Rebel Born (Secondborn #3)(39)

The power it takes leaves me almost unable to stand. Blood drips from my nose. Without missing a breath, Crow emerges in the soldier next to the mess of his vile clone, just as it crumples to the floor.

“You think you’re more powerful than me?” his voice rages from this newly claimed body. He waves the soldier’s hand. The other Spectrum soldiers, who were carrying Ransom toward us, stop and stiffen into statues. Ransom tumbles from their grasp and slips to the floor, his limbs flailing. He doesn’t move. I can’t tell if he’s alive.

“Proximity, Roselle, is the only reason you can control these soldiers better than me. I’m on my way back to my Palace, and when I arrive, you’ll wish you’d stayed dead. I’ll make you suffer for your crimes against your god.”

“You’re not a god.”

Cherno nudges my arm and whispers in my ear. “Withdraw. We need allies. I know where to find some.”

“Your revolution is too late!” Crow bellows. “You should’ve remained loyal to me, Cherno. Now you’ll die a traitor’s death.”

Cherno’s expression darkens. “Come,” he urges. The energy around us swirls. The body of the Crow soldier sparks with it. Cracks of light form in his armor and flesh. It radiates so brightly, I squint, shield my eyes, and turn away. Cherno collects Ransom from the floor and hoists the technician’s limp body over his massive shoulder. Flaring shafts of heat and light stab out from the Crow soldier in sharp beams that break apart and form birdlike images that glide around us and dive in harrowing swoops.

Cherno hollers from over his shoulder, “Roselle, let’s go!”

I stagger in his direction, following, chased by Agent Crow’s deep-throated laughter. In the corridor, I hobble after Cherno, watching Ransom’s head sway back and forth until, boom, the building shakes and rock dust overtakes us. I’m thrown forward, sent crashing and sliding on the floor. My ears ring. Dizzy, I get to my feet and balance myself with a hand on the wall. I choke and stumble in the haze.

“Cherno!” I call out.

“Here,” he growls just ahead of me. “Find us a way out of this maze.”

I clutch the dragon’s enormous hand. His skin’s cool, but his breath’s steamy. He carries Ransom as I lead him, by feel alone, through a series of corridors. I know where I am. I’ve walked these hallways thousands of times. We’re near the kitchens.

The garbled voices of Spectrum soldiers sound ahead. I veer into a prep area. The haze of dust lends us cover. The kitchen staff, all Zeros, file out in emotionless order. Still, I back away, afraid that Crow might recognize me through them and claim one’s consciousness.

Intent on not drawing their attention, I don’t notice the squat bot hovering motionless in front of me. I bump into it. Cherno collides with me.

“Phoenix!” Its name comes out of me in a breathy rush. I let go of Cherno’s hand and crouch to peer at Phoenix’s metal face. The red, glowing orbs of my automated assistant scroll the words, You’re alive.

“Reykin?” I whisper. My voice hitches as I ask Phoenix if he’s being controlled by Reykin now.

Phoenix’s lenses nod yes. Tears cloud my vision. I hadn’t allowed myself the luxury of thinking about Reykin. I wanted to protect him from Crow.

I’m everything Reykin dreads. My stomach twists in knots. He can’t possibly love me anymore. I’m a monster who kills her allies. I’m a mindless drone—at least, that’s what he must think—one that has said good-bye to her good side. I know I’m right when Phoenix’s cannon arm slowly raises toward me.

“Reykin, I found Ransom,” I blurt out. “He’s hurt.” I indicate Ransom behind me. Deep cuts in his skin seep blood, soaking his uniform. Dark bruises and swelling mar his face. “We need a way out. Can you help us?” I bite my lip. My heart aches. Phoenix’s cannon arm hesitates, and then it lowers. The iron-rimmed lenses nod yes again, glowing a darker red. The bot extends its claw hand to me. I take it and rise from my crouch. It hovers its way to the back of the food-prep area, leading me to the garbage chutes. Cherno’s just a step behind. With a wave of its cannon arm, Phoenix opens the automated chute doors. A putrid odor rises from below. My nose wrinkles.

“I will not fit through there,” Cherno grumbles.

Hovering in midair, Phoenix turns, evaluates Cherno, and then faces the opening to the garbage chute again. It raises its cannon arm and fires a couple of hydrogen pulses into the chute. The blasts widen the sluice’s opening. Sprinklers turn on. The metal channel transforms into a water slide. I waste no time in helping Cherno shove Ransom down it. I go next, hoisting myself in feetfirst and sliding into the darkness. The sprinklers in the metallic tube drench me all the way down to the receptacle at the bottom. I land on top of Ransom’s legs, which lie atop slimy vegetable peels. My eyes water at the smell.

I scurry off Ransom and tug him from the middle of the pile just in time to avoid the massive dragon-man emerging from the slide. Potato peels stick to his skin. The waterfall drenches everything.

Cherno stands in the muck and sloshes toward me. “Are you hurt?” the giant growls. It’s dark in here, but my vision adjusts. Cherno must have nocturnal vision, too, because he stares at me, awaiting my answer.

“No.” It’s a lie. I ache everywhere, but I know he means, “Can you still move?” I cradle Ransom’s head above the rising water and slimy waste.