Dying Light by Kory M. Shrum Page A

to
come. I don’t want the people I love anywhere near Caldwell. But do
I think I can get Winston back without them? That’s a soft
maybe.
    Is Caldwell going to try
to kill me, I ask Gabriel.
    “ Yes.”
    Wow, way to sugarcoat
it. Like as soon as he sees me?
    “ No. There is an order to
abide.”
    Can I get Winston back
alone?
    “ I do not
know.”
    If I bring them, are they
in danger of being killed? It’s a stupid
question. I know the answer even before Gabriel confirms
it.
    “ Yes. He wants Alice
dead.”
    “ Jess?” Ally tugs on my
hand.
    “ I think you guys should
stay here. Maybe you shouldn’t leave the tower.”
    “ I know he asked you to go
alone,” Nikki says, ratting me out. “That’s stupid and
dangerous.”
    “ No.” Ally lets go of my
hand and grabs her hips. “You are not going alone. Are you
crazy?”
    Gloria is the only one who doesn’t
chastise me. “We all need to get out of this tower.”
    Nikki searches Ally’s face for an
answer.
    “ The tower is going to be
bombed. Everyone should leave.”
    “ Were you going to tell
me?” Nikki asks, her eyes wide.
    Ally frowns. “Of course. I wouldn’t
just leave without letting you know you’re in danger. But you won’t
be in danger because you’re coming with us right?”
    “ Can we at least have dry
clothes,” I moan. “It’s like negative a hundred out there and my
hair is wet.”
    A swarm of emotions plays over Nikki’s
face. She opens her mouth only to close it again. She stands aside
and lets Ally into the room. Nikki closes the door, leaving only a
crack.
    “ You’re going to leave
us,” Gloria says.
    I give her a nervous smile. “Am
I?”
    “ You understand that
Caldwell still wants to eliminate the competition.” It’s basically
a really nice way of calling me stupid to my face.
    “ I know.” I absentmindedly
pick at the bump on my shoulder. “But I want Winston back, and I
want you guys to be safe. I’ll have Gabriel, my shield, and my
firepower.”
    I think she’s going to give me more
shit about this, but she just nods, a bizarre kind of
approval.
    I peer into the dark room
and see Ally shoving her things into bags.
Nikki is murmuring soft words to her. I don’t want to leave them. By the time I
get back—if I come back—she might be engaged to this
wench.
    So not happening. The door opens wide
again and Nikki steps out into the hall with her own bag packed and
hanging from one shoulder.
    “ Okay, let’s go,” Nikki
says.
    “ Issuing orders now?” I
ask. “What about my dry clothes?”
    “ We’ll stop by your room
and let you change. But you have to be quick about it.”
    “ Sure thing,
Sasquatch.”
    “ Can I dry my hair?” Ally
steps out into the hall and lifts her bag up onto her
shoulder.
    “ You’re such a girl.”
Nikki smiles at her, taking one of her hands in her own. “I really
like that about you.”
    Oh yeah. There’s no way I’m putting up
with this for long.

Chapter 10
     
    Jesse
     
    W e reach the first floor and the elevators open to the sight
of Jeremiah and a small team of guards. Given the immensity of the
room, they aren’t that intimidating. A huge domed ceiling hangs
above, letting in the moonlight. A Christmas tree at least fifteen
feet tall stands off to one side, its big red bows and cream
decorations matching the soft swirls in the marble
floor.
    “ I knew it. Shit’s about
to get real.” I groan. The shield flares to life around Ally and
knocks Nikki back a pace. God, if only I could make it bigger and
push her halfway across the room. That’d be awesome. I wouldn’t
even mind that I stand exposed and vulnerable in the center of this
grand foyer.
    “ I’m not here to fight.”
Jeremiah steps away from his detail with his palms out in
surrender. I don’t lower the shield. I glance at Gloria to make
sure she’s okay. She’s got her hand on her gun, but hasn’t raised
it yet.
    “ You’re here to stop me.”
I step in front of everyone. Keep an eye
on her