Chapter 13 · Ghost Rail Panic

"Breathe with me, Rex!" Vesper slammed her palm against my chest as the rail car lurched sideways. "If you fight the burn, it kills you faster!"

"Great advice," I rasped. "Try not stabbing me while you give it."

The car's emergency lights strobed red across her face. She was on top of me because the floor had tilted hard enough to throw us both against the wall. One knee pinned my thigh. Her gloved hand had my collar twisted tight, forcing my head back against the metal panel.

I could barely pull air in.

The gas had leaked through the cracked ceiling vents three seconds after we crossed the dead section of the Ghost Rail. It smelled like hot plastic and bitter almonds. My throat had locked almost at once. Every breath scraped. My vision kept jumping between black and sharp white.

Vesper looked fine.

That was the problem.

Her pale eyes stayed focused while mine filled with gold static. She had sealed her respirator before the first cloud reached us. I had not even seen the leak.

"Your mask," I choked out. "Share it."

"No."

"You want me dead?"

"I want you controllable. Dead is the backup plan.