Page 63 of Tapeworld Induction

The tension bled from his jaw and he let out a long breath, shoulders dropping. “Fine. I didn’t tell him because… I don’t want him to interfere. I don’t want to have him running more tests on the Gunkatana. I don’t want to risk anyone else finding out about it.”

She sighed. “That’s your right. You stole it, and you’re free to do with it what you want. I think he’d want to help us, though.”

Isaak pinched the bridge his nose. “I know… It’s just easier this way.”

“And how the hell did those black things know where to find us?”

“When I ran the diagnostics on the katana, something must have pinged back home. Back to the Third King.”

“The Book Kingdom…” she said, shaking her head. Shit. “So they set those things on us?”

“Maybe.”

He paused and looked out the window. The train sped along above ground, buildings, vehicles, and roads all a blur outside the chrome-framed windows.

“I’m sorry,” he said, eyes still on the cityscape.

“For what?”

“Giving you the tape.”

“No, I…” She paused. “It’s not all fun and games, but I’ve loved being able to explore it with you.”

“I never wanted you to be in danger.”

Her heart quickened. She didn’t know what to say to that. It meant he cared.

“This is your stop, right?” he said, breaking the spell.

“Oh shit.” She jumped up with a start and rushed to the door. Just as she was about to leave, her heart racing, chest tight, she turned back and planted a kiss on his cheek, then rushed out just before the doors of the carriage closed.

She looked back as the train propelled its way out of the station. Isaak looked dumbfounded, fingers held to his face where she’d kissed him. His eyes transfixed on her with the silly expression she loved.

Dylan waited until the train rounded the bend in the track and disappeared behind a building before turning away to leave the station. She gave a quick glance down at her dress, expecting to find the blood stains from her fall earlier, but then she remembered: that was in the Tapeworld.

She’d wanted so badly to press him on the photo. But they’d been through so much today. Pulled into his heist, escaping mechanical wolves, meeting a fucking talking sword, Miss Kitty disappearing, and then being chased by the black spheres. Not to mention it looked like he was finally going to kiss her, and then didn’t. So, no, she didn’t press him about the photo. But she thought they’d both earned some respite.

The walk home was uneventful, but was late at night, and despite the government’s best intentions and a supposed increase in police numbers, it was still dangerous for a lone woman to walk down any road at night. She avoided darker roads, taking the longer way home on purpose, the occasional sound of the train coming and going on the above-ground rail lines her only company.

At least the black spots couldn’t get out here. They could have been an automated defence system, triggered by the Gunkatana’s analysis. Or perhaps someone had been watching them since it was stolen… Could it really have been the Book? Her illusion of freedom within the Tapeworld was slowly unravelling. That place was supposed to be an escape from the perennial surveillance of the real world.

As she walked through the gate into her building, a word crossed her mind: Rebellion. Like her parents and countless others all those years back. Rebellion. She opened the door to her flat. Rebellion. Scrolling her flip vidphone until she found her dad’s avatar and called him. Rebellion. Oh, hello, bit late isn’t it, is everything okay? Rebellion. Dad went to make himself a cup of tea, trying to not wake up her mum. Rebellion.

“Dad?”

He took a longer sip of his tea before replying. “Yeah?”

She strained to get the words out. “How was it?”

He paused, like he guessed what she wanted to talk about. “How was what?”

She went for the jugular. “How was the rebellion?”

Her father’s eyes darted around on his side of the video call, not sure where to settle. “You know already. It was a mess.”

“But… specifically? For you and mum?”

“It’s late, darling—”