“I could shoot you. I’ll find what the Patrician are looking for without you.”
“You won’t do that. You’ll be signing your own death warrant. They need me more than they need you. After all, I’m the one they modified, not you.”
Anger flashes across his face. “Only because it was convenient for them. If they had known who you really sided with, you’d be dead just like the others.”
“Why wouldn’t I side with the Patrician, Garrett? The Dracken have done nothing but try and destroy everything the Patrician have created.” I’m almost at the couch now, but he’s still not lowering his weapon. “Would I have had sex with you if I didn’t want to be with you? We can only be together if the Patrician are successful, and isn’t that what you want?” I stop just shy of the tip of the arrow piercing my shirt.
His eyes narrow and for a brief instant he almost lets the arrow fly. “Don’t ever leave my side again, understand?”
I nod and he lowers the weapon.
As he sets the bow and arrow down on the couch his wristband chimes and an image appears of two people just outside the front doors to the tower. Garrett takes my arm, escorts me back into the lift, and we head to the lobby. When we’re near the doors, I loop the two of us outside. Lok and Troy are standing a few steps down from us. Lok and Garrett embrace while Troy gives me the once over.
“I wasn’t sure where you two were sent,” Garrett says, releasing Lok.
“It took us a while to get to the tower since there isn’t an easy path or complete road,” Troy responds, eyes still glued onto me. “How’d you get here?” His gaze focuses on Garrett.
“Max,” Garrett responds, gesturing towards me. “Her modifications have been more than useful.”
They knew? All this time, they knew?
“I’m glad the Patrician chose the right girl,” Lok says, winking at me as he adjusts a rucksack slung around his shoulder.
I feel both thoroughly disgusted with them and myself at the center of their betrayal. I know I’m only playing a part at the moment, but just the thought of being stuck in Pentras Tower with the three of them sickens me. Still, I have to keep going if I have any chance of success.
They take hold of my hands and I loop us into the building. We take the lift to the forty-ninth floor where Garrett shows Lok and Troy to vacant rooms as well as where the communal bathrooms are. They each head to the showers, but Troy is the first one out. He’s only wearing boxer shorts as he walks down the hall mentioning how hungry he is. Garrett has me take him upstairs to get some food while Lok finishes up. I sit across from Troy while he eats a bowl of cereal soaked in milk.
“Where’s Frey?” Troy asks after several unsettling moments of silence.
“I don’t know.”
“I bet Garrett does.” A sneer creases his mouth.
I ignore the ploy since I know he’s only trying to antagonize me. I cross my arms and rest them on the table. “So, Troy, where’s the rest of your unit?”
He doesn’t look up from his food when he responds. “We got separated. I was looking for them when I ran into Lok.”
“And what about his unit? Surely he wasn’t alone as well?”
He slams his spoon down. “What are you implying, Max?”
“It just seems odd that the two of you didn’t have anyone else with you. From those we’ve encountered, the Keepers looped whole units together out of Thrace Tower. Why would the Dead Mark and Rapid units be treated differently?”
“I don’t know,” he says, a little more calmly. “I’m sure they’re out there somewhere.”
I stare at him while he continues to eat. He’s hiding something, but I’m not sure what. Maybe he really doesn’t even know where his unit is. After all, he has a large black and red dragon draped between his shoulder blades, which makes him a Dracken leader. So, perhaps those that are Patrician loyalists were sent to Icarian and Troy was sent here with the Dracken members. But then, how did he meet up with Lok? The Dead Zone is too large to run into someone simply by happenstance. Yet, Garrett was expecting both of them. Maybe they were both directed to come here by the Patrician.
The lift doors open and Garrett steps out, alone. He gestures towards me, so I get up from my seat and enter the lift with him. We descend one floor and when the doors open, Lok is standing on the other side wearing tan pants, a black short-sleeved shirt, and both the rucksack and his weapon strapped across his shoulders. On his right bicep is a green laurel with a silver infinity sign in the center. This is the first time I’ve actually seen that tattoo, as Lok usually had his arms covered up. He steps on-board and we descend, stopping at the seventh floor when Garrett hits the emergency button.
“I need you to loop me in there,” Lok says to me.
“What for? Nothing in there works,” I say, protesting.
“All the more reason to get me on that floor,” Lok says.
“It’s ancient equipment. Way before your time.”
“Is there an issue, Max?” Garrett says, crossing his arms over his chest.
“No. No issue,” I respond as calmly as possible.
I take Lok by the hand and loop us. I had left the security gate open when I was on the floor last, so Lok walks right into the room. Everything comes alive at the sound of his steps. He stops and scans the room as the monitors spring to life, showing the outer perimeter of the tower. Lok steps into the center of the room and places the rucksack on top of the plasma display. He begins digging around in the
