Chapter 21 · The Better Pattern

"Hands off him."

Nia had Kellan's wrist before the floor finished cracking open.

The cables yanked him toward the shaft. Metal screamed. Sparks sprayed across the tile.

"Elias! Get him loose!"

"I'm trying!"

Elias slammed both hands onto the anchor console. Blue light crawled up his arms and burned through his sleeves. The console snapped beneath his palms, but he held on.

Across the chamber, Veyra pressed one hand against the glass. Behind her, the city went dark district by district. Streets bent. Towers dissolved. Names peeled off signs, screens, and people's mouths.

"You're wasting time," she said. "The purge is already in District Nine."

Nia pulled harder. "Shut up."

"Your brother isn't your brother anymore."

"He is."

Kellan's head rolled toward her. His eyes looked gray. Empty. Too calm.

"Nia," he whispered.

Her grip tightened.

He knew her.

Then the sigil in her palm opened like hot metal.

Pain punched through her shoulder. Her fingers went numb. Thin red-gold threads spilled from the burn and climbed her arm.

Kellan screamed.

The cables tightened.

"No!" Nia dug in her heels. "Elias, now!"

"I need the lockdown key!"

"You have it!"

"Not the access key.