Chapter 14 · Marked Registry - Chapter 14: White Room

The badge gets us through three checkpoints before anyone looks twice.

Cain's bleeding through his shirt. I can smell it, copper and something bitter, like he's been running on adrenaline and spite for the last two hours. He doesn't say anything when I swipe his ID at the third scanner. Just leans against the wall and watches the light blink green.

"White Room's sub-level," he says. His voice is flat. "You get one shot at this."

I don't answer. I'm already moving.

The hallway down is concrete and fluorescent buzz. No windows. No cameras that I can see, but that doesn't mean they're not there. My hands are shaking. I shove them in my pockets and keep walking.

Cain's behind me. I hear his boots, uneven. He's limping.

"Ella."

I don't stop.

"Ella, listen to me."

"I'm done listening."

"Then you're gonna get yourself killed."

I spin around. He's five feet back, one hand pressed to his ribs, the other holding his phone. The screen's cracked. There's blood on the corner.

"You said she's alive," I say. "You swore."

"She is."

"Then move."

He doesn't.