Page 88 of Tempest’s Torment

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"Call Tempest."

My heart starts hammering. "Jinx, what's happening?"

"Call him. Now."

I grab my phone and dial Kai. It rings, once, then twice, and again.

Jinx looks toward the stairs again.

"Come on, Kai."

Voicemail. I hang up and immediately call again.

"Jinx, talk to me."

Nothing, I look at the camera and see that he's gone.

"Jinx?"

The hallway is empty. I stare at the screen. He was there. He was right fucking there.

"Jinx?"

A sound comes from somewhere outside the apartment. A thud followed by another. I move closer to the door before catching myself. No. Don't open it. I call Savage. It rings and rings. Nothing.

"Fuck."

Ghost—no answer. I try Kai again—voicemail.

My hands are shaking now. I send Kai a message instead.

Jinx is here, he's hurt. He told me not to open the door. I can't see him now. Savage isn't here. Call me.

I hit send, and then I stare at the screen. Delivered.

Another thud sounds outside. Then silence, utter silence. I back away from the door and think.

Kai said Savage was coming but Savage isn't here, but for some reason, Jinx is. Or was. Something is wrong, really fucking wrong. I dial emergency services but before it connects, the fire alarm screams.

I jump. "What the fuck?"

Another alarm starts somewhere below me and then another. The entire building erupts with noise.

I smell smoke. My eyes snap to the door. A thin, gray line slips underneath it.

No.

I move backwards. The phone connects.

"Emergency services, which service do you require?"

"Fire. Police. Both." I cough as the smoke thickens. "There's smoke in my building and someone's outside my apartment. I think someone's hurt."

I give the address just as another alarm joins the others. The smoke coming beneath the door gets darker. I run to the bedroom, to the window fire escape.

I shove it open and lean out, cold air hits my face. I look down: nobody, the alley is empty. I look up and nothing. My phone starts ringing.