broken off one side; it leans precariously against the wall, forming enough of a gap for us to hide in.
It’s only thanks to Jay’s warning that we don’t run straight into that pair of guards. My gift can’t pinpoint the location of thoughts. And as dark as it had been outside, the hazy moonlight and guards’ flashlights had provided some light. Inside, it’s unexpectedly, totally dark. The electricity is probably down from the rebel attack. But there are no temporary lights set up, no signs of brightness from the guards—nothing to indicate their presence.
Erik and I sit in still silence as they hurry through the hall. I can barely see the edge of their night-vision goggles as they pass. So. The Council is trying to give its men the home advantage by intentionally leaving this place in the dark. Smart—except the Councilors forget they’re dealing with Nytes.
Once the guards are gone, Erik and I slip out of our hiding space and down the hall to the left, the way they came from. Even though my eyes have somewhat adjusted to the dark, it’s still hard not to run into anything. Rubble litters the floor, along with broken bits of furniture, scattered files and papers, shattered glass. It crunches under our boots, and I cringe at the noise. Jay guides us through the building and out of the way of the guards.
We’ve just reached the safe room, the most likely place anything important would be kept, when Jay’s thoughts burst in. They’ve extinguished the fire. Johann’s started another, but they’ve caught on that someone is doing this intentionally. They’re looking for her—and doubling back into the building to search for intruders.
Shit. Got it.
“We have to hurry,” I whisper to Erik. “They’re coming.”
Erik waves his hand, and the bent metal door propped against the doorframe in front of us lifts into the air as easily as a piece of paper and sets itself back down out of our way. “Good thing we’re here.”
“Close your eyes.” I reach for my necklace and touch one of the power crystals hanging from it. Syon’s power crystal is small and electric-yellow, no bigger than my thumbnail. When I draw out his gift from it, light immediately floods the safe room, blinding if you didn’t have your eyes closed to the initial intensity of it. As soon as the light calms down, I open my eyes.
Before us is a space no bigger than our old bedrooms back in the military. The walls are solid metal, dented and scorched in multiple places. Cracks streak the linoleum floor. A few overturned filing cabinets are the only furniture, but whatever contents they might’ve once held have clearly been emptied out. The drawers hang open at awkward angles, the locks snapped clean off. Erik lifts them into the air with his gift anyway, shakes them, but nothing falls out. There’s nothing else here.
Erik looks at me. “Lai.”
“No,” I say. “This can’t be it. There has to be something.”
“Lai, whatever was here, the rebels have it now.”
“No. They must have left something behind. Why else would the Council be guarding this place?”
“How should I know? Maybe they’re just trying to keep people out for their own good. This place is a wreck.”
Three guards headed your way. You need to get out of there, now.
I bite my lip.
Erik catches it. “Message from Jay?”
“Three guards incoming.”
“Then we need to go.”
“But—”
“Lai.” His voice is sharp. “There’s nothing here.”
“The rebels stole whatever was in this room, but what if there’s something else the Council is hiding out here?”