Then I think of Lily upstairs, frightened by the unexpected power outage. Wondering where her mom is, asking for me, possibly crying…
A primal sort of urgency surges through me; a mother’s instinctive need to protect her child. To comfort her, reassure her that the scary monstersunder the bed can’t get her. That as long as Mom is around, nothing bad can happen.
Though I really don’t want to climb the stairs in the dark, it doesn’t look like I have a choice. My phone is still dead, no matter how many buttons I press. And the lights in the hallway aren’t coming back on.
Leo’s going to be pissed,I think as I open the stairwell door. He’s not technically in charge of all the building maintenance—all the team members share in the responsibility—but as the security expert, Leo’s going to blame himself.
Ahead of me, the stairs disappear into darkness.
As I take a step forward, one hand outstretched and reaching for the handrail, my foot falters.
Fear clutches at me as a flashback threatens.
Where I stand, I’m still at Blade and Arrow. Safe. Unharmed.
But ahead, in the black, my attacker awaits. I can see his acne-pitted face. His malicious gaze. The glint of his knife. His sneer as he drags the blade down my cheek, chuckling darkly.“You have to pay for your sins, Georgia. It’s the only way.”
Tears sting my eyes.
A phantom pain slashes across my face.
The fear blossoms into a full-blown panic.
Instinct screams at me to run.
I want Leo,a small, scared voice in my head pleads.Leo will protect me. He won’t let anyone hurt me.
Stop it,a louder, more logical voice persists.Calm down.Take the stairs, one step at a time. Go back to Maya’s apartment, where she’s probably got candles and flashlightsgoing. Most likely, she’s already called someone to come fix the generator. Now stop being a coward and get up there to be with your daughter.
Yes. Stop being a coward over a little power outage. That would be a good idea.
So I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then I move into the stairwell again.
My foot hits the first step sooner than I expected, pitching me forward. As I scrabble for the railing, I drop my phone, and it lands on the floor with a thud.
“Crap,” I hiss, bending over to search for it. I need the phone to call Leo, whenever I can get it working again. Maybe Maya has one of those backup chargers, since it’s obvious my battery was lower than I thought it was.
Just as my fingers close around the smooth plastic of the phone case, I catch a flicker of light out of the corner of my eye. Jerking back up, I turn in its direction. Relief floods through me as soon as I recognize the bouncing beam of a flashlight approaching.
It must be Maya or Elle, come looking for me. Or maybe they called Rylan, and he came down to get me. Whoever it is, I’m glad to see them. And I’m definitely glad for the respite from the dark.
“What’s going on with the generator?” I ask as the flashlight moves closer. “Shouldn’t it have kicked on by now?”
The only response is a sharp gasp. And a moment later, a deep, muttered curse.
My pulse stutters.
It’s not Elle or Maya. Or Charlie or Hanna. It’s aman. But his voice doesn’t sound right. It’s… oilier than Rylan’s. And if it was Ry, he’d call out to greet me. He wouldn’t just curse.
But who else could it be?
“Hello?” I ask shakily. “Ry?”
The flashlight turns towards me, its beam filling my vision with bright spots of white. “What the fuck—” a man hisses.
My heart leaps to my throat.
That’s not Rylan.
