Within These Walls

Life After Dark: 9 (WTW Sequel)

The trip across town to Matthew's favorite skating place takes us about thirty minutes. Once we pass the police blockade, it gets easier for us to move faster. It's past sunset now, and the darkening neighborhoods we pass through are eerily lonely. Not a single person loiters the streets. It's just us and whatever Blanks might be lying in wait.

We eventually reach the neighborhood with the giant slope that Rachelle deciphered from Matthew's belongings. We split up into two teams of four and three: the reconnaissance team, and the protection team that watches over them. The group composition is based on how best to get results while maximizing our survival chances, which is why Saige is put in charge of protecting Rachelle while she gathers more information and Adam is assigned to watch over both of them with his shielding ability.

Naturally, Marcus puts himself in the reconnaissance group. Whether it's because of his girlfriend or because he wants to monitor Rachelle's progress is unclear, but no one questions his choices. He's always been the leader, and even now, so far from that place we knew as our temporary home, he still calls the shots.

"Well, ladies," Pablo says as he saunters over to Janie and me, "It looks like it's just the three of us. While Marcus works to solve the case of the disappearing flipper, what do you say we do a bit of exploring ourselves?"

He waggles his eyebrows and grins like he just said the most clever thing ever. His smile vanishes abruptly, and his expression fades to one of dazed fascination with Janie. It's like he's staring into the brilliant sun as it eclipses his entire world.

"Janie?" I ask, looking over at Marcus and the others as they make their way toward an abandoned house with a lawn of brown, uneven grass. "Doesn't using your ability on your teammates go against some unstated code?"

"So does sexual harassment, but when has that ever stopped Pablo?" She lifts a finger and runs it along the underside of his chin, giving him a flirty smile. "Besides, he's a lot more bearable this way. Come along, you overgrown puppy."

Janie leads us over to a thick oak tree and sits with her back against it. Our position gives us a clear view down the slope and the surrounding homes, while also keeping us hidden out of view of the street lamps. If anyone tries to approach the house, we have just enough time to warn the others and step in if things get violent.

Hopefully it'll continue to stay this dull.

I lean sideways against the tree, resisting the urge to bolt across the street and join in on the adventure. Rachelle's ability is fascinating. It's the one thing that calls to me on a deeper level, the power to know things. To gather seemingly meaningless details or confusing data and convert them into useful information.

If I had this ability, I sure as heck wouldn't be fumbling to know the past. I would literally have it at my fingertips.

The phone that Willow gave me buzzes in my back pocket. I pull it out discreetly, dim the screen light, and read a text message from an unknown number.

You must be the wealthiest person in existence.

Uh--what?

I can't help responding. Excuse me?

You clearly seem to think you can afford the luxury of time.

This strange, ambiguous person can only be him. Are you Hermes? I type out. The security guard from the facility?

Hermes will do for now.

I glance up at the house, realizing I lost track of my task, and spot the group as they head into the house across the street. Despite the glazed look on Pablo's face, Janie still has everything under control. Her eyes sweep the streets, seeking out and analyzing all potential threat. I'm standing above and slightly behind her, which means she hasn't spotted me texting yet.