Chapter 16 · Fire on the Summit

"Nia!" Elias shouted from the stairwell. "Move!"

She dragged Kellan through the opening as the metal doors ground together. His knees buckled. She caught him under the arms before his head cracked the floor.

The summit gate slammed shut behind them.

Tavi hit the control panel with both hands. It sparked, flashed red, gave him a cheerful chime.

"Oh good," he muttered. "It hates me personally."

Every screen on the tower wall lit up at once.

The same recording. A little girl with Nia's face, barefoot in a white control room. One hand wrapped around a black ember. Her mouth moved.

Lock it all.

Then the districts vanished behind walls of red light.

Kellan stared at the screen. "You did that?"

Nia's grip tightened around him. "Not now."

"You said you didn't remember."

"I said not now."

Elias slammed his shoulder into the gate. The impact shook dust from the ceiling. The metal didn't move.

"How long?" Nia asked.

Tavi spun away from the dead panel. His coat hung open, half his signal rig dangling by a cable. Blood ran from his eyebrow into one eye.

"Until Veyra seals the summit tower?" He wiped the blood with two fingers.