Page 139 of Neon Flux

Shards of flesh and bone rained down in a grotesque shower, the light imploding in on itself before extinguishing completely. The chapel fell silent, the congregation frozen in stunned horror.

“She was not pure enough. It is the will of the Light.” The priest lowered his head, then walked out of the chapel.

Eon clapped a hand over my wrist, pulling my hand from her mouth. She was shaking, her breaths shallow.

“Why?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Why did she…they need to…”

“They’re not going to do anything,” I said, harsher than I meant to. “You saw what happened. She was just a pawn to them.”

Eon shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. “This isn’t—this can’t—”

“Focus,” I snapped, grabbing her shoulders to steady her. “You can fall apart later. Right now, we move.”

She swallowed hard, nodding once, though her entire body was still trembling.

Together, we slipped out of the chapel, leaving behind the broken pieces of a girl who thought she was destined for something greater. She’d learned the hard way that people like us don’t get to ascend, no matter how much the higher-ups want you to believe you could. That world wasn’t built for us, and she’d paid for that truth with her life.

Eon was still shaking in my arms. “Still feel bad for that yarou now?” I asked, tossing the severed hand aside as we exited through the back of the building.

She leaned over and heaved, the splash of vomit hitting the ground as she coughed in the dark alley behind the Church. I reached over, gently pulling her hair back as she heaved again.

“Nothing you could’ve done. Best to let it all out and move on.”

She rose to standing, her violet eyes locked on mine as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “How can you stand it?”

“See it every day. This whole city is built on death—its very foundation laid on the lives they deemed expendable just to raise the creds to build it. You get used to it.”

“I don’t want to get used to it.” I saw the power in her gaze again, but this time, it only made me sad. She really was too soft for this. Guess she wouldn’t make a good asset after all. And somehow, that thought was comforting. I wanted her sharpedges, but I didn’t want her to break. I didn’t want her to lose that hopeful heart she tried so hard to hide.

“That girl…her death was no different than anyone else’s.”

“Actually,” she said, her voice low and steady, “it was exactly like someone else’s.”

The power in her eyes swirled, an endless galaxy of light, and I lost myself in it. I was so deep, I almost forgot to mourn that our time was running out.

CHAPTER 50

CY

“You look like someone just killed your cat. We’ve solved this, man. Tomorrow, we go in and get our bonus. Cheer up.” Maddox slapped me on the back. I was sprawled on his overstuffed couch, but I couldn’t get comfortable.

Eon and I had spent the last hour laying it all out for Maddox—the ceremony, the way the Church of Divine Light was tied into this whole mess, and how Renard must’ve had some kind of religious awakening and ripped out his Flux chip to get closer to the Light, or whatever shit they believed. Now, with the pieces finally clicking into place, you’d think I’d feel triumphant. But something wasn’t sitting right.

Eon’s code. Where did that fit into all of this? Why had it been scribbled all over Renard’s walls like some sort of divine omen.

Eon strode out of the kitchen, three beers clutched in her hands. She tossed one to Maddox, then me, cracking hers open despite her long nails. “You look like you just crawled out of a grave,” she said, flopping onto the couch next to Maddox. “We solved it. We did the job. Now, we celebrate.”

I arched a brow, unimpressed. “This whole thing isn’t as tight as I want it to be.”

“That’s not what you said the other night.” She winked at me and Maddox sputtered his drink everywhere. She laughed, patting his back.

She raised her can. “Come on, nothing is ever tied up with a neat little bow. And I’ve drank for worse reasons with shittier company.” She tipped the can toward Maddox, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “No offense.”

Maddox snorted, clinking his can against hers. “None taken.”

I exhaled, shaking my head as I popped my beer open. “You’re real cocky for someone who was ready to pass out in a pew two hours ago.”

Eon grinned. “And yet, here I am, not being a complete wet blanket.” She kicked her feet up onto the table, taking a long swig. “You two should try it sometime.”