I swing my arm wider, searching, moving through the darkness.
Someone grabs at me. I rip free.
"KEIRA! Answer me!"
No answer.
A crash. More screams. Someone shouts, "Just a power issue! Everyone calm down! Stay calm!"
The lights come back on, harsh and blinding.
But she's not here.
My chest is heaving. I'm already moving, scanning every face.
The space where she stood is empty.
Elizabeth Carter is gone too.
No. No, no, no.
I move toward the statue, circling it fast, checking every angle, every shadow.
Nothing.
I grab the nearest person, a man in a tuxedo, eyes wide with confusion.
"Where the fuck is she?"
He jerks back, trying to pull away. "I don't, I don't know what you're talking about."
I release him with a shove, already moving.
My eyes catch movement at the far end of the room, a flash of blonde hair disappearing through a side door.
Elizabeth.
She's running, so I start after her.
I pull my phone out; the bracelet's still transmitting, but I'm not waiting.
I sprint across the gallery, shoving through the scattered guests. Some try to grab me, hands clutching at my jacket, my arm, but I'm moving too fast, too hard. I throw an elbow into someone's ribs, hear the grunt of pain, and keep moving.
I glance at my watch, the one Keira gave me, thirty-seven seconds since the lights came back on.
I reach the side door and slam through it so hard it rebounds off the wall.
My hands are shaking.
Not from fear.
From rage.
She's set us up. She's led us down here like lambs to slaughter.
And now Keira's gone.
Elizabeth turns back and, seeing me flying down the corridor, tries to run faster, but it's no use.
