Page 258 of Alchemised
“You got the titanium-nickel,” Shiseo said, watching the knives mould against her skin. “May I see them?”
“Not now,” she said, pulling the satchel over her head and buckling the extra strap to her waist so she could run with it. “I need you to do something for me. I can’t tell you all the details, but I don’t have anyone else to turn to.”
She snatched up a piece of paper and started scribbling notes. Everything she knew, all the relevant details. Location. Strategy. Exit.
Written out plainly, it was obvious there was no way it would work, but she didn’t know what else she could do but go along with it.
She looked up. “Do you know the way to the old factory Outpost?”
Shiseo nodded. “Yes. I visited when it was operational.”
She nodded shakily. “I need you to go there, as quickly as you can. It’s—enemy territory, but if you see a necrothrall, say ‘Helena sent me’ and they should leave you alone. Take this route.” She sketched it roughly on a slip of paper. “You’ll find a tenement building with the iron symbol on it. On the second floor there’s a door. Shove this under the door and then come back. Or—if you don’t want to do any of that, give this to Ilva. I can’t—I don’t know how to make this choice.”
She held the paper out.
Shiseo looked from her to the paper, an odd gleam of interest in his dark eyes. “I always knew you were very interesting.”
“I have to go,” she said.
He took the paper, and she turned and ran, not waiting to see which choice he made. She kept running.
Soren and the others were emerging from the shop as she careened down the alley.
“Thought you’d split,” Alister said, giving her a sideways grin. He seemed to have accepted her presence now.
“No,” Helena said, breathing raggedly. “I’m all in.”
