Page 80 of Mind Maze

Bastian isn’t anywhere to be found.

Good.

We skirt around the crowd along the outer walls until I notice an exit sign. This hallway is toward the back of the building and fewer people mill about over here. I hurry with Megan in tow, slipping into the hallway that’ll lead to her freedom.

We’re so close now.

As we approach the door, two Secret Servicemen stand nearby. They both watch us with interest, but we’re clearly not a threat.

“She’s feeling sick,” I say when we approach. “Needs fresh air.”

The one on the left nods. “If you leave, you can’t come back in this way. Come in through the front again.”

“Understood.”

The man grants us access through the door. Wintery wind mixed with snowflakes greets us with blustery slap to the face. We both shriek, neither of us dressed for this weather. Beethoven no longer plays in my ear as I’ve been disconnected from my phone from being too far away from it. Luckily, outside, I don’t need it. Huddled next to each other, we run in our heels toward the street corner.

“There’s a diner less than a block away,” I tell her, teeth already chattering. “Go there, call an uber, and stay warm until it gets there. Then head straight to the bus station. Once there,ditch the phone so he can’t track you. Don’t look back, Megan. Don’t ever look back.”

When we reach the corner, Megan turns to hug me fiercely. We both cry for a second, relieved at what we’ve managed to accomplish. Then she breaks away and runs across the street. I stand there, arms tight against me and shivering as I watch her get lost in the crowd of others walking.

Once I’m satisfied she’s safely gone, I turn to walk away, wondering which way is best to get to the front of the building. A voice calls out to me.

“Romy!”

A man runs from the door we’d also come from. He’s wearing a tuxedo and far enough away I can’t make out his features. But as he gets closer, I recognize him all too clearly.

Bastian.

Oh my God.

She got away just in time.

“Where’s Megan?” he demands, huffing out white puffs of air from the cold. “She went with you to the bathroom.”

I step away from the street corner and start walking along the sidewalk beside the building, hurrying to get out of this frigid weather. His footsteps race after me. Before I can get too far, he grabs hold of my chilled shoulder, whirling me around so he can see me.

“Romy,” Bastian growls. “Are you deaf?”

I lift a shivering arm and point to my earbud that’s gone silent, but he doesn’t know that. “Sorry, you’re going to have to speak louder. I can’t hear a thing.”

The worried, panicked expression on his face morphs into one of overwhelming fury.

That’s right, big brother. I know what’s going on with the music and I just saved your girlfriend from you.

I’m awake to everything…including you.

Caius

She went outside.

I know Romy. She’ll have used my instructions to help Megan. And because I am familiar with all of CUP’s ins and outs, it will work. Once the girl realizes she’s been duped, she’ll lose her shit. Romy will want to save her, which means helping her escape.

I’d seen Bastian not far ahead of me heading down a hallway. Since we’re both looking for the same people, I follow after him. A Secret Serviceman pushes the door to the outside open for him and he slips out. I pick up my pace, stalking after him.

When I reach the door, the man says in an exhausted voice, “If you leave, you have to go around front. No reentry here.”

“No problem,” I grunt, pushing past him to exit the building.

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