Page 73 of Captured Immune

“They’re not! Victor’s with them!”

I catch a glimpse of Victor on a screen, barking orders to people. I hug Arella tighter against me. Is that why Victor left the base? He went to recruit more of his fellow Royal buddies?Fucking traitor.

“Secure the entrance!” someone shouts.

The blonde searches around, then slams her hand against a red button labeledemergency lockdown.

Ruby turns to Pixie. “How are we gonna get this Ordinary out now?”

Pixie’s voice booms over everyone else’s. “Does anyone know another way outta here?”

“There are secret passageways,” I say, “but I don’t know where they are.”

Ruby scoffs. “Well, that’s helpful.”

From his chair, Carlos mumbles and wiggles his body.

Pixie rips the tape off his mouth so fast, it looks painful. “Here’s your chance to prove you’re one of us, old man. Do you know another way out?”

“There’s a tunnel,” Carlos says, “in the Artificial Sunlight room.”

“Where in that room?”

“Untie me, and I’ll show you.”

Pixie glances up at Ruby. “Think we can trust him?”

Ruby shrugs. “Do we have a choice?”

“Tell ’em, Trey,” Carlos says. “You’ve known me since you were a kid. I let you play all those damn tricks on me over the years, and I never once ratted you out to Victor. You know I’m good!”

The women turn their attention to me, waiting for an answer. I wish I could say for certain that we can trust Carlos, but I can’t. How can I know what side anyone’s on, when my own uncle has been on the dark side this whole time?

“I don’t know if I can vouch for him,” I say and sense Carlos’s stomach drop.

“Whatever you’re gonna do,” the blonde says, “do it fast! They’re trying to blast through this door with their powers!”

Pixie slides the knife out of her back pocket and uses it to cut apart the duct tape restraining Carlos to the chair. “Try anything funny and I’ll blow those little ears off your head. Got it?”

Carlos nods, then hops to his feet. “Follow me!”

With Arella still in my arms, I trail Carlos to the elevators with Pixie, Ruby, Katie, and the Speeder at my side. Together, we climb into the machine as Ruby stabs theclose doorsbutton repeatedly until the doors shut.

Katie turns to Carlos. “How do you know about this tunnel?”

“I used to patrol before I got assigned to entrance duty. When you patrol for almost twenty years, you tend to know things.”

“What if he’s leading us straight into a trap?” the Speeder asks.

Pixie pats his shoulder. “Good thing you’re here, Dash. Once we get to the tunnel, you can run through it first to make sure it’s good before we all go.”

The Speeder nods. “Sounds like a plan.”

“If it counts for anything,” Carlos says, “I was with ZIRDA for many years before Victor took over.”

I wish that counted for something, but if the Royals can turn Victor, they can probably turn anyone.

Ding!

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