EMBER
The alarm rips through my bunk like a sonic blast. The air gets heavy and thick as the Institute pressurizes to prevent airborne, viral weapons. Tesla’s voice comes bursting through the overhead speakers.
“All Rifters to the armory. Institute breach in progress.”
I fling off my blanket as if it’s on fire and pull on my vest, pants, and boots. The door to my room slides open and Ethan is standing there, his hair disheveled with lack of sleep. He grabs my hand, and we sprint down to the armory. When we arrive, everyone else is already there. Kara is alert, dressed in black leather and silver chains. Flynn hands her a lash, a sort of electrified whip, and then types furiously into the computer hub.
“We have a verified breach in the lower tunnels, the north steam shaft, and the vault room. Motion sensors are going crazy down there,” Flynn says, adjusting his glasses.
Ethan speaks, not looking up from the stunner he’s just grabbed, “Tesla, how many are there?”
“Five intruders in elevator ten, heading for the vault,” Tesla’s scratchy voice announces through the intercom closest to us.
Flynn swears and shoots a glance at Mistress Catherine. She grabs a lash and attaches it to a hook on her belt. I step forward, my hand hovering over the last lash on the table when Flynn covers my hand with his.
“It’s close quarters in there. Here.” He hands me a palm pulse. “Take this. Just hit the button and throw it. It’s an EMP grenade.”
Ethan lifts his head and looks my way. “Be very careful with that, Ember. It’ll disable any active tech in the vicinity, but it’ll also knock out Tesla’s sensors, too, at least temporarily.”
I nod and slip the device into my breast pocket. Hand-to hand-combat it is. I smirk. Good. It will feel really nice to pound on them with my bare knuckles. Maybe I’ll be very lucky and get a rematch with the girl who got the jump on me back at the Fair. Ethan picks up a stunner and follows the others to the door.
“Tesla, monitor their position. Let us know if anything changes,” Flynn orders the computer, which chirps in response.
Flynn puts his hand on Kara’s shoulder and leads her out the door. His face is as hard as I’ve ever seen it, and I understand why. Our home is under attack. The sensation in my skin is a mixture of rage and violation so strong my hands shake. Looking over my shoulder, I give Ethan what I hope is a reassuring smile. All I can think about is how much I want to make the Hollows pay for this invasion, how much I want to make them hurt.
LEX
Sirens wail, cutting through the stillness like a grenade, the sound momentarily freezing each of us in our tracks. They all look to me.
“If they come through that door, you guys swallow your Contra and get out,” I order.
Nobel shakes his head. “We aren’t leaving without the Dox, Lex. You aren’t the only one who wants Stein back.”
I nod as they go back to rummaging through the shelves.