Chapter 10 · Undercity Broker - Chapter 10: Platform Zero

The arm wouldn't stop burning.

Lin Mo stumbled through the market entrance, past the rusted turnstile that groaned louder than usual. The black lines had crawled up past his elbow now, branching like cracks in concrete. Every pulse felt like someone was running a lighter under his skin.

He had four hours until midnight. Four hours before Han's team rolled in and turned this place into a shooting gallery.

The main platform was emptier than he'd ever seen it. A few scavengers huddled near the south exit, whispering and glancing his way. Word traveled fast down here. They'd seen him leave. Seen him come back looking like death.

"You're bleeding."

Lin looked down. Right. The cut on his palm from when he'd torn the ledger page. It had soaked through his sleeve. He pressed it against his side and kept walking.

Su Jin was waiting at the old ticket booth, arms crossed. Her two enforcers flanked her, hands resting on machete handles.

"Topside didn't go well," she said.

Not a question.

"I need to get to Platform Zero," Lin said.

Su Jin's expression didn't change, but her enforcers shifted.