by Jenna Moreci
“I’mhuman,”hestammered.“I’mnotachime—er,achimera.Idon’tknow
whattheywantwithme.Idon’tknowwhyI’mhere.You’vegotto helpme. ”
Eveignoredhisramblingsandexaminedthelatchhangingfromthecage
door.SherememberedtheeffortithadtakentobreakintoFlorenza’scage,but
thatwasbeforetheyhadthediamondweaponsattheirdisposal.Jasonstepped up beside her, staring at an adjacent cage; he pointed his axe at the latch, and Evefollowedsuit,anglingthebarrelofhergunatthelatchinfrontofher.
JasonpausedandturnedtoEve,hisvoicesoftandsteady.
“Thisisgoingtobereally, really loud,”hesaid.“Weneedtoworkfast.”
Evenodded,asdidPercy,whotookaimatyetanotherlatch.Evetightened
hergriponherfirearmandtookonelastlookattheprisoner.
“Youmaywanttocoveryourears.”
Andwiththat,theescapebegan.Thesoundofdiamondcrashingagainst
metalechoedthroughthespace,overandover,untilEvecouldfeelit
reverberating in her bones. Jason climbed up the stacks of cages, hacking at latches,whilePercyandEvecontinuedalongthebottom,andsoonhordesof
bodies were spilling from their cells and clustering together in the center of theroom.
Evehurriedherpace;eachshotshefiredsentawaveofterrorthroughher
chest, as she knew they could be discovered at any moment, and so she flew throughthecongestedroom,openingthecages,compelledbyheradrenalized
fear.Atlast,onlyonelockedcageremained,andjustasshepointedhergunat
its latch, she caught sight of the face staring back at her—his round cheeks, quiveringlip,andfamiliar,terrifiedgaze.Eveshotascowlattheprisoner—at
ProfessorGupta.
“Stillscaredofme, Professor?” shegrumbled.
Beforehecouldrespond,Evefiredatthelatchandturnedaway,payingno
attentiontotheshamefacedprofessorashecrawledtosafety.Shefought throughthethrongofnewlyfreedprisonersandjoinedPercyandJason,who
werewaitinginthetunnel,justoutsidetheportal.JasonturnedtoEve,his
concernvisible.
“Itdoesn’tmakesense,”Jasonwhispered.“They’renotchimeras.”
“Sotheyclaim…”Percymumbled.
“They’renotimportant,either,”Eveadded.“Florenza,Marshall—theycame
frompowerfulfamilies.Butthesepeople…italmostseemsliketheywere
selectedatrandom.”
Aloudclangsoundedbehindthem.Theyquicklyturned,onlytoseeoneof
thecaptivestotteringawayfromatippedovercage.Jasonsighedwith
annoyance.
“Weneedtogetthemoutofhere,”hemuttered.
“Well,wecan’tjustletthemwanderfreelikeabunchofsquirrelsintraffic.”
Percychuckledtohimself.“Wouldn’tendwell.”
Jasonfoldedhisarms.“Theyneedprotection.Anescort.”
“Right.”EveglancedatJason.“Someonehastotakethemtothesurface.”
Thecouplestaredatoneanother,theireyeslockingasifcomingtothesame
conclusion.TogethertheyturnedtoPercy,whowasbusyreloading,oblivious
totheirpenetratinggazes.Finally,hecaughtsightofthem—andthelookson
theirfaces,thelooksthatmadetheirdecisionalltooclear.
“What— me?”Hewavedhishandsindisagreement.“No.”
“Percy—”Evegroaned.
“I’mnotababysitter.Iam not Armaan,” Percyhissed.
“It’sanimportantjob—”
“Then youdoit,Jason!”
“Maybeyou’llrunintoSancho,”Eveadded,hereyesbrightandoptimistic.
“You’llseeifhe’sokay.”
Percyopenedhismouthtospeakbutimmediatelystoppedhimself.Hestared
atEve,poutingalmostchildishly,thoughhiseyeswerelitwithhope.Atlasthe
sighedandturnedtowardtheprisoners.
“Allright,people,listenup,becauseI’monlysayingthisonce!You’realla
bunchofducklings,andI’myourdevilishlyhandsomedaddyduck.Thatmeans
you’refollowingmyassoutofthisplace,youhearme?”Hecockedhishead
towardtheexit.“Notalking.Let’sgo.”
JasonandEvewatchedastheprisonersfollowedPercy,someclingingtothe
backofhisjacketwhileothershoveredclosebesidehim.Justastheremaining
humansmadetheirwayfromsight,Eveheardonelastvoicecallinghername.
“Evelyn,”Guptawhispered. “Evelyn!” Hewaddledtowardher,hisstomach
bouncingwitheachhurriedstep.
Evesighed.“Look,Gupta,youneedtogowithPercy—”
“Thereareothers,”hesaid,hiseyesbulgingfearfully.
Eveflinched.“What?”
“Thereareotherprisoners.Theytookthem…theytookthem—”
“Where?” Jasoninterrupted.
Guptapointedatremblingfingeratthelastremainingportal,neartheendof
thetunnel.
“Icouldhearthemthroughthewalls,”hewhispered.Icould…Icouldhear
them screaming.”
Withoutanotherword,theprofessorplowedpassedEveandJason,racingto
catchupwithPercy,untilhe,too,vanishedintothedarkness.
Aneeriesilencefelloverthetunnel.Reluctantly,EveandJasonpeeredatthe
pathaheadofthem—atthelarge,metallicdoorandthedarkenedportalalong
theneighboringwall.Gupta’swordsrepeatedinEve’sthoughts;sheglancedat
Jason,whoseemedtobethinkingthesamething.Together,theyslowlyinched
theirwaycloserandclosertothelastremainingportal.
Suddenly,thetunneldoorslidopen;EveandJasoninstantlysprangfromthe
wall and scurried through the nearest portal, trying to stifle their nervous breathing.Theycouldhearthesoundofheavyfeetclompingthroughthe
tunnel, stopping just a few feet shy of where they hid. A deep, gravelly voice interruptedthequiet.
“Eyfalepqerolian.”
“Frumhumans,”asecondvoiceadded.EveturnedtoJason—shecouldn’t
helpbutwonderjusthowmanyInterloperswereinthetunnelatthatmoment.
“Fas,”thefirstvoicecontinued.“Eyfalepchimera.Frum kallaschimera.”
Eve’sentirebodytensed.Shebitherbottomlipandwaited.
“Frumkallaskarashquerasha.”Thesecondvoicestopped,andEvecould
hearthestompingoffeetonceagain.“Tustavaden.”
“Fas—”
“TustavadenarFAIRON!”thesecondvoiceroared.
Ascuffleensued.Evecouldhearthesoundsofwingsflappingandtalons
scrapingthefloor,andaboomsoundedamidthebrawl.Evenearlyyelped
aloud, and Jason threw his arms around her and pulled her into his chest, trying to keep her still. An Interloper scrambled to his feet—Eve speculated thathehadbeentossedagainstawall—andhehissedloudlybeforejoiningthe
otherssomewhereinthetunnel.EveclungtoJasonandlistenedintentlyasthe
soundoffootstepsslowlyfaded.
Atlasttherewasnothingbutsilence.Thealienshaddisappeared—towhere,
Evewasn’tsure—andsheandJasonreluctantlypeeredoutintothetunnel.
Thespacewasempty,themetaldoortothetunnelclosedshutoncemore.
EveandJasonslowlyslidpasttheportalandtiptoedthroughthetunnel.Silver
teethwerescattered
acrosstheground,andEveinstinctuallytightenedhergrip
onherfirearm.Againtheymadetheirwaytothelastportal—thesupposedsite
oftheremainingprisoners—andEvetookaquicklookinside.
Infrontofherwasanotherpassageway,thisonepunctuatedwithevenmore
portals.Evesighed—shehadbeenhopingforasimpleroomliketheoneshe
hadalreadyfound,foraquickrescueandanevenquickerescape.
Suddenly,anInterlopercamescuttlingdowntheadjoiningpassage,casually
makinghiswaybetweentherooms,andEveandJasonrecoiled,immediately
flatteningtheirbodiesagainstthewall.EvecouldseeJasonclenchhisjaw—it
wasmorethanclearwheretheInterlopershaddisappearedto.Again,they
peeredaroundthecorner,onlytofindthepassagewayemptythistime,asthe
alienhadpresumablypassedthroughoneoftheportals.Jasonletoutan
aggravatedsigh.
“Therearedozensofportals.Theprisonerscouldbeinanyoneofthem.”
Evegrimaced.“Yeah,well,samegoesfortheInterlopers.”
“Guys,” JJ interrupted, “I’m not trying to sound like an asshole here, but whateverrescueattemptyou’reconsidering,youneedtoputitonhold.”
“What?”Jasonwhispered.“Wecan’tjustleavethemhere.”
“Timeiscritical.TheInterlopersarelookingforyou.Theyknowyou’re there.I mean, for Christ’s sake, weren’t you just ambushed?” JJ’s voice was firm.
“There’sonlytwoofyounow.You’vegottofindthemainframebeforeit’s
toolate.”
“Andwhatabouttherestofthecaptives?”Eveasked,speakingassoftlyas
shecouldmanage.“We’resupposedtojustletthemrot?”
“Youcangetthemonyourwayback.Imean,shit,they’renotgoing
anywhere.”
EvetookanotherlookatJason.Shecouldtellthathewasangry,thatevery
fiber of his being wanted to reject JJ’s command, but he glowered and said nothing.Evecursedtoherselfandsighed.
“Fine,”shemuttered.
Together,theyglancedaroundthecorneronelasttimeandthenquickly
sprangpasttheopening,movinginsteadtowardthelargemetaldoorattheend
ofthetunnel.Jasoneyedthedoornervously,thenpulledouttheseveredalien
hand and pressed it against the glowing palm scanner. With a muffled clunk, thedoorslowlyopened,revealingyetanothertunnel,thisonelitwithglowing
orbs.
Evehurriedthroughthedoorway,eagertocontinueon,whileJasonfumbled
withthealienarm,tuckingitunderhisbicep.Suddenlyhestopped;ahorrified
screamsoundedfromsomewherebehindhim,onethatwasunquestionably
human, and Jason’s body became taut and on edge. He paused for a moment, thenfacedEve,whowasstillwaitingontheothersideofthedoorway.
“Goonwithoutme,”hesaid.
“What?” Evehissed.“Jason,no—”
“Findthemainframeanddestroyit.”
“No,”sherepeated,herfacedrainingofcolor.“Wedothistogether,Jason.”
“Eve,Ihavetohelpthem.”
“We will.We’llcomebackforthem.”
“Whoknowshowmuchlongertheyhave?”Jason’svoicewasconfident,but
hiseyeswerepleadingwithher,beggingforherunderstanding.“Findthe
mainframeanddestroyit.Youcandoit,Eve.”
Evewasquiet,herbodyshaking,overcomewithacripplingfear.Shetold
herselfthatshewouldn’tleavehim—shecouldn’t—butdeepdowninhergut,
sheknewitwasalie.
“Okay,”shefinallysaid,hertonesoftthoughsurprisinglysure.
Jasonforcedasmile.“Seeyousoon.”
“Reallysoon,”sheanswered,tryingherbesttosmileback.
Eveturnedawayfromhim,hershouldersrigidandchesttight,butshe
forcedherselftotakethesmalleststepforward.Thewalkfeltimpossible,asif
herlegshadbecomefaultyandinoperative,butstillshepressedon,tryingto
ignoreherlingeringworries.SheheardJason’svoicebehindheronceagain.
“Eve,”hecalled.
Shespuninplace.“Yeah?”
Againhesmiled,butthistimeitwasdifferent—itwasneitherforcednor
scared.Somethingabouthimhadchanged,asifhehadfoundanunexpected
senseofcalm.Finally,hespoke.
“Iloveyou.”
Evestaredbackathim,hereyeswide,herbodyovercomewithasudden
paralysis. Every function within her had frozen into stiff placement, leaving her numb, dazed, and unbearably hot and cold all at the same time. After an agonizinglylonghalf-secondofsilence,shetookinadeep,much-needed
breath.
Arumblingtorethroughthespace—amobofInterloperspouredfromone of the portals and into the tunnel, their talons thrashing and bodies swarming withsuchheatedragethattheynearlycrashedintooneanother.Jasonswatted
atthecreatures,instantlyimpalingoneandwoundinganother,andlookedback
atEve.
“GO!”
“JASON—”
Hedidn’twaitforhertofinishandslappedthedetachedalienarmagainstthe
controlpanel.“FINDTHEMAINFRAME!”heordered.
“JASON!”Evedashedbacktothedoorway,butshewastoolate—thedoor
promptlyslammedshut,separatingherfromJasonandthehordeof
Interlopers.“JASON?”shescreamed.“JASON!”
Shepoundedatthedoor,consumedwithpanicandhysteria.Inafitofrage,
sherammedherfistintothemetalslabandstaggeredbackward,staringatthe
blockedexitasifitweremoreevilthananyInterlopershecouldeverface.Her
lungsheavedwithherlaboredbreathing,andthoughshetriedtocalmherself,
she couldn’t shake the horrible aching in her chest. She stared down at her hands—theyweretrembling,herknucklessplitandbloody—andshesuddenly
noticedthestinginginhereyesandtherawnessofherthroat.
“He’llbeokay,Eve.”
“Jesus,”Evemumbled,herfaceturningred.“Iforgotyouwerethere,JJ.”
“I’mtryingtokeepquiet— letyouguysconcentrate.I’monlychimingin when necessary.”
Eveforcedalaugh.“Mustbeahardroleforyoutoplay,”shesaid,hervoice waveringdespiteherefforts.
Thetwogirlswerequiet.Evestareddownatherfeetandtriedtosteadyher
breathing.
“He’llbeokay,” JJrepeated.
“Youdon’tknowthat.”
“I’mmonitoringallfourofyou,remember?”
Eve’seyesflickedforward.“Tellmewhenit’sover.Tellmeifhe’sall
right.”
“Iwill.”
Evesighed.“Fornow…Iguessit’sjustyouandme.”
Eveheadeddownthetunnel,holdinghergunclosetoherchest.Therewere
nodoorsinsight,noroomsorcorridorsorracksofclothing,andthoughthe
solitudeshouldhavebeenwelcome,sheinsteadfeltoverwhelmedbythe
stiflingquiet.Shethoughtbacktojustamomentbefore—Jason’sfaceflashed
before her eyes, as did the mass of Interlopers that surrounded him—and the vision tore a hole through her, one so tender that she could’ve sworn it was real.
“JJ,Iknowyou’retryingtokeepyourmouthshutandall,butcanyousay
something?”Shefaltered,hervoiceweakening.“Ireallyneedyouto
say
something.”
“Sancho’shere.He’sback.He’sfine.”
Eveexhaled,relieved.“Good.Keepgoing.”
“There’samessouthere.Peoplearecomingfromallover,takingpicturesof the giant monstrosity in the middle of downtown Calabasas. You should see their faces.It’slikethey’veneverseenanalienlairbefore.”
Evedidn’trespond.ShecouldtellthatJJwastryingtobelighthearted,even
funny,thatitwasforcedandcontrived.Sheappreciatedthegesture,butstillshe felthollow,herchestheavy.
“Ididn’tsayitback,”shefinallysaid.“Hesaidhelovesme,andIdidn’tget
tosayitback.”
“Youwill.Latertoday.You’lltellhimwhenallofthisisover.”
“WhatifIdon’tgetthechance?”
“Youwill,Eve.”
Eveexhaledslowly.Shewasrackedwithanxiety,butJJ’swords,whilehard
tobelieve,weresomewhatsoothing.
Sheventuredfartherdownthecorridor,hopingtoseesomethingnew,
something different, but still the walls were their familiar blend of ash and clay, and still she saw nothing but the brightly lit orbs that sat in perfect placementalongthefloor.
“Peoplearecomingout,” JJadded,endingthesilence.
“Ofwhat?”
“Thelair.Tonsofpeople.”
Evestoppedforamoment.“Thecaptives.DoyouseePercy?”
“Notyet.Everyone’sswarmingthem.”
“TellPercytotrytogounnoticed.Tellhimtogetbacktothecar.”
“Onit.”
Evecontinuedahead,movingquicklydownthelongstretchofsameness.
And then she noticed the slightest change: the tunnel was expanding, its walls spreadingfartherapartuntil,eventually,itgrewvastandspacious.Shehurried
herfooting,herstepskeepingtimewithherracingpulse.
“He’s— ” JJbegan,butsuddenlyhervoicecutshort.
Evewrinkledherbrow.“JJ?”
“— here.”
“JJ,you’recuttingout.”
“Hello?” JJsaid,hervoicenowgarbledinEve’sear.
“JJ?”
“— interference.Canyouhear— ”
“I’monlygettingbitsandpieces.”
“— themainframe.You’regettingcloser.”
Evestopped.“Themainframe?”
“— interference— blockingthesignals.”
