I followed him at a slower pace. After a while, he stopped and waited for me to catch up, then remained by my side as we silently left Carleen and moved back into the forest separating it from Central.
When we finally neared the rail station, he said, “Remember, none of us can help you once you’re inside Winter Halo.”
“I know, but I have the ghosts.”
“Even ghosts have their limitations. Just be careful, and report in when you’re able.”
There was something in his tone that had me wondering if Nuri had said anything specific about things going wrong in Winter Halo. But surely she wouldn’t have agreed it was necessary for me to return to that place if she, in any way, suspected I might not get out alive? Not given her declaration that if I didn’t rescue the children, no one would.
Or was that no longer true?
The future wasn’t a fixed item; it was constantly being altered by the decisions and actions we made. It was more than possible that, after recent events, I no longer played a major part in finding those kids. It was even possible that they might now never be found.
But even if the future had altered, and one or even both of those possibilities were true, it wouldn’t stop me. And it certainly wouldn’t stop Nuri from using me. She might have professed a liking for me, but she’d also shown a steely determination to do whatever it took to get the job done. And if that meant risking the lives of her soldiers, then risk them she would.
As Jonas disappeared into the bright sunshine, I stepped back into the shadows and sat cross-legged on the ground underneath a somewhat battle-scarred old oak. I needed to be wearing Sharran’s form when I went into Winter Halo, but there was no possibility of body-shifting until I least gained some strength back.
“Cat, can you go back to the museum and get the pack with my change of clothes in it? Bear, could you keep watch?”
As Cat zoomed off and Bear began to prowl around the area, I closed my eyes and called to the healing state. It took a while, but I eventually slipped into it. The sun had well and truly begun its descent into nightfall by the time I climbed back out. I stretched carefully, and was relieved when there was no responding pain. The scars on my hand hadn’t fully disappeared, but would be easy enough to conceal when I body-shifted.
I resumed Sharran’s shape, then stripped off the remains of my clothes and scrubbed the dried blood from my skin as best I could. After donning fresh clothes, I threw the pack over my shoulder, then, as several pods pulled into the station, quickly joined the throng rushing toward the drawbridge and the safety it offered against the oncoming night.
Once I neared Sharran’s apartment, I pulled a sun shield around my body and climbed back in through the window. As Bear and Cat did a quick scoot around to check out what my neighbors had been up to during the day, I grabbed a shower and half wished I was back at my other alter ego’s apartment, where there was more water than air in the mix.
After donning one of Sharran’s tunics, I grabbed the pack she usually carried, stuffed a few protein bars into it, then headed out, the two ghosts happily updating me on who was doing what within the building. There were no such things as secrets when there were ghosts around—not that the people within Sharran’s building appeared to have much in the way of secrets.
As I approached Winter Halo’s main entrance, the security guards once again stepped forward, forcing me to halt.
The older of the two produced a scanner and, after I’d run my left wrist across it, checked the screen and nodded. At first glance, nothing appeared to have changed in the foyer since our rescue of the two children. But as I threw my pack into the plastic tub to be scanned, I noted there were a lot more guards in the section past the secondary scanner, and all of them were heavily armed. I walked through the scanner, collected my bag, then threw it over my shoulder and headed toward the elevator. Two guards immediately stepped forward, blocking my way and forcing me to stop. Cat and Bear pressed close, their energy fiery against my skin, ready to attack the guards and protect me. It’s okay. This is all part of the plan. I hoped.
“Sharran Westar?” one of the guards said, voice brusque.
I didn’t have to fake the sudden rush of trepidation. Despite my assurances to the ghosts, I was well aware this might be the first signal that I was in deep trouble. “Yes. Why?”
“You need to come with us. Now.”
“But why? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. Just follow me, please.”
He swung around and marched toward the elevator. After a brief hesitation, I followed. Neither of these two was armed and surely they would be if they suspected I was anyone other than Sharran.
But that didn’t stop the tension curling through me. Didn’t stop the hope that Rhea hadn’t abandoned me. That my plans to destroy Sal’s body weren’t over before they’d even begun.
I guess I’d know soon enough.
Chapter 13
“What’s going on?” I repeated as the elevator doors closed behind the three of us. “What have I done?”
“Nothing,” the first man said. “You’re being promoted.”
Relief stirred, but it didn’t ease the tension. If anything, it did the exact opposite. One part of our plan had worked; now I just had to hope I was taken to the same floor as the rest of the women and that I could actively do something once I was up there.
“If I’m being promoted, why the escort? I can’t remember it happening when any of the other ladies were moved into positions upstairs.”
“No,” the guard said. “But new security procedures have been enacted overnight.”