“It’s almost daybreak. They won’t have enough time.”
“Then use the goddamn Daytrans and tell them to suit up.”
“But—”
“I don’t care about protocol. I’m going in now.” The Council could exile him to Siberia or revoke his Guardian status for all he cared. All that mattered was Mackenzie.
It wasn’t until he was almost upon the cloaking field that he sensed the electric charge. The hairs on his arm stood up, and a high-pitched ringing—almost out of his hearing range—was barely audible. When the air shimmered in front of him in the early morning light, like a heat wave rising from the ground, he knew he’d reached his target.
He followed the perimeter of the field, looking for the perfect place to breach the shield. He’d have to be ready when he went through. For all he knew, there was an army of Darkbloods waiting for him on the other side.
With a blade in one hand and his Glock in the other, he took a running start and dove through with the telltale static snap of electricity. Crouched in a field of tall weeds, he quickly assessed his surroundings. Dark and deserted. No Darkbloods. Yet.
Behind a dilapidated wire fence, a crumbling brick monstrosity sat on a slight incline fifty yards in front of him, so it looked larger than it actually was. In its day, the fence would’ve been a huge deterrent, stretching fifteen feet with razor wire at the top. But today, many of the sections had been cut, most of the wire removed. He listened for guards, but didn’t detect anything but the buzzing of a few insects and the chorus of early morning birds. Running low, he skirted through the fencing and over to a small side door hanging askew on its hinges. The air inside the dark hallway was almost colder than it was outside.
Kenz, I’m in. You okay? Can you hear me?
Oh, Dom…careful…Corey’s been…
His heart pounded in his chest at the sound of her voice in his head, a little stronger now.
Describe where you are, how you got there.
When they…elevator…floors…old infirmary. Please hurry…they took…
I’m coming, Kenz. He’d find her somehow.
He made it through a series of doors onto a cell block. It appeared to be some sort of solitary confinement, as each cell was its own little room. He ran from door well to door well, flattening himself against each as he advanced. Voices. At the far end. He tried the door handle pressed to his back. Locked. Changing the hold on his blade to a throwing grip, he slowly peered around the corner. Two medical personnel in white lab coats walked through the intersection of the corridors and disappeared.
Were they coming or going? He counted to ten, then took a step in their direction. The pull of Mackenzie’s presence weakened slightly. Going. They were definitely going away from her. He turned the other way and saw a stairwell leading down. The pull was definitely stronger this way.
He’d made it down three flights of stairs when he noted the sensation felt stronger than ever. She was somewhere on this floor. He opened the door a millimeter at a time and the strong smell of sweetbloods nearly knocked him to his knees. A few metal gurneys lined up against the wall and the sound of crying came from somewhere nearby. He glanced in both directions. The steel doors all had small barred windows.
Kenz, I’m on your floor. Can you stick your fingers out the bars of your door?
I’m not…individual room. I’m…exam…viewing window…strapped to a table. Dom, I…other room. Careful.
Damn. Where was she? He stepped out of the stairwell. The crying was louder and he heard the low murmur of voices. He looked through the bars of the nearest door.
It was a large cell with several groups of people huddled together in twos and threes. Corey stood alone, the only one dressed in street clothes. The rest were in hospital robes. Mackenzie wasn’t inside.
“Hey,” Dom whispered through the bars. “Corey, man, where’s Kenz?”
A young Asian kid nearest the door jumped up. “Who are you?”
“I’m here to get you out.” Dom rattled the door. It would easily cave, but he feared the noise would attract attention.
“Dom, thank God.” Corey approached the door, dark circles under his eyes. He looked like shit. “Kenzie knew you’d find us.”
“Where is she?”
“In the testing room.”
“I’ll be back.” He turned to leave. He’d get them out later after he had Mackenzie.
“Wait, you can’t just leave us here,” someone said. “They could be back for