Chapter 30 · Shattered Mirrors

"Don't touch the door."

Zero's hand stopped two inches from the emergency release.

Behind the glass wall, three white lights blinked in a steady line. The chamber had no windows, no cameras she could see, and no way out except the door Kael had just locked from the inside.

He stood between her and the control panel, one hand pressed to his ribs. Blood had soaked through his shirt. His other hand held the stolen access key like it was a weapon.

"You locked us in," Zero said.

"For thirty seconds. Maybe less."

"That isn't an answer."

"It's the only one keeping the cleaners from cutting you open."

Her fingers curled.

The word cleaners hit harder than the pain pulsing behind her eyes. Her body knew what they were. White masks. Silver tools. Restraints that burned through skin. Voices that never used her name because she had never been given one.

Kael watched the change in her face.

"You remember them?"

"I remember enough to kill you for bringing me here."

"You dragged me here."

"You put the location in my head."

"I put a route in your head. You chose the building.