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The sun has already begun to set, leaving us in the shadows. The path blurs under my feet, the world narrowing as my eyes stay focused on the side of the house. My bedroom window comes into view as we approach the house. Sliding against the brick building, my heart races against my chest.

“Where are the guards?” Mallory whispers.

“They usually don’t patrol this part; it’s my bedroom.” I mutter. Crouching down, I give myself a little cheer when the old crate I stuffed here forever ago still sits in the bushes. Moving it under the window, I step up, muscles coiling as I lunge upward. My fingers grasp the window ledge, the old wood rough beneath my hands. I scramble to haul myself up, surprised when someone under me pushes up. Sliding the window up, I’m shoved upwards, falling headfirst into the darkened room. I barely catch my breath before Mallory is basically thrown into the window.

“Watch it!” She whispers harshly, “I almost broke a nail.”

Maverick lifts himself up, easing through the window. Of course the fucker would be graceful while sneaking through a window.

Climbing to my feet, I glance around my old bedroom. I’m surprised they hadn’t gotten rid of my stuff. My rock collection sits perfectly against the wall, my bed still made from the last time I was here.

“Come on, we don’t have much time,” Maverick says, moving towards the bedroom door. Wasting no time, I grab what I need and follow them out the door.

The hallway stretches ahead, dimly lit and eerily silent. I lead them down the hall and peek around the corner. My ears are straining for any sign of movement. Each breath feels too loud, every move like a risk. Then—voices, heavy boots approaching fast.

Maverick grabs my shoulder, moving me behind him just as two guards round the corner. I barely have time to react before Maverick shoves a knife into one of the guards' necks. Mallory gasps, leaving me with my mouth hanging open as he grabs the second guard's wrist, pulling him forward; Maverick rams the guard's face into the wall. A crunching sound of bone hits my ears; I cringe, gagging when Maverick grabs the guy and twists until his neck breaks.

“That was kind of hot,” Mallory mutters. Swinging my head to her, I can’t fathom what she sees in him. But right now I couldn’t care less. I need to find Reed.

We quickly move forward, not stopping until we reach the back of the house. Rushing forward, I reach for the security panel, fingers crossed that they didn’t change the code. My fingers fly over the keys, entering the last passcode I remember. A quietbeep, and finally the door unlocks with a faint hiss. Slipping inside, I grab the three lab coats by the door.

“I’m not wearing that,” Maverick says, refusing to take the thing from my hand.

“I’m not in the mood to argue with you. It’s the only way we can get through this part; put the damn thing on!” I hiss through clenched teeth. Thankfully he doesn’t argue with me but snatches the coat from my hand.

Moving quickly through the lab, fear laces through me. A tight, unrelenting grip around my throat that squeezes the air from my lungs as I race through the lab. Peeking through each window, every second stretching into eternity. This lab is endless, twisting, and cold.

What if I’m too late? What if he’s not here? The thought is like a dagger in my gut, sharp and twisting. My stomach churned at the idea of me being too late to save him. Panic rips me apart, and for a moment I forget how to breathe.

Then I hear it—Reed's screams.

His screams tear through my chest like a blade, and before I can think, I’m moving.

“Wait—!” Mallory screams. But I won't stop. He’s here. Something is happening, and every second feels wasted as Reed screams in pain.

I slide into the door, my fingers shaking as I type in the code. It takes me two tries before the door finally hisses, and I shove it open. I rush into the observation room, a large window showcasing the room below.

I’m not sure what I was expecting, but what I see is far worse than I could've ever imagined.Reed lies there, strapped to the table—broken, barely holding on. Blood drips from his wrist as if he was trying to break out of the material holding him down. His breathing is ragged and shallow, and his body trembles. Wires snake from his skin, electrodes dot on his temples. An IV placed in his arm drips something that is a sickly yellow and greenish color.

No, no, no, no.

To make matters even worse, my mother is standing beside him with a needle in her hand. I squint my eyes, shoving my face against the glass. She grabs the IV, pushing the needle into it. Horror erupts as Reed struggles against his restraints.

“I need to save him. I need to get to him,” I mutter. But I can’t move. My body is frozen, fear racing through me as I watch him wither in pain.

“We need to come up with a plan,” Mallory says behind me.

“Stay here; I’m going to look around,” Maverick orders. I hear the door open before closing again.

The air feels thick with each breath that I take, my lungs refusing to expand fully. A cold sweat prickles at my skin, but I can’t wipe it away. I’m useless, my body trembling as my mother writes something down in her notepad.

Get him. Save him.

My mind screams at me to act, to stop this, but my legs are stone. They’re rooted to the ground. My heartbeat is a frantic drum in my ears, drowning out any rational thought.

Every second stretches as I wait for Maverick to come back with some plan. It shouldn’t be taking this long. My body twitches, a muffled cry coming in through the inner comp.

“Blood pressure rising, 138 over 86.” A nurse says from the far wall, scanning over the monitors.