Chapter 22 · Ghost Signal - Chapter 22: The Burn List

The squad channel crackled in my skull like someone dragging glass across concrete.

I hadn't heard that frequency in three years. Not since the last mission. Not since they all died.

Qin was still slumped against the wall behind me, breathing hard through the neural flush I'd just pushed through his system. The clock on the wall still frozen at seven. And now this. Voices I knew. Voices that shouldn't exist anymore.

"Lin." Zero's voice cut through, sharp and clear in my other ear. "You need to move. Now."

I pressed my palm against the cold metal of the doorframe. Steadied myself. "Who's on that channel?"

"I don't know yet. But whoever it is knows your old military encryption. That's not random."

No. It wasn't.

I looked back at Qin. His eyes were open now, focused on me. Blood still crusted at the corner of his mouth but the shaking had stopped. "You hear that?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Hear what?"

So it was just me. Just my channel. Someone wanted me specifically.

"We need to go," I said. "Can you walk?"

Qin pushed himself up the wall, legs shaky but holding. "Where?"

"Underground market. Old Yuan's.