SILVER EYES (GXG)

Chapter 24: The Alarm

Her words paralyzed each of my muscles, all my organs, all my functions. I didn't know what to say, and damn it, my face, I must have looked scared to death. I turned to her; I couldn't see her well due to the darkness, and a wave of relief washed over me. It was too dark, she was too sleepy, there was no way she could have seen my less-than-calm face.

"I had forgotten that tonight is my turn to keep watch at the tunnels. I have to go."

Each word sent a pang of pain through my chest. I didn't like lying (I wasn't very good at it either), but somehow, over time, I had gotten used to it. I could still justify each lie in my mind—I had lost my brother, I had to help him, he didn't have anyone else—blah, blah, blah. That reasoning was what kept me going. But that night, something inside me cracked. Maybe telling her the truth wasn't ideal, but neither was lying.

"I'm sorry I woke you up. Go back to sleep." I reached her in bed and tucked an extra blanket around her. Heather's eyes closed, and she fell asleep immediately. That was close. I had to be more careful. I slipped out of the room, gripping the repeater Erik had given me, and headed toward the electric tower. It wasn't far—I could get there in about fifteen minutes—but the black-light system was a problem.

Imagine the deepest, heaviest, most suffocating, and overwhelming black. Like a silent, bottomless hole in the earth. Like an abyss in the ocean. Like the endless void of space. That was the night at the border. That was what they called the black-light system—their way of protecting the wall. After all, how could anyone get through if they couldn't see a thing?

The watchtowers had small violet flashlights that let the guards pierce through the murk, invisible beams only they could see. I used one of them to get there, along with our Reg Bracelet sensor, to track the intensity of the waves the electric tower sent through it. The stronger the waves, the closer I was.

When I got there, I circled the tower, searching for the external ladder I had climbed the night I saved Heather. It was the only way up to the roof. The ladder was old and rusted, corroded by acid rain. It was no doubt weaker than before. Great—heights again—perfect plan.

The wind wasn't on my side. It grew stronger as I ascended, making the ladder sway as wildly as my nerves. When I was nearly at the top, I passed the window on the last floor, the same one I used during Heather's rescue. Just as I got closer, I heard a voice.

Time to be as sneaky as a shadow in the dark. I took a slow, steady breath and moved carefully. As I neared the window, more voices filtered through. Not just one person, at least two. I discreetly glanced inside and saw Kate and Lea.

"You're overreacting; it's probably just a coincidence." Kate was saying.

"If you say so. But I feel we should be more vigilant. The recent incidents at the border seem connected. I sense something brewing." Lea said with her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

"You're referring to what happened to Heather? That poor man was desperate. I don't think it means anything."

They were talking about the incident at the Border, my first day, actually. The day that white-eyed man attacked her.

"Well, perhaps. But Heather's been struggling lately... for reasons you're well aware of. I'm not sure she can continue leading the border effectively." Lea sounded frustrated and a bit annoyed. Was she always annoyed?

"Because of Grace?" Kate asked.

Damn it.

"Yes. We need a focused leader here, not a teenager."

Kate tilted her head, relenting. "Alright, I'll check on Heather. But to be honest, I've never seen her this happy before. I'd rather have a happy leader than an angry and frustrated one."