Chapter 26 · Steal the Starlight - Chapter 26: Ugly Escape

"Get your hands off her!" I slammed my shoulder into the cleaner before his shock baton touched Wren's neck.

The hit sent him into the wall hard enough to crack the cheap paneling. His mask snapped sideways. A red light flashed over one lens.

"Ellis!" Wren's voice scraped across the room. "Run!"

"Yeah, great plan. You first."

She tried to push herself up. Her arm shook once, then gave out. The silver lines under her skin flared bright and ugly, crawling from her wrist to her throat. Her knees folded.

I caught her before her head hit the floor.

She was burning through her suit. Heat soaked into my palms, but her fingers felt cold when they grabbed my jacket.

"You can't carry me," she whispered.

"Watch me."

"Ellis, there are six of them."

"Then stop counting and tell me where the door is."

Two more cleaners stepped through the broken doorway. White armor. Black visors. No agency logo, because the Corp didn't want anyone filming the dirty work.

The first one recovered and raised his baton.

"Asset Wren Starr is nonviable," he said. "Step away from her.