Chapter 9 · Rift Protocol - Chapter 9: The City Blinks

"Don't look up."

Dalen's hand closes around my wrist and drags me into the shadow of a rusted overpass. My shoulder hits concrete. His chest blocks the light.

"What—"

"Shut up." His voice is flat. "Drone. Eleven o'clock."

I freeze. The hum overhead grows louder, then fades east. He doesn't let go.

"You good?"

"Yeah." I pull my arm back. He releases it like I'm burning him. "Thanks."

"Don't thank me." He steps out, scans the avenue, then jerks his head. "Move."

I follow. The city looks dead. Every third streetlight is out. Storefronts are dark, windows boarded or shattered. There's a curfew sticker on a cracked bus shelter: REBORN COUNCIL ORDER 14-A. VIOLATORS WILL BE DETAINED.

"How far to the relay?"

"Four blocks." He doesn't look back. "If you can keep up."

"I kept up the last two loops."

That stops him. He turns, and for a second I think he remembers. But his eyes are cold.

"What loops?"

My throat tightens. "Nothing. Forget it."

"You said loops."

"I said blocks."

"Bullshit." He steps closer. "You've been talking like you know me. Like we've done this before."

"We haven't." The lie tastes bitter. "I just—