Page 239 of Silver Elite

I tense up. I remember my fellows talking about a secret Modified base, a hideout somewhere in the wards, but this is the first confirmation of it that I’m getting. Beyond the Blacklands, though? How is that possible?

“What is it?” Cross asks.

I ignore him as Adrienne keeps talking.

“You were an asset in executing this mission. I’ve already spoken to the Authority on your behalf.”

The unfamiliar term brings a frown to my lips.“What’s the Authority?”

“It’s the council that governs our base.”

“I thought you were in charge.”

“I am. But not alone. I told them how integral you were to gaining access to the General. Setting the decoy charges. Your admission has been approved. So if you can just hold tight until it’s safe enough to get you out—”

“I’m scheduled to die tomorrow morning.”

There’s a pause.

“I’m sorry, Wren. We can’t risk an aircraft.”

“What if I come to you?”

“You can only get here safely by air. No one makes it through the Blacklands alive on foot.”

“But what if I did?”

After another pause, she says,“Well, then you would link with me when you made it out, and we’ll collect you.”

“Damn it, Wren. What is she saying?”

I chew on the inside of my cheek. “She says there’s no way they can get me out. They won’t rescue me.”

Cross curses.

“But…I might have a way to rescue myself.”

Chapter 53

He leaves me again, returning in the wee hours of the morning with a jammer clipped to his belt and armed to the teeth. We don’t say much as we creep out of the stockade, navigating the maze of halls until finally we emerge outside. I’m grateful to breathe fresh air, but when I inhale, I find it’s not so fresh. The smell of smoke fills my nostrils, along with the leftover sweetness from the sugar bomb that took out a Command hangar.

“Where are we going?” I whisper as he leads me toward a waiting truck.

He gets in the driver’s seat while I crouch in the passenger side. “Stay down,” he orders.

Even at this hour, the base is alive with activity. I suppose that’s what happens when a chunk of it gets blown up by an enemy bomb. I don’t know how long we have before someone starts noticing Cross entering rooms and then disappearing from cameras.

He drives to a vehicle pool—not the one where I met Adrienne, but a different site near South Plaza. Another vehicle waits in the tunnel.

We slide into the back seat, and I frown when I spot Xavier behind the wheel. “Darlington,” he greets me.

“What are you doing here?”

“It’s okay,” Cross assures me. “You can trust him.”

No, but I can trust Cross. So I nod.

None of us speak as Xavier drives away from base. Or rather, Xavier doesn’t speak. I take advantage of the silence by sharing with Cross the thought that’s been haunting me all night.

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