Page 138 of Off the Rails

Nodding, I stood up. “Okay.”

Blade and Nash were just as confused but as the bright overhead lights faded and black lights flicked on, they stood up and exited the lanes.

We made our way back to the counter, turning in our goofy bowling shoes and putting on our sneakers and boots. The music turned up louder, a pop dance party breaking out over the alley. The screens over each lane lit up with a flashing animation that read: “Cosmic Bowling Starts Now!”

“Thanks, Danielle.” Cyrus nodded to the nice young woman.

“You got it.” Danielle nodded and slid our shoes back into their slots after spraying them with disinfectant.

Cyrus marched on, pushing open the glass doors and leading us into the chill of the late September night.

The cool air smacked my face, flushing my skin pink.

Stopping before we reached her Aston Martin, I shook my head. “Where are we going?”

The glow of the red and white neon sign lit most of the parking lot. “Headquarters. We’ll talk once we get there.”

Blade swallowed hard and pressed her hand into my lower back. “Come on, Trinket. Better not to dilly dally.” Opening the passenger door, Blade slid the front seat forward and helped me slide into the back of the sports car.

Once we all buckled in, Cyrus peeled the Vanquish out of the lot. We drove deeper into Valemont first, the town weirdly quiet for dinner time. But as we approached town center, the gazebo just across from Perkatory was packed.

Pedestrians held paper cups, gentle flames flickering inside.

A vigil.

“What is that?” My brows furrowed as I peered out the window, squinting for a better view.

At the gatherings center, Rubin’s bearded and robed figure rose above the crowd on the steps of the rotunda. Candlelight cast over his face as he shook his head. He lifted his hands as he began to speak.

Around him, others held each other. Some of them even wore matching robes.

As they pulled each other close, a few cried.

“Cyrus…” Before Nash could finish asking, Cyrus pressed her foot down on the gas and sped up.

“Seriously, what’s happening?” I pushed. I’d followed her lead — didn’t make a fuss about getting in the car without details. But this shit was getting weirder by the second. “Who died?”

Meeting my eyes in the rearview mirror, Cyrus’s pitch black eyes looked defeated. “Jane. The woman we brought to Lucky Strike…”

“I know who she is, Cyrus. What the fuck happened to her?” I hissed back. The news hit me hard, like a ton of bricks to the skull.

“We don’t know yet. But we’re going to find out.”

The rest of the drive was silent as we all sat with the tragic information. We left Valemont’s center and headed for the edge of town where warehouses met the river, connected to docks.

Where the fuck are they taking me?

I’d thought headquarters meant home… to Feverpoint. But this was far from the abandoned amusement park.

The Aston Martin came to a stop outside a towering brick factory, a few lights on beside doorways.

Cyrus hopped out of the car first, throwing open the door to her precious Vanquish as she stormed toward the metal doors.

Blade gripped my knee and squeezed it before she crammed herself out of the car. Waiting outside my door, Nash held out her hand to help me climb out.

In silence, we all followed behind Cyrus who threw her shoulder into the metal door. Forcing it open, Cyrus strided into the dark warehouse.

Beside the door, Nash flicked on a few light switches. Overhead, massive lights blinked on.