Page 64 of Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World

Twenty-Two

The power failed twice duringthe night, extinguishing the streetlamps outside. When it came back on the second time, just before sunrise, I gently unwrapped Eric’s arms from around me and padded into the small kitchen to get a glass of water. Various appliances blinked their displays at me until I reset their little clocks. Then I stood at an open window and sipped my water, surrounded by the bitter smell of smoke drifting in from outside. The street below was empty and still, apart from someone walking slowly along the sidewalk opposite. Their head turned and I caught a flash of something metallic. Steel-rimmed glasses, maybe.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I retreated from the window. My mind was playing tricks on me. I refused to believe that the Seraphic Conclave was lying in wait yet again. They had bigger problems to worry about. Besides, lots of people wore glasses.

“Hey.”

I jumped at Eric’s soft voice and almost dropped my water. “Hi.”

Walking up behind me, he wound his arms around my waist andplanted a gentle kiss on my bare shoulder. “Anything interesting out there?”

“Nope.” I shivered a little at his touch. “We might be the only people left on this block.”

He was quiet for a few moments. “Have you heard from Amira?”

“Crap. I should check. I couldn’t get through to her yesterday.” Reluctantly, I freed myself from his arms and retrieved my phone from the messenger bag I’d dropped next to the front door. “Oh boy,” I muttered. “She texted and called about forty times.”

“Why don’t you call her while I get some coffee going?”

Drifting back into the bedroom, I dialed her number. It rang just once before she picked up. “Where have you been?” she shouted.

I winced. “Sorry.”

“Colin, you can’t do that to me! I was convinced that something awful had happened to you!”

“I know, I know. Sorry. I tried texting you yesterday but it wouldn’t go through.”

“Where have you been?” she demanded again. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m with Eric. Areyouokay?”

She was silent for a long time. “No,” she said at last. “I’m not okay. Mom and Dad tried to come into the city to get me last night, but the military has set up a cordon—no one in or out. They almost detained my parents.”

I listened in dismay. “That’s not good.”

“No, it’s not. We’re trapped here, and no one will tell us what’s going on. Did you see that thing up in the sky?”

“Yeah.”

“What do you think it was? A projection of some kind? A hologram?”

I closed my eyes. “I don’t know what it was,” I lied.

In the quiet that followed, I heard Eric’s coffee machine burbling away in the kitchen. “When are you coming home?” Amira finally asked.

Before I could respond, the phone buzzed against my ear. It was a text from Ms.Crenshaw:I need you here ASAP.

“I’m not sure when I’ll be home,” I told Amira.

“You’re not going in to work, are you?” she asked suspiciously. “It’s Saturday.”

“My boss just texted. She needs me.”

“What? Why?”

I exhaled slowly. “I don’t know, but it must be important. Don’t worry. My work is probably the safest place in the city right now.”

“Why would a bank be the safest place in the city? Never mind. Just come home.”