Page 115 of Gunslinger Girl

A sliding sound was followed by another voice. “Ms. Bond? I’m sorry, I wasn’t told you were coming.”

“Let me in. I have a prisoner I need to lock up for a spell. Dangerous one.”

There was an air of hesitation. “This isn’t a good time—”

“Oh, are you havin’ a tea party in there?” Siena banged on the door again. “You wanna call Beau on down and we can all lift a cup while you explain why I had to wait out here so damn long?”

“No, ma’am—”

“Then open the hell up.”

Pity began to think the guard would turn them away, but then she heard hinges squeal.

Siena jabbed her in the shoulder. “Welcome to the tombs. Now move!”

Inside, Pity’s blood began to pulse again. It was lucky she was gagged or else she would have started calling for Max then and there.

“Your prisoner doesn’t look very dangerous.”

Pity turned her head toward the sound. The guard was no more than a few feet away.

“Not now, but she’s not someone you’d want to meet with a gun in her hand.”

Siena ripped the hood off. Pity blinked at the light, her vision clearing in time to see the bewildered look on the guard’s face. Over his shoulder, the line of cells that made up the tombs ran down a dimly lit hall.

“But that’s—”

“Serendipity Jones, fastest shot in the west,” Siena said. “Or whatever nonsense it is that Halcyon likes to spew. Thing is, she ain’t so fast right now.”

The guard stared at Pity, perplexed. She gave him the best grin she could manage through the gag.

“But I am.” Siena thrust a shock stick into the guard’s gut. He doubled over and crumpled to the floor.

“Mmmmmm!” Pity struggled against her restraints.

“Hold on!” Siena checked the guard, then shoved the shock stick back into the satchel she carried. She pulled a knife from her belt. “Don’t move.”

Pity felt the cold touch of the blade against her cheek as it sliced the gag away. She spit. “I still don’t see why that was necessary.”

“I said you got Joanna’s mouth, didn’t I? Didn’t trust you to keep quiet and not blow it.”

Siena cut the ropes around her wrists. The moment she was free Pity bolted down the hall.

“Max?” she called. “Max!”

The first five cells were empty.

“Pity?” In the sixth, a pair of hands appeared on the bars.

“Max!” She laughed and wrapped her hands around his. There were dark circles under his eyes, which brimmed with confusion, but otherwise he appeared fine. The anger she felt about the piecemeal truth of his past evaporated. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“No, but…” His gaze darted over her. “What’s going on? No one would tell me anything or let me talk to Santino or Halcyon or—”

“It’s my fault!” She tightened her grip on him. “Sheridan was leaving and… Selene threatened…” Pity hesitated. “Sheridan betrayed her. She threatened to put you in a Finale if I didn’t go along and kill him.”

Max’s features twisted with disbelief. “Selene wouldn’t do that. She wouldn’t.”

“She would and she did,” Pity said. “But that’s not our biggest problem right now. Daneko wasn’t the one behind the assassination attempt, Sheridan was. And his forces are gonna storm Casimir and take it and… and… Santino is in on it, Max. Him and others, I don’t know who.”