Chapter 26 · The City Forgets

"Don't let go of me." Elias's hand locked around Nora's wrist as the grid tore the name off the iron door. "If it takes mine, you won't know who you're saving."

Nora drove her shoulder into him and slammed him against the wall. His back hit hard enough to shake dust from the ceiling. The broken piece of his cursed heart pulsed between them, hot against her palm, tied to her by the black line running beneath her skin.

"You don't get to give orders," she said.

"Then stop trying to walk into a memory-eating machine without me."

"Finn is in there."

"And the grid wants you beside him."

The iron door shuddered. Letters melted across its surface, one after another, until nothing remained but a blank plate. Beyond it, the old transit tunnel stretched into blue-black light. The rails had turned into glowing threads. Every few seconds, a voice rose from them—someone's name, shouted once, then swallowed.

Nora tightened her grip on the shard. "You said the broken heart could get us across."

"It can."

"You also said it would hurt."

Elias leaned closer. His breath brushed her cheek, warm and uneven. "I said it would hurt me.