Page 164 of Storm Caller

We make our way toward the Fog’s headquarters, where we find Ada and a few of the others. I make introductions, and at first, I can tell each side is a bit wary of the other, but we all want the same thing.

“Everyone get over it,” I say when no one speaks. “They’re here to help.”

Ada blinks and nods. “Of course. Welcome. We’re happy to have you.”

“So what’s the plan?” Navy asks. “Where’s my brother?”

“We haven’t been able to determine his exact location, but our best guess is that he’s in one of the Tempestade holding cells, along with everyone else they’ve arrested,” Ada replies. “The cells have been heavily guarded until now, but with the arrival of . . . your people, we’ve confirmed they’ve had to withdraw much of their force to meet the threat.”

“Perfect,” Justin says. “Then what are we waiting for?”

“Me,” says a voice from the corner. Edward sits at his computer, typing a million miles a minute. He’s wearing his headset with a microphone and is leaning toward his screens, his eyes narrowed in concentration. “I’m trying to access the cameras so we can get a better picture of what we’re dealing with, but their security is locked tight.”

“Where’s Domino?” I ask, searching the room. We parted ways at Amery earlier this morning, while I waited for Navy and Justin, and she went ahead to see how she could help.

“She’s with the team we already sent in,” Ada says. “A few dozen of our members will try to break everyone out while The Shield is distracted. They’ll search for Rook and your other friend, too, of course.”

“I’m in,” Edward announces from his corner. We turn to see the screens surrounding him flicker to life, revealing black-and-white footage of the Tempestade holding cells.

We all gather behind him as we watch. Dozens of people flood down corridors and hallways, clashing with the occasional Patrol officer or Extinguisher. I frantically scan monitors, searching for signs of Rook, Journey, or Domino, but it’s hard to keep track of everything happening.

“Head count,” comes a voice over the speakers after a few minutes—one I recognize as Chandler’s. “We’re at seventy percent. They’re claiming a few were taken away over the past week.”

A few more minutes pass as prisoners are rescued and escorted out of the building.

“We have everyone,” Chandler says. “Except Rook. No one has seen him. They don’t think he was ever here.”

Navy takes my hand and squeezes it as I choke on the dryness coating my mouth.

“Keep looking,” Edward says into the mic. “There’s another level below you.”

As Edward types, the screens continue flipping. I catch a glimpse of Domino hugging Journey, and my eyes flutter closed with relief.

“Thank Skies,” I whisper to myself. We found her.

Chandler crackles over the line again. “He isn’t on this level, either,” he says, sending my heart into my throat.

“Rook,” I whisper again. “Where are you?”

A few more minutes pass as Edward directs the rescue team to another level, then another. Empty. It’s all empty.

Chandler stops in a hall and peers up, staring straight into the camera. “He isn’t here,” he says. “We’ll search lower. Brooklyn’s coming with me.”

Then he disappears from the screen.

“We should go,” Justin says. “We can help.”

Edward raises a hand as he types furiously on his keyboard with his other. “It’ll do no good if he isn’t there. I’ll try the rest of the Citadel.”

Justin’s jaw hardens, and I can tell he wants to argue, but Navy squeezes his shoulder and then loops her elbow through his, offering assurance.

I watch as the screens continue to flip, cut off, and blink into focus. Various rooms and hallways. Different floors of the Citadel. If Rook is somewhere in that building, Edward will find him.

Another ten minutes pass. I’m so tense that my jaw aches from clenching it and my hands have gone numb.

While Justin paces, Navy chews on her lip, her arms folded tightly. Fisher and Calliope lean against the wall, their eyes darting back and forth as they confer in low voices.

Chandler comes on again. “Not down here, either. Is there somewhere we haven’t considered?”