by Jenna Moreci
hallway.Andasshestoodthere,watchingtheteamassemble,therealityof
thesituationstruckher:theywereinfiltratingtheInterlopers.Theywere
wagingwar.
Assheturnedtofollowhercomrades,JJgrabbedatherwristandhaltedher.
“Thetorq.”Hervoicewasforceful.“Findone,andbringitback.”
“WesaveFlorenzafirst,andifthere’stime—”
“Maketime,”JJcommanded,squeezingEve’swristeventighter.Herusually
facetious demeanor had turned grave and severe. She stared at Eve, her eyes fierceandintense,andletgoofherwrist.
“Trustme,Eve.Weneedthis.”
***
Thedrivewasquiet.Allsenseofexcitementhadvanished,replacedbythe
bittertasteofreality—thefrighteningrealizationthateachofthemwas
potentially walking into a death trap. Despite her stubborn cling to courage, Evesecretlyhopedthatthecarridewouldtakemuchlongerthanitdid,butit
waspracticallyfleeting,andherfacedrainedofallcolorasPercyparkedatthe sideofthedustydirtroad.
TheyhadarrivedattheWildsofLosAngeles—anabandonedwoodland,
once a lovely state park with a pretty Spanish name that had long since been neglectedandtransformedintoadesertedmessofgreeneryandgarbage.
“Drivethrough,” JJordered,hervoiceboomingthroughEve’searpiece.
“I’lltellyouwhenyou’vefoundit.”
PercygrumbledtohimselfashesteeredhissleekblackSUVthroughthe
woodedforest,maneuveringoverfallenbranchesandwincingwitheachbump
andthudthatechoedoffofhiscar’sexterior.EveglancedoveratJasonand Sancho,whosatinthebackseats,stabilizingtheDirtySanchez;theireyeswere
distant,andsheknewtheywerejustasterrifiedasshewas.Itwasanincredibly stupid idea, after all—coming to this place, an execution site filled with God knowshowmanyInterlopers—andyetitwastheonlyoption,therightdecision
amonganarrayofhorriblealternatives.Theyhadnootherchoice.
“Stop,” JJcommanded. “It’srightinfrontofyou.”
Therewasnoneedforhertosayit,asEvecouldseethesiteplainasday.Itwas unmistakable:amassivecave,clearlyunnatural,sculptedbywhathadtohave
beenunimaginablehoursoflabor.EvethoughtofMarshallWoodgate,
shudderedassherecalledhisgougedeyes,andwonderedifshewouldfind
Florenzainthesamestate.
Thefourofthemsteppedoutofthecar,closingthedoorsasquietlyasthey
couldmanage.EvelookedbackatSanchoandPercy,whowerehastily
unloadingtheirweaponsfromthetrunk.
“Youtwowaithere,”sheinstructed.“JasonandIwillheadinside.Stand
guard,andbeprepared,incase…incasesomethinghappenstous.”
Theynoddedtheirheadsinunison.Percyreachedintohiscoatandpulled
outEve’sandJason’shandguns,handingthemover.
“You’llprobablyneedthese.”
“Eve,don’tforget— ”
“I know, JJ,” Eve hissed, fiddling with her earpiece. “I won’t forget your precioustorq.”
EvelookedoveratJason.Hewasstaringbackather,hisposturestrong,but hiseyeswerewidewithfear.Withadeepbreathandasharppanginhergut,
shemadeherwayintothecavewithJasonbyherside.
Thelightoftheoutsideworlddimmedtoblack.Theyhadenteredatunnel—
adamppassagewaymadeofmudorclayorwhateveritwasthatextended
almostendlesslyintothedistance.Evestruggledtofocus,hereyesdilatingas
they adjusted to the dark, and she could faintly hear Jason’s rapid breathing over the sound of her own beating heart. Together they ventured deeper and deeper into the cavern, their backs taut and their hands hovering over their guns.
Apassagewaybranchedofftotheleft,andEvepeeredcarefullyaroundthe
corner.Thecavernwasempty,buthereitsplitintothreeseparatecorridorsthat twistedindifferentdirections.Shelookeddownthetunneldirectlyinfrontof
themandrealizedthatitwaspunctuatedwithcountlessopeningsandjunctions
asfarasshecouldsee.
“Thisplace…it’slikeamaze,”shemumbled.
Jasonhesitated.“It’sanest.”
Theycontinuedahead,movingfartherintothedarknesswithouttheslightest
notionofwheretheywereheaded.Afewratsscurriedpastthem,theirpresence
almost comforting in the midst of such gloomy stillness. Eve felt her throat tighten; there was nothing, nothing but an infinite black tunnel, nothing but branchesofpassagewaysoneithersideofthem.
Astheyadvancedthroughthecavern,theairbecamedampandhot,the
moistureclingingtotheirskin,andstilltheypressedon,venturingdeeperinto thehumidstink.Theyreachedanotherjunction,andthenanother,eachas
empty as the last, and as the murky thickness became practically intolerable, Eve slid her fingers along the wall of the tunnel as if to help navigate her throughit.Thesurfaceoftheclaywasgritty—afamiliartexture,onethatsent
herbloodrunningcold.Sheglanceddownatherhands.
“OhmyGod.”
“What?”Jasonwhispered.“Whatisit?”
Eve stared at the tunnel in front of her; it was everywhere, collecting in mounds along the cavern floor. Reluctantly, she raised her hand in front of Jason;herfingertipswerecoatedinafine,blackpowder.
“Ashes.”
“Ashes?”Hegasped,“Wait, ashes?Like—”
“Die Chime.” The words flashed before her eyes, along with the ashes on Madison’ssheets,andanoverwhelmingsicknessfesteredwithinherstomach.
“Holyshit,”Jasonmuttered,hiseyeswidewithshock.“Youdon’tthink—”
Hestopped.Asuddennoiseranginthedistance:aclang,thesoundofmetal
against metal. Eve froze in place, her body rigid with terror. Again the clang echoeddownthetunnel.Again.Again.
JasonandEvelookedatoneanother.Despitehowmuchtheywantedtorun,
tofleefromthecavernandneverreturn,theytrudgedforward,forcing
themselvestowardtheincessantclanging.
“What’sthatnoise?” JJmumbled.
Eveignoredherearpiece,afraidtoutterawordastheyfollowedthe
hypnoticpounding.Clang.Clang.Againandagain,thesoundresounded throughthecavernuntilshecouldfeelitinherbones.Shecouldvaguelymake
outalightattheendofthetunnel—literally,asafaintglowshinedoffinthe
distance,possiblysignalingthesourceofthenoise.Itwascallingher,
beckoningherforward,andsoonshecouldseenothingbutthesmallcircleof
yellowlight.
Aslightrustlingcaughtherattention,releasingherfromhertrance.The
soundwascomingfromapassagewayonlyafewfeetaheadofthem.She
glancedatJason,whopulledhisgunfromhisbeltandreleasedthesafety,and
she did the same. With one long, deep breath, the pair slowly approached the corridorandhesitantlypeeredintothedark,eeriecavern.
Eve’slungsfrozewithinherchest;shewasimmediatelymetwithafoul,
overpoweringstench,thesmellofdecayanddeath.Thepassagewaywaslined
with rows of barred cages, each one empty aside from scant scraps of rotten humanfleshandbitsofivorybone.Eve’snostrilsflaredandshegagged,
barely able to control the
nausea bubbling in her throat, when suddenly there wasanewsound—nottheceaselessclanging,whichstillcontinuedinthe
distance, nor the faint pitter patter of the scurrying rats, but a soft, familiar noise.
Whimpering.
JasonandEvehurriedintothepassageway,franticallysearchingthelineof
cagesuntiltheyfinallyfoundher—apetitegirl,curledintoatightballinthe
cornerofhercage,herfaceburiedinherkneesandherbodyshaking
uncontrollably.
“Florenza?”Evewhispered,crouchingbythecage.“Florenza,areyou
okay?”
Thegirllookedupatthetwoofthem.Hereyeswereswollenfromhoursof
crying, but even in her haggard state, Eve could tell that she was the Italian president’s daughter. She cowered, pressing herself against the metal bars as tearsgushedfromhereyes.
“Diomio,”shestuttered.“Diomio.”
“We’reheretohelpyou,”Jasonadded.“We’regoingtogetyououtof
here.”
“Diomio,”sherepeated,hervoicewavering.“Please,nonvogliomorire!”
EveglancedatJason.“Whatisshesaying?”
“HellifIknow.”Heleanedclosertothecageandflashedwhathehopedwas
acomfortingsmile.“It’sokay,Flo.CanIcallyouFlo?”
“Please,”Florenzamoaned,“donotkillme!”
“We’renotgoingtohurtyou,”Jasonreassuredher.Slowly,hereachedhis
armbetweenthebarsofthecageandextendedhishandtowardher.
Florenzacriedoutinterror,andJasongrabbedhermouth,silencingheras
quicklyashecouldmanage.
“Quiet! ”Evehissed.“Doyouwantthemtohearus?”
“Shethinkswe’reInterlopers,”Jasonexplained,hishandstillfirmly
coveringhermouth.“Shesawthemchangeoutoftheirsecondskin.Thathas
tobeit.”
Eve leaned in toward the terrified prisoner. “We’re, not, aliens,” she whispered,enunciatingclearly.
FlorenzawhimperedbeneathJason’shand,hereyesstillfloodedwithtears.
“Thinksheunderstoodme?”
“Nope.”
“Howdowetellherwe’rethegoodguys?”
“KnowanyItalian?”
Eve’seyesdartedacrosstheground,desperatelysearchingforsomethingto
work with, and landed on a small shard of metal, one that was sharp and pointedatthetip.Sheglancedbackandforthbetweenthefragmentand
Florenza,whosquirmedbeneathJason’sgrasp,lettingoutasingle,muffled
yelp.
“Shh!”Evehushed.“Justwatch. Please.”
Evepressedthemetalshardintoherforearmandcarvedastraightlinedeep
intoherskin.Shewinced;bloodpouredfromthegash,spillingdownherarm
anddrippingontothegroundbeneathher.
“See?”shewhispered.“I’mnotanalien.Mybloodisred,notyellow.”
Florenza’sbreathingslowedandbodyloosenedasshestaredatEve’s
bloodyarm.Apprehensively,Jasonloweredhishandandletoutasignof
relief.
“Perfavorequalcunomiaiuti,nonvogliomorire,”thegirlstammeredas
shechokedonherowntears.“Please. Please.”
Jasonshookthecage,searchingforanopeningorlock,somethinghecould
manipulate.Asinglesilverbarrestedalongtheedgeofthecage’sdoor,
securingitshut.Hetuggedatthedeviceuntiltheentirecontraptionwobbledin
place.
“Jason, I know you’re super strong and everything, but I don’t think that’s goingtowork,”Evemumbled,glancingnervouslydownthetunnel.
“Diomio,”Florenzacried,gazinghopelesslyattheceiling.“Diomio.”
Jasonletoutalong,heavysigh.Hereacheddownthebackofhispantsand
pulledhishandgunfromhisbelt.
“Jason,”Evewhispered.“Don’t shootthedamnthing.”
“That’snotwhatIwasplanningondoing, Eve.”
Heheldthegripofthegunabovethelatchandwaited—forwhat,Evedidn’t
know. The room became still, and all she could hear was the soft sound of Florenza crying, the distant clanging, and Jason’s faint voice as he counted quietlytohimself.
“One,two,three—”
Theclangsoundedinthedistance,interruptinghiscount.Again,hebegan
counting.
“One,two,three—”
Anotherclangechoeddownthecorridor.EveglancedoveratJason;she
knewwhathewasdoing.Shestareddownathisgun,atthelatchbelowit,and
countedwithhim.
“One,two,three.”
Rightastheclangingeruptedinthedistance,Jasonpoundedthegripofhis
gunintothelatch,thesoundoftheceramicclashingagainstthemetalconstruct
hiddenbythefaroffnoise.Again,theycounted.
“One,two,three.”
Jasonsmashedthegunintotheboltagain.Thelockhungmorelooselynow
fromthecage,stillattachedbutonlybarely,andEveknewthatonemoreblow
wouldreleaseFlorenzafromherprison.
“One,two,three.”
Jasonstruckthelatchonelasttime,sendingthelocktumblingtotheground.
Florenzaburstthroughthecageandthrewherarmsaroundhisneck,herentire
bodytrembling.
“It’sokay,”hesaid,strokingherhair.“Nothing’sgoingtohappentoyou.”
Jasonstrainedhisneckpasttheopeningofthepassageway,peeringdown
thelongtunneltowardtheentranceofthecave.HelookedbackatEve.
“Let’sgetthe hell outofhere.”
Evehesitated;shepeereddownthecorridoratthesoftglowshehadspotted
earlier. The clang sounded again, and for a moment she thought she saw the shadowofsomeone—orsomething.
“Eve?Eve,weneedtoleave, now. ”
“Ican’t,”Eveanswered.“There’sonelastthingIneedtodo.”
“Eve,”Jasonhissed,grabbingatherwrist.“Areyou crazy?”
“Ihavetogetthetorq.”
“Screwthetorq—”
“Jason,justtrustme.”Shetiptoedslowlytowardtheopening,slidingher
bodyagainstthewallassheheadedfortheshininglightinthedistance.
“Nonono,”Florenzapleaded.“Youwilldie. Wewill die.”
“Eve,whatyou’redoingis suicide.”
“Stayhere,”Eveordered,dismissingtheirwarnings.“Listenformeinyour
earpiece.WhateverItellyoutodo, doit.”
Evesteppedintothetunnelandmovedcautiouslytowardthefarawayglow.
Shetimedherstepswiththeechoingclangs,afraidtomakeeventheslightest
sound. It was suicide—she knew it—but she also knew that her name, along withsomanyothers,wasonaliststoredintheInterlopers’mainframe,andthe
onlywaytodestroythatlistwasthroughthetorq.
AsEvemadeherwaydownthetunnel,thelightbecamebrighterand
brighter, and soon it was all-encompassing. She pressed her body against the wall,desperatetoremainunseen,sidesteppedherwaytotheendofthetunnel,
andpeeredaroundtheedge.
Infrontofherwasasingleroom,thesourceofthelightandtheincessant
clangingnoise.
AnInterloperstoodinthemiddleoftheroom,hisclawswrappedarounda
metal mallet. He swung his mallet into the air and thrust it down. Again, and thenagain;
theclangingreverberatedpainfullyinEve’seardrums,somuchso
that she shuddered at the sound. The Interloper was pounding at a sheet of a metal,moldingitintoplaceagainstasecondsheet.Hewasbuildingsomething
familiartoher—agiant“X,”liketheoneusedtodisplayMarshallWoodgate’s
body.Evefeltatremoroffearpulsethroughher,butsheignoredit,hereyes
feverishly panning across the space in search of anything that could possibly resembleatorq.
“Have you found it?” JJ whispered. Eve had almost forgotten that she was listening, as she had been remarkably quiet for most of their journey. Eve didn’trespond.
“Eve,” Jasonadded, “areyouokay?”
Still,Evewassilent.Shehadtobe.Assheglancedbackandforththroughthe
spaceinfrontofher,shelosttheabilitytospeak,tomove,tobreathe.She
wasstaringatanarmyofInterlopers—thirty,maybeforty,no,easilymore
thanthat—whobustledabouttheroom.
“Eve?Eve?”
Everemainedquiet.ShewatchedtheInterloperswork,somepiecing
togetherthemetalconstructwhileotherssharpenedweapons.Stillothers
barkedordersacrosstheroominalanguageshecouldn’tcomprehend.
Suddenly,oneoftheInterlopersstopped,hisbodygoingoddlystillandhis
eyesgazingoffintothedistance.Hecranedhisneckandwiggledhisnostrils,
sniffing at the air. Another Interloper joined him, and then another; together theybreathedindeeply,sniffingatthemurkyatmospherelikedogstakingina
scent.Theymutteredtooneanotherintheiralienlanguage,baskingin whateveraromatheyhadstumbledupon.
“Eyfalepqerolian.Derfalepraj chimera.”
Evealmostchoked.Chimera—itwastheonlywordsherecognized,andthe
last one she was hoping to hear. What did it mean? She looked down at her body—atherjeansandherbootsandherbloodyarm.Shestopped—coulditbe
her?Coulditbetheblood?Shegrabbedatthewound,grimacingassheheldit
tightly,tryingtoclosethegash.
TheInterloperscontinuedtheirsniffing,tappingtheircomradesandalerting
themtothesmell.Evecringedassheobservedthem,prayingtoGodthey
wouldstop,thattheywouldforgetthescentandmoveonwiththeirwork,but
