Page 40 of The Hollowed

Then, a low rasp came from the far end.

Before Luci could react, a stall door burst open, and a Hollowed lunged towards her with terrible speed. She stumbled back and the flashlight slipped from her grip as she fell hard onto the tile. Pain shot through her side as the creature collapsed onto her, its teeth scraping against her ribs.

“Alex!” she screamed, her voice was full of panic as she desperately shoved against the infected’s chest. Its breath reeked of decay, hot and sour against her cheek as she twisted and fought.

Her view narrowed to its snapping jaws until a gunshot split the air. The Hollowed convulsed once then went limp, collapsing on to her chest.

Luci froze before Alex appeared. His face was pale and frightened. “Are you okay? Did it get you?” he asked, rushing to her side.

A broken moan slipped past her lips as her hand instinctively pressed against the torn fabric just above the wound. Alex’s gazefollowed the movement, and his face drained of color completely when he saw the jagged teeth marks carved into the side of her sternum. Beside them, Luna whined as though even she understood the severity of this injury.

“Luci,” Alex whispered, urging her to open her eyes. When she did, she saw tears gathering in his. “God, I’m so sorry. I should have never left you alone.” His fingers raked desperately through his hair.

“It’s okay,” Luci mumbled, forcing her trembling hand away from her wound so she could reach to hold his hand instead. Her grip was weak, but it didn’t matter. “I’m fine. It just hurts. The vaccine won’t let me turn, I promise.”

Alex shook his head, denial giving into hope. “I won’t let you turn,” he swore, his voice trembled as a single tear slid down his cheek.

For a moment, as pain throbbed through her side, Luci found herself wondering how she could have been so blind to how deeply they felt for each other. She had never loved like this before, so fiercely and so recklessly, and she had certainly never been loved with such raw devotion. As the uncertainty of what came next closed in around her, she clung to the hope that she might live to love him for just one more day.

Chapter 17

Myra

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

The word repeated like a drum in Myra’s skull as she walked down the hall and towards the security wing. The more she thought about Doc’s plan, the more impossible it seemed. And yet, it wasn’t as though she had a choice. She could either risk everything or sit here and watch Jace die.

For the first time in years, fear bit at her.

Years of training with Prometheus had made her an expert at masking emotion, and she wore that mask well. No one she passed dared so much as glance at her, whether that was from fear or respect she couldn’t say. Normally, their silence might have stung but today she welcomed it. If they couldn’t see the turmoil stirring inside her, then she still had the upper hand.

The closer she drew to the security wing, the heavier her chest felt. Cameras dotted the ceiling above, following her every move. She forced herself not to look up because her instincts knew that even one misstep was enough for Prometheus to notice, and if they noticed, it wouldn’t just be her blood that was spilled.

When she reached the metal door, she steadied herself with a deep inhale before she keyed in the code with trembling fingers. A loud beep broke the silence, followed by the click of a lock disengaging. Relief flooded through her.

But the moment the door slid open, the illusion of calm shattered. Cipher sat hunched at the desk inside. Blue light from the screens painted his face. For a heartbeat, Myra froze in the doorway as every ounce of panic she’d buried clawed its way back to the surface. Then she forced herself forward and shut the door behind her.

Cipher’s head jerked up the second the door shut behind her, his fingers hovered uselessly over the keyboard as his eyes glazed over with confusion.

“Myra,” he said, “you don’t have clearance to be in here.”

“Yeah, I know,” Myra cut him off quickly. Her voice was calm even as she felt her pulse in her throat. “But it’s an emergency.”

Cipher blinked twice as if he was looking for answers. “Are you okay?” he finally asked.

Myra gave a weak nod. “Yeah, I’m fine.” She crossed the room and let her eyes drift to the glowing screens before she took a seat at the edge of his desk. “Just listen. Don’t ask questions yet. Hear me out, and then think about what I’m about to say.”

Cipher leaned back in his chair, searching her expression with cautious eyes. He didn’t argue or tell her to leave. Instead, he folded his hands together in front of him and waited. “Alright,” he said. “I’m listening.”

Myra didn’t waste any more time, she leaned in closer, lowering her voice until it was just above a whisper. “There’s something I need to do,” she said firmly, locking her eyes with his. “And I need your help. But it’s dangerous — more dangerous than anything we’ve ever done.”

Cipher blinked, confusion flashing across his face. His gaze twitched toward the console as though instinct told him to check the cameras again, to make sure no one was near.

“Dangerous how?” he asked carefully as his brow furrowed.

She shook her head, refusing to elaborate yet. “I’ll explain, Ipromise. I just need to know you’re with me before I involve you.”

Cipher stared at her for a long moment, and though worry lingered in his eyes, he leaned back slowly and his expression softened. “Myra…you don’t have to convince me of anything,” he said, sounding more sure than ever. “Whatever it is — whatever you need — I’m with you. No questions asked.”