Page 236 of The Bone Season

‘Even outside Scion, people will never accept us when they understand what we are. We’re freaks,’ Carl said, his cheeks flushed. ‘That’s why we need the Rephs. Because they’re like us, and they get it. This is the only place that’s safe for voyants. I’m never going out there again, so you can keep your precious world. You’re welcome to it!’

He shoved me off and bolted. Nick watched him go, lowering his gun.

‘You’ve got a long story to tell when we get home.’

I nodded. ‘Let’s keep going.’

‘Yes,’ Zeke said, running again. ‘Come on. We can make it.’

I expected a fight before this was over. Our enemies must be hot on our heels, and clearly not every red-jacket had taken our concoction. When I heard an explosion in the distance, I glanced back.

Warden had told me that Rephs were vulnerable to blast injuries. An explosion at close range wouldn’t kill them, but it would hurt.

Port Meadow was close now. When we reached the short bridge on Ironwork Street, Nick slung his rifle across his back and swung his legs over the wall. Zeke dropped first, into the overgrowth under the bridge.

‘Nick,’ I said, ‘where the hell are you going?’

‘To meet the others. Come on.’

He jumped down before I could ask, landing in a crouch. Just as I was about to follow, the golden cord gave a tug. I turned to see Warden.

‘There you are.’ I released my breath. ‘Did you beat Gomeisa?’

‘For now. Paige, time is very short,’ Warden told me. ‘The Sargas and their loyalists will be following any stragglers. We should not tarry here.’

‘I know, Nick was just—’ I blew out, my breath clouding. ‘I don’t know what they’re playing at, but I need to get them. Will I meet you there?’

‘No. I will wait,’ Warden said. ‘The entrance is not far into the meadow.’

He still needed me to front this. Steeling myself, I cleared the brick wall and jumped from the low bridge, heading for the pool of torchlight.

Danica was squatting beside an open hatch. It must have been hidden deep in the weeds, or I would have noticed it. Over my first couple of months in this city, I had searched long and hard for an escape.

‘Quickly, darling.’ Jaxon pointed his cane at the hatch. ‘Down you go.’

‘What?’

‘This is a maintenance shaft. It will take us straight to the tracks,’ Danica said. ‘We can use it to slip back on to the train and seal ourselves in the rear compartment. The Scion guests will have no idea we are there.’

‘I agreed to meet the other prisoners on Port Meadow. There’s an entrance there, too.’

‘Yes, I know,’ Danica said impatiently. ‘That leads to the station the emissaries will be using.’

‘They aren’t getting back on the train,’ I said. ‘We’re taking the whole thing.’

‘What?’

‘I’m not leaving anyone behind.’

There was a strained hush before Jaxon marched towards me. He pulled off his mask and hood, rumpling his hair. His appearance shocked me into silence – dark circles under his eyes, a sheen to his white skin, pupils down to pinpricks. Jaxon Hall was never stressed enough to break a sweat.

‘You have been away for some time, Dreamer,’ he said, low and cold, ‘so I will forgive this sudden display of idiocy. But enough is enough.’

‘Jaxon—’

‘I have spent a great deal of time and coin on this little extraction. Danica and Nick have both risked the careers that help sustain our enterprise. We are the dominant gang of I-4, not a charity for the poor and needy.’

‘What are you saying?’

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