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.

his gaze, noticing for the first time that Ryder's no longer here. The room feels emptier now,

eye again, tapping on his wrist.

C

271 Lisa: To Safety

clouding my thoughts. What is he trying to tell

with shouts. My blood runs cold as I recognize the

y veins.

fear and adrenaline coursing through

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

the barn, our fect pounding against the

look back. The sight that greets me is like something out of a nightmare. All around, able-bodied shifters are locked in combat with a seemingly endless stream

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

moving!" Elverly's voice snaps me back to the

eyes away from the battle and focus on putting one

my ears as I push my legs to their limit, sprinting towards the barn. The Grand Sage and Elverly

of

towards us with inhuman speed.

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

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 press myself against the far wall, making room for

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

271 Lisa: To

He's panting heavily, his eyes wild with fear and determination. With a grunt, he squeezes his tiny frame through

completely feral. My whole body trembles,

back

the Grand Sage moves with surprising agility for his size. His hands fly over the control panel, fingers dancing across buttons and levers. I don't understand what he's

begins to close,

pops over, red eyes

my throat, and I squeeze my eyes