Chapter 12 · Don't Trust Her Voice

"Get up, Eli!" Rachel seized my arm and hauled me away from the busted door.

I dug my fingers into the floor. "That was her."

"It wore her face," Rachel snapped. "That's not the same thing."

The corridor outside stood empty beneath the drone's sweeping searchlight. A second ago, Maya had been there—Maya's eyes, Maya's mouth, Maya's voice begging me to follow her into the dark.

Now there was nothing but broken concrete and shadows.

Marcus slammed a metal shelf against the door. The frame groaned under the first impact from the other side.

"Back tunnel," he said. "Move."

My hand flared white-gold.

The light crawled between my fingers, hot and eager. Rachel let go of me and took one step back.

"Eli," Marcus said. He crossed the room and crouched in front of me. "Look at me."

"I can't shut it off."

"Yeah, I can see that. You light up any brighter, every turned thing in a mile will smell you. You want that?"

"No."

"Then stop fighting it."

"Helpful."

Another blow hit the door. Dust shook loose from the ceiling.

Marcus swore and pulled a knife from his belt.