Page 165 of The Amber Sunburst

He bites his lip hard enough to split skin because he needs to focus on positioning the mirror correctly before he sticks it into the wall.

“Now, for the real test,” Alexander says, sliding off Kallias’ back.

Kallias pulls the laser pointer out of Alexander’s pocket and angles it toward their first mirror. It hits one, then ping-pongs down the hall until it’s out of their view and, God willing, hitting the wall behind Eudoxia and Zeno. Alexander’s lungs burn from holding his breath until a red light flashes back.

“Forms, yes!” Kallias shouts along with Alexander’s whoops. “Get by the button,” he says.

Their pointers turn off, then Kallias flashes his once and the others respond. When both lights shine at the same time a second later, Alexander pushes down on the emergency exit button, a slightly misshapen cobblestone.

For a long moment, nothing happens.

“Why isn’t it⁠—”

A scraping noise—metal on metal—rings so loud he covers his ears. The weirdest part of the noise is that he doesn’t know where it’s coming from. Because nothing is actually happening.

At least, not that they can see.

“What was that?” Kallias asks.

Alexander doesn’t respond. Instead, he tests a theory.

Something opened, he heard it. But, as he’s learned again and again, this place plays with your perception. He walks slowly toward the wall, catching Kallias’ hand on his way, before stepping up to—and straight through—the cobblestone. Static runs up and down his arms until he and Kallias come out on the other side into the escape tunnel.

“How did that… What just happened?” Kallias asks, bracing himself like he expects to be attacked.

Alexander opens his mouth to start a long tirade about the holograms or whatever they are, but he stops himself. They have more pressing matters to attend to.

“I’ll explain later. For now, let’s hope Xia and Zeno figure it out and get moving.”

Kallias eyes the wall curiously, then nods. “Lead the way.”

“Yeah, yeah,” he sighs, lazy already. “If only this exit took us right to the docks.”

This tunnel spits them out in Arc Four, which leaves the whole exposed stretch to Arc Eight ahead of them that he’d really prefer to avoid.

“Let’s be happy this managed to work at all.”

Alexander grins as they walk. “I am happy. How could I not be, when I’m here with you?”

Kallias gives him a half-hearted smile.

He’s probably just tired.

53

LAZARUS

The punch Lazarus is waiting for never comes.

Instead, soft knuckles tap his face, and he hears a frustrated sigh somewhere above him. He doesn’t dare move a muscle.

“You better be telling the truth,” Theokleia whispers into his ear. “I’m not giving you any more chances after this one.”

He feels the cold of a metal taser sliding into his pocket. “And if you’re doing what you say you are, you’ll need this.”

He stays quiet with his eyes closed, willing her to hear his wordless thank you.

Theokleia pushes off him and her footsteps are light as she walks away.