“Don’t worry,” Jason said, breaking her abruptly from her reverie, his voice thick with sarcasm. “I’m sure we’ll be back soon enough. After all, we are just everyone’s favorite target when it comes to challenges.”
Allyra laughed sourly. “They might think twice after we’ve won two challenges.”
“That would require us actually finding our way out of these ridiculous Tunnels.”
“You mean through an exit like that?” Allyra asked, pointing behind Jason.
He turned and started at the bright light streaming through the exit and let out a relieved breath. “Thank the Source.”
Remembering how Don and Clara had popped out of nowhere the last time, Allyra didn’t waste any time, breaking into a run. But before she could step through the exit, Jason grabbed her hand and pulled her to a stop.
Surprised and confused, Allyra turned to him, wide-eyed. “I thought you were dying to get out of here?”
He gazed at her, and there was almost a fondness in the look. He tucked some stray hairs that had escaped her ponytail behind her ear. “I am. But I wanted to say something before I forget all of this.”
“Please don’t say anything mushy,” she said with a laugh. “That’s just going to embarrass us both, but I’ll have to carry that embarrassment around while you get to forget.”
One edge of his lips curved up in a lopsided smile. “It’s a strange feeling—knowing whatever I say, or do, won’t matter. That I’m soon going to forget. You’re still the most stubborn, insane, and uninformed person I know—”
“And here I thought you were about to be nice,” she interjected sardonically, slapping her palm dramatically to her face. “What was I thinking?”
Ignoring her, Jason continued. “You’re all those things, and worse. But I’m beginning to think you might not be the worst person to be partnered up with.”
At his words, a grin tugged at her lips until it matched his wry smile.
“No reply?” Jason asked after a span of silence.
“Fishing for compliments?” she fired back.
He shrugged, and his gaze slid away from her eyes. For a moment, there was almost something awkward about him. It was unexpected and threw Allyra until she realized that, despite his outward confidence, he’d never had much opportunity for an honest expression of his feelings. She grabbed his hand and forced him to look at her once again, because, even if he was soon to forget, she wanted him to see the sincerity in her eyes. “There are definitely worse partners I could be stuck with,” she said, her tone more weighted than her words.
Jason nodded, briefly acknowledging their fragile attempt at something resembling friendship. He started for the exit but stopped and sighed heavily. “I know I’m going to regret this,” he said. “But—that door, those words. I think they might be meant for you.”
It definitely wasn’t what she’d expected from him. “What do you mean?”
“Forget me at your peril—surely, that’s meant for someone who might remember. The rest of us have no choice but to forget.”
His words confirmed her growing suspicions. That door was important; otherwise, the Tunnels wouldn’t have persisted in showing it to her. It was important, and she was running out of opportunities to find out what was hidden behind it.
“But do not take this as my blessing to go exploring the next time we’re here,” Jason said caustically. Then he pulled her through the bright light of the exit.
They had completed their second challenge without ever seeing Aiden or Dave. And as far as the Tunnels went, it was as easy as it got, but she couldn’t forget the shape of two intertwined tigers driven deep into the iron.
Chapter 15 – Jamie
The corridor was empty and quiet. Jamie waited, listening for any approaching footsteps. He waited. One minute, two minutes, five, and then ten before finally making a move. Closing the door quietly behind him, Jamie made his way quickly down the corridor, staying close to the walls, as if they might somehow provide him cover. It was a false comfort.
At the first junction in the corridor Jamie turned left, moving briskly and without hesitation. It wasn’t the first time he’d gotten out the door, but it was taking a long time to find the Archivist’s room within the warren of corridors. Even deep into the night, Cleaners strode soundlessly around the corridors, guarding whatever secrets that lay hidden behind a multitude of doors and wards.
Jamie peered around another corner but drew his head back hastily at the sight of a black-robed Cleaner. He took a few deep breaths, silently breathing out through his mouth. Once his heart steadied, he looked around the corner once more and found it empty. Sliding carefully around the corner, Jamie made his way down the new and larger corridor. It was the first time he’d made it this far. This new corridor was wider and more richly appointed than the one their room gave onto with white marbled statues of armored Sentinels dotted evenly along both sides of the corridor. Jamie had to believe that such opulence could only be reserved for something, or someone, important.
As he moved past the first set of marble Sentinel statues, Jamie’s gaze landed on a pair of wooden doors that lay at the end of the corridor. His heart leaped in his chest—the wooden doors that led into the library, through which he’d find the Archivist’s room and the book with Emma’s name in it. He surged forward, cloaked in lightness and sudden wild joy.
He was close. So close.
It made him careless. He didn’t see the danger until
