Chapter 18 · Rift Protocol - Chapter 18: One Bullet, Two Kess

"Don't move." The first Dalen's voice came from the platform. Gun steady. Eyes cold.

"Stay where you are." The second Dalen spoke from inside the subway car. Same gun. Same voice. Same scar above his left eyebrow.

I froze between them. The tunnel air tasted like rust and ozone.

"Which one of you is real?" My voice cracked.

"That's what I want to know," Platform-Dalen said. His barrel didn't waver. "About you."

"She's with me," Subway-Dalen said, stepping out of the car. "Back off."

"Funny. That's exactly what a copy would say."

"Lower the weapon, Dalen." Subway version moved closer to me. I felt the heat off his jacket. "You're scaring her."

"Good. She should be scared." Platform-Dalen's finger shifted on the trigger. "Kess. Tell me something only you would know."

"Like what?" My heart hammered against my ribs.

"Like how many times you've died."

I opened my mouth. Closed it. The loops blurred together in my head—twelve? Fifteen? I'd stopped counting after the one where I drowned.

"She can't answer," Subway-Dalen said. "Because Echidna's in her head. Let me get her out of here first, then we'll—"

"No." Platform-Dalen cut him off. "You'll take her straight to Cormac.