Chapter 21 · Untitled Chapter

"Sir, the gate's opening."

Marcus spun toward the north gate. The sealed doors were grinding apart, steel shrieking against steel. They hadn't moved in forty-eight loops.

He drew his sidearm and shoved past the nearest cadet. "Who authorized that?"

Nobody answered. The gate kept opening.

Reina was still on her knees behind him, wrists red from the restraints. "Marcus—"

"Stay there."

"You can't just—"

"Stay. There."

The gap widened. Hot dust blew through it, stinging Marcus's face. No alarm sounded. No lockdown lights flashed.

A figure stepped through with both hands raised.

Marcus aimed at his chest. "Hands higher."

The figure stopped.

It was Danny Locke.

Marcus kept the gun trained on him. "You're supposed to be in the east dorm."

"I was."

"Then why are you here?"

"I heard the alarm."

Marcus's finger settled against the trigger. "What alarm?"

Danny's gaze flicked toward the courtyard. "The one that went off six minutes ago. You didn't hear it?"

"No."

"Then Shadow's already inside the system."

Marcus clicked off the safety. Danny froze.

"Don't use that name unless you can prove he exists," Marcus said.

Danny swallowed. His hands stayed up. "You're looping.