Page 30 of Shades of Silver City

I have a sudden memory of my father coming home from work frazzled, his lab coat in disarray as he squatted down beside me and told me everything was going to be okay.

The softness of his words were at odds with the sharp needle as he pricked my arm, injecting me with something.

My chest grows hollow with grief. Even after all this time, I miss him.

Frowning, I shoot one last glance back at the wall before striding down the street toward my apartment, trying to shake the new fear settling deep in my bones.

Citizen Confinement and Perimeter Security Directive

Silver Edict #2

“In accordance with the directives set forth by the Ministry of Public Safety, it is mandated that no citizen be permitted to breach the city’s protective walls, entering the Wilds…”

CHAPTER 7

ARCHER

Two days go by without another sighting of the Reaper.

Wiping the sweat off my brow, I quickly navigate the maze of tunnels deep beneath the city, inhaling the dank stench of soil and sawdust. Deeper in the tunnel, loud voices yell over each other, and I head toward the sound.

“—she was just standing there, man. Then her eyes glazed over and her whole body shook. Like a seizure, but she was standing!” a voice bellows. “Then she just—she just slumped to the ground!”

I arrive at one of the main tech rooms. Godric stands facing the door, next to our hacker, Pixel and two men.

“Just dropped, man. Dead as a rock,” says one of them.

“Rocks are not dead,” Pixel mutters, pushing her glasses up her nose. Her shaggy, feathery hair is freshly dyed—a bright red this time. She’s always changing it. “It’s too early for this,” she mutters.

“They sure ain’t living though, man,” one of the lower-rank Nightcrawlers says, elbowing her in the ribs.

Pixel winces.

“Excuse me,” I say. Everyone pauses, their eyes flicking to me. I stare down the guy who elbowed Pixel. “Don’t ever touch a lady without her consent.”

“Who?” The guy glances around, then points at himself. “Me?”

“Yes. You.”

“Bro,” the guy next to him whispers, his eyes wide. “That’s the Phantom.”

“Oh shit,” the first guy says. He strides toward me, extending a hand. “Sorry, man.”

I ignore his offering, crossing my arms instead. “Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to her.”

Pixel rolls her eyes, a blush overtaking her pale cheeks. But when the guy apologizes, she stands a little taller, squaring her shoulders and giving him a polite nod. “Apology accepted.”

“I like the red,” I tell her. Her cheeks flame even brighter, and she covers her mouth before turning away from me. I meet Godric’s eyes. “Resume.”

Godric clears his throat, amusement dancing in his expression. “You heard the boss.”

We listen attentively as the guys pick up where they left off, giving their eyewitness accounts of a dead body they found this afternoon. The city has always had its fair share of unsavory events, but we’re all concerned about the increase in violence and deaths lately.

My teeth clench so hard I fear they’ll crack. After a few more nods and exchanges, Godric thanks the trio and excuses them. The men scurry past without a word. Pixel gives me a shy smile, mouthing thanks as she heads to her station in the corner.

It’s a massive, ergonomic setup with a wall of monitors, several high-powered towers that hum with quiet intensity, and a snake nest of wires. My eyes roam the screens. Some of them display camera feeds of the city streets. Some of them run lines of code. It’s impressive how Pixel can keep track of so many information sources at once. She loves her tech, though, and she’s good at juggling multiple tasks.

I’d go crazy stuck down here in the tunnels, with no fresh air or sunlight, just staring at screens. We’d get nowhere without Pixel, so I’m glad she enjoys it.

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