Chapter 18 · The Name They Buried

"Subject Seven." The metal hand tightened around Nora's wrist. "Nora Vale. Identity confirmed."

Nora stopped pulling.

Samuel felt her go still against him, her whole body locking up like someone hit pause.

"Vale," she said. "Say it again."

"Don't ask the dead machine questions." Tarin had both hands on the cracked wall, searching for a release panel. "Especially when it's got you."

The floor jumped. Dust rained from the shaft overhead. Something far below answered with one slow beat.

Thoom.

Blue lines crawled up Nora's arm, bright enough to glow through the grime on her skin.

The hand opened.

Nora stumbled back. Samuel caught her. His bad knee folded and they hit the floor together, his ribs screaming.

"Damn it, Grey." She shoved off him. "You're bleeding again."

"Observant."

"Stupid."

"Also fair."

A chime cut through the dust.

Samuel froze. Not his private receiver. His inspector's badge. The thing had been dead since the flood tower woke.

Now it buzzed against his chest like an angry wasp.

Tarin looked at it. "That's not good."

"You keep saying that," Nora muttered.

Samuel pulled the badge out.