Tangled

Unshift 271

Unshift 271

271 Lisa: To Safety

LISA

Eventually, there's nothing else I can help the nurses with, and I wander back to the table. It's been hours. We came to the farmhouse in the early morning, and now it's well past noon. Aside from a few packages of crackers and some water from the sink, my belly's empty.

My stomach growls. The crackers and water did little to satisfy my hunger.

The Grand Sage speaks to Ryder, his voice low but clear. "The problem isn't with the individual phones. They're fine, but the networks are all corrupted. They aren't communicating properly. From what I can tell, it's all hacked. Someone's taken control.

"So..." Ryder takes his phone with a sigh. "It won't be fixed anytime soon.

"Correct.

The Grand Sage hands Chloe and Mia back their phones. The two women exchange a glance before leaving after a brief word from Ryder. Something about their interaction feels off, but I can't quite put my finger on it.

While the Grand Sage and Ryder continue discussing, curiosity gets the better of me. I slip outside, thankful that I'm not particularly noticeable.

A cool breeze brushes against my cheeks as I watch Chloe part ways with Mia. To my surprise, Chloe doesn't head back to wherever she came from. Instead, she steps behind a nearby building. I frown, inching closer. What is she doing?

From my vantage point, I can see Chloe tapping away at her phone. It's strange-didn't the Grand Sage just explain that no cell phones are getting a signal? Yet here she is, acting like everything's normal.

My heart races as I watch her bring the phone to her ear. I strain to hear what she's saying, but she's too far away. I take a step closer, leaves crunching under my feet.

Chloe's head snaps up, and I duck behind a bush. When I peek out again, she's ending the call, her movements quick and furtive.

Something's not right here.

I make my way back to the farmhouse, my mind whirling. As soon as I spot the Grand Sage, I sidle up to him, keeping my voice low. "I just saw something strange, I murmur, relaying what I witnessed outside. The Grand Sage nods, his expression tense. "I've already reported the matter to the delta," he says, his eyes darting around the room.

for the first time that Ryder's no longer here. The room feels emptier now, with only the injured

eye again, tapping on his wrist. I glance

C

271 Lisa: To Safety

me earlier, confusion clouding my thoughts. What is he trying

runs cold as I recognize the sound-a sound that's now devastatingly familiar to me. Battle

y veins.

twists, fear and adrenaline coursing through

Sage and Elverly are at my side. Their hands close around my arms, and I'm being hustled out the back door of the farmhouse. "That was faster than

"You expected this?"

saw her

rush towards the barn, our fect pounding against

able-bodied shifters are locked in combat with a seemingly endless stream of

logic and reason. People pour out of it, weapons. raised and faces contorted with rage. It's like watching the world tear at the seams, reality giving way to something I

snaps me back

tear my eyes away from the battle and focus on putting

Grand Sage and Elverly flank me, their urgency palpable in the air. We burst through the barn

a string of muttered curses. I whirl around, my eyes widening in horror as I see what's caused his

towards us with inhuman speed.

Sage's voice cracks like a whip, snapping me out of my terrified trance. "Into the

the top hatch. It feels like an eternity before my fingers find purchase, and I haul myself up and in. The inside of the safe room is just as

on, come on, I mutter, my eyes fixed on the opening. Where's the Grand Sage? He

271 Lisa: To

my throat, I see his face appear. He's panting heavily, his eyes wild

can hear their snarls. They're completely feral. My whole body trembles, and I have to

back to

control panel, fingers dancing across buttons and levers. I don't understand what he's doing, but I

to close, agonizingly

pale face pops over, red

and I