Chapter 22 · I yelled

He swung the empty pistol at her.

She blocked it. He grabbed her shoulder. Their arms locked. Vesper drove him backward, step by step, toward the open blast hole.

I saw the burning city beyond the wall. Six stories down. No railing. No second chance.

"Jaxon!" I yelled.

"Busy!"

I slammed my palm into the lock panel.

The Glitch reacted before I could think.

[UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED] [MEMORY TAX: 5%] [ACCEPT COST?]

"Yes," I hissed.

A sharp pain stabbed behind my eyes.

Something vanished.

Not a face. Not a place. A sound. Someone laughing near me. Someone saying my name like it mattered.

I grabbed the panel harder.

"Come on. Take the memory and open the damn door."

The lock flashed green.

[ACCESS OVERRIDE: ACCEPTED]

The maintenance gate rolled up three feet and jammed.

"That’s your big escape?" Jaxon shouted, ducking under Vesper’s elbow.

"You want a better one? Build it yourself."

Vesper slammed him into the wall.

His head struck metal. His pistol dropped. Her hand closed around his throat.

I moved before the thought finished forming.

I drove my blade into the floor beside Vesper’s boot, pinning the edge of her coat.