Page 127 of Resolve
Fuck.
That was way too easy to fall for.
Aiden’s already running toward the town hall with the others. Dane, Alice, Sam, and I follow, dodging the holes in the ground from the explosions. The double doors to the town hall burst open, and agents flood out.
“Fuck’s sake,” Dane mutters when we come to a halt.
Aiden withdraws his whip sword. “Sneak in while we keep them busy.”
“Aiden—” I start to argue, but he cuts me off.
“I’ll meet you inside. Get those devices planted. Then stay hidden until I get there.”
“We’re leaving now,” I tell him, since Dane and I are still invisible.
He nods, preparing his weapon.
Dane and I skirt around the others, keeping a wide berth from the agents, then circle back around them to the open doors.
We creep inside, careful to keep our steps soft and deliberate on the smooth tile. The entryway is massive, like entering a mansion rather than a public government building. Everything is white except for the black tile floor. The walls. The ceiling. Most of the furniture. And then a gigantic chandelier hangs from the two-story ceiling.
Two opposing curved staircases greet us straight ahead. Blackdouble doors are on our left, and another two sets are on our right behind a long desk. The receptionist is speaking into her desk phone. “Yes, sir. They’ve been split into two groups.” A pause. “No. Not yet.” Another. “Yes, of course. I’ll be right there.” She walks to the stairs, her heels clicking with every step. I watch her until she disappears down the hallway to the right.
If I assume she was talking to Charles, that means he’s up there.
The sound of a doorknob jiggling snaps my attention to the door on the left. Dane’s trying to open it, but it’s locked. Sam and I walk over. Dane looks up when he sees us, then steps back and motions to the door.
I grab the knob and dip into my gift, shooting it through to the other side without touching the door. The knob disintegrates, leaving a hole in its place. The door falls open.
A room packed with people stare wide-eyed with fear at the creaking door and no one there. Some are clinging to each other, while others stand protectively at the front. They creep closer to peek through us.
“What was that?”
“What do we do?”
“Don’t move. He said we’d be safe if we stayed in this room.”
“But they could see us now!”
“Hurry! Help me block the door to keep it shut.”
The ones in front grab the bookcases in the corner and start dragging them to the door.
We hurry out before they close it again and start barricading themselves inside.
“They’re humans,” Alice explains softly. “The ones who live here.”
They’re hiding.
From us.
We’re the bad guys to them.
Dane squeezes my arm and shakes his head.
Right. We don’t have time to worry about that. The point is that we can’t use that room for our plan. We’ll need to find another one.
After we’ve planted the devices, Dane texts the location to Aiden, and we meet in the foyer. Alice and Sam slip away for their next part, leaving the three of us in the open.
