shirt in my mouth, chewing on the fabric to loosen the fibers.
Gradually I felt the sharp edge of my anxiety loosen, and I was filled with a soothing calm. Fear and anger was replaced by conviction. I wasn’t going to be bossed around or told what to do. I was back in the narrow hall leading to Penelope’s cell before I realized where I was going. Two stocky guards were outside the door to the garage, wearing ridiculous tinfoil hats and cloves of garlic around their necks.
Their eyes narrowed as I approached. One was holding a flaming torch, and the other gripped the handle of the pistol tucked in the front of his pants.
“Relax boys,” I said. “Jacob sent me down to check out the prisoner.”
“I don’t think so,” one said. “We are under clear instructions, not to let anyone in. Especially not you.”
Part of me wanted to attack them. But it would lead to a battle I wasn’t ready to fight. I might have been able to take them both if I surprised them, but I had their full attention now, and they looked like they were itching for a reason to pull out their firearms.
I squeezed my fists, feeling frustration roll through me in waves, filling me with a warm glow. It wasn’t the explosion of power I usually got when drinking elixir, but a subtle hum that ran along the surface of my skin. I pushed deep within myself to tap into the feeling, expanding my awareness.
“You will let me in,” I said calmly, stepping closer to the first man and gazing into his eyes. His jaw went slack and his pupils dilated. He reached for his pocket and pulled out the keys.
“And you,” I said, turning to the other, “are going to get me a pen and paper.”
I didn’t stop to think about what I’d just done or what it meant. I unlocked the door, then opened the back of the truck. A minute later I was inside.
Penelope’s eyes widened when I walked in, and I saw something that looked a lot like shame as she scanned my body and the white bandage taped to my neck.
“Back for more?” she joked feebly.
“Not exactly.”
“I’m sorry,” she said after a long pause.
“I know. How are you? They said they were interrogating you.”
She turned up her wrists and showed me the blistered scorch marks on the back of her hands. The blackened flesh made me feel sick to my stomach.
“UV penlight,” she said, marveling at her own skin. “Feels like a blowtorch.”
“That’s awful,” I said.
I held out the pen and paper.
“Last time I was here, you told me where Damien grew up, do you remember?”
She nodded.
“I need to find it.”
“I’ve never been there,” Penelope said. “It was over a hundred years ago, maps from the Before are mostly destroyed.”
“But you said it was near a compound. Do you know where the compounds are? Can you draw a map?”
Penelope frowned but held a hand out for the pen. I tossed it to her and slid the paper across the floor, being careful to stay out of her reach this time.
Her lip twisted up but she didn’t say anything. I watched as she traced long, clean lines across the paper, frowning and biting her lip. In the center was the citadel, marked with the tall towers. She drew trees and mountains, and then circles for the compounds, labeling them. Nine compounds in all, radiating out away from citadel like spokes of a wheel. I held my breath when she marked one Sezomp and tapped thoughtfully with her fingers.
“Near here, I think. I’m not sure about the distances,” she said. “But Algrave to the citadel is at least a day’s walk, it should take you about a week to reach.”
My heart sank as I stared at the paper. It was one of the furthest compounds away. I’d never get there in time. I jumped back as I felt Penelope reach towards me, gripping my foot and lowering her head.
“Take me with you,” she begged, squeezing my leg tightly. “You know I don’t belong down here, like this.”
I held my breath, looking at the chains and the metal collar around her neck. Of course she didn’t belong here. But I couldn’t let her loose in Havoc. How could I trust her after she’d attacked me? What if she killed others?
“I’m sorry,” I said, pulling away. “I can’t. But I promise, I won’t leave you. No matter what.”