Page 25 of A Slipper in the Smoke
Snowdrop’s revelation haunted her all through the day.
It couldn’t possibly be true, could it? Elena was no scientist, but that sort of accomplishment sounded impossible. It couldn’t be right.
She didn’t want to believe Snowdrop was lying to her, but perhaps she’d been misinformed. She said she ‘had it on high authority’. She hadn’t seen it for herself.
She could be wrong.
Or,said the sinister voice inside her, one she rarely liked to listen to,perhaps sheislying to you. She’s manipulating you. She just wants you for a spy.
You could check,said another voice.Bump into one. Just a bump. You know what metal feels like.
She refused to listen to either, and focused on her work. When she made her way to the palace later that day, she even let herself think about Pip, just for a moment, wondering if he would come to see her.
But he wouldn’t, of course. No one ever did.
Maybe you should throw your lot in with the Rebellion after all. What do you have to lose? No one would miss you if you died.
She shook her head, refusing to let that thought surface. She would lose whatever happened next, her future, herself.
I still have things to lose.
Everyone did.
She worked long into the night, broken bot after broken bot, adjustment after adjustment. Anything to keep her mind occupied. Every other mechanic had left long before she heard athump, thumpdown the corridor.
Her heart stuttered.
Don’t check.
Another thump.
Don’t.
A chink.
It never hurt to look.
She peered out into the corridor. A dread doctor and a scientist were making their way down to the door at the end. Elena watched the broad-shouldered figure, as if her eyes could peel back the layers.
Was there really metal underneath?
The scientist unlocked the door and stepped inside with the dread doctor, the rest slamming shut.
Elena knew she shouldn’t follow, shouldn’t even be thinking about it. What would she say if she was caught?
Perhaps she could pretend the door was open, that she heard a noise, that she was concerned…
Perhaps she wouldn’t get caught at all.
All the way towards the door, she tried to convince herself that she should turn back, that she didn’t need to know, that she would be fine to spend the rest of her life in ignorance. Part of her prayed that the door would be impossible to open, but when she saw it, she knew that she could do it. It was fancy, but she knew.
You were given this gift for a reason. The Gods gave you this gift. Use it.
She went back and collected her tools.
Breaking any lock was easy with the right equipment. Breaking a lock and ensuring that no one knew you had broken it was harder. Elena opened up the mechanism and set to work, ears pricked for the slightest movement or agitation.
There would be no explaining this if she was caught. She’d just need to get out before anyone found her.
