Chapter 9 · The Lockdown Has Teeth

The lockdown sirens hit like a hammer on metal. Three rising tones, then silence, then the whole city groaning as blast doors dropped into place.

I was already out the door when the third siren started. My boots slapped wet stone—someone's water ration spilled in the hall—and I didn't care who saw me running. Steelhook's people would be sealing sectors. If I didn't move now, I'd be stuck in the barracks wing for however long they wanted to keep me.

I turned the corner and slammed into a checkpoint.

Two guards in dust masks, rifles across their chests. The taller one put a hand up. "Sector's closed. Get back to your block."

"I need to see Ashmark," I said. My breath came hard. "It's urgent."

"Everyone's got urgent business when the storm hits." The shorter guard tapped his rifle butt on the floor. "Back. Now."

Behind them, the blast door was halfway down. I could see the market sector through the gap—stalls getting torn apart, people shoving crates toward the storage tunnels. Ashmark's usual corner was somewhere past that mess.

I made myself breathe. Made myself think.

"Steelhook sent me," I lied.

The tall guard's eyes narrowed. "Bull.