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.

gaze, noticing for the first time that Ryder's no longer here.

eye again, tapping on his wrist. I glance down at the bracelet

C

271 Lisa: To Safety

earlier, confusion clouding my thoughts. What

I can ask, the air is rent with shouts. My blood runs cold as I recognize the sound-a sound

y veins.

stomach twists, fear and

side. Their hands close around my arms, and I'm being hustled out the back door of the farmhouse. "That was faster than I expected," he mutters. "I thought

"You expected this?"

I saw

the barn, our fect pounding against the

but 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 of attackers. But it's not their opponents that make my breath catch in my throat -it's where

faces contorted with rage. It's like watching the world tear at the seams, reality giving way to something I

Elverly's voice snaps

away from the battle and focus on putting one foot

limit, sprinting towards the barn. The Grand Sage and Elverly flank me, their urgency palpable in the air. We burst through the barn doors, and for a split second, I think we're

then I hear it. The Grand Sage's sharp intake of breath, followed by a string of muttered curses. I whirl around, my eyes widening in horror

a dozen of them, racing towards us with inhuman speed. Their faces

voice cracks like a whip, snapping me out

to be told twice. I scramble towards the 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

on, I mutter, my eyes fixed on the opening. Where's the Grand

271 Lisa:

his eyes wild with fear and determination. With a grunt, he

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 is

back

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

hatch begins to

red eyes staring

breath catches in my throat, and I squeeze my