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.

that Ryder's no longer here. The room feels

again, tapping on his wrist. I

C

271 Lisa: To Safety

me earlier, confusion clouding my thoughts. What is

runs cold as I recognize the sound-a sound that's

y veins.

twists, fear and adrenaline

Elverly are at my side. Their hands close around my arms, and I'm being hustled out

"You expected this?"

saw

rush towards the barn, our fect

are locked in combat with a seemingly

raised and faces contorted with rage. It's like

snaps me

battle and focus

pounds in my ears as I push my legs to their limit, sprinting towards the barn. The Grand Sage and Elverly flank me, their urgency palpable in the air.

breath, followed by a string of muttered curses. I whirl around, my

of them, racing towards us with inhuman speed. Their faces are twisted into snarls, fangs glinting in the

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

familiar contraption, my hands shaking as I reach for 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 cramped and uncomfortable as I remember, but right now, it feels like the most welcoming place in the world. I

fixed on the opening. Where's the Grand Sage? He

271 Lisa:

appear. He's panting heavily, his eyes wild with

so close now, I can hear their snarls. They're completely feral. My whole body trembles, and I have to bite my lip to keep from screaming. This

back to

fingers dancing across buttons

begins to close,

over, red eyes staring into the

in my throat, and I