The Skin Thief

Chapter 98

My heart races wildly as I make my way to work. As I grip the cold rails of the cramped train, I feel my hands going clammy with nervous sweat. Flashes of last night run through my mind. Nausea swells in my stomach as I remember I killed one of my own. I killed someone I knew, someone who helped me.

Tears sting my eyes, and I remember falling into Connor's arms once I had been yanked back into my body. He held me as I sobbed for the rest of the evening, some of them so heavy that I could barely breathe.

I remember feeling the gun against the side of her head. I remember pulling the trigger, the flash of excruciating pain filling my mind, before opening my own eyes. All the physical pain was gone, but the memories will stay forever.

I wipe my eyes before my tears can spill and take in a deep breath. I need to pull myself together before I get to the office because Marcus is going to be enraged. My stomach twists with fear just thinking about that. What's he going to be like? Will he suspect anything?

I groan and lean my head against the cold bar. A dull pain settles behind my eyes from the stress of it all. The walls are closing in around me. I killed an ally, an ally whom I spent time with when I first arrived here.

How long will it be before the investigating teams working with Marcus find a small detail that links to me when they rummage back through her life? Were we careful enough? Will Marcus already know when I arrive?

My mouth goes dry, and when the train comes to a screeching halt at my stop, I feel sick at the thought of leaving. Still, I straighten up and walk out of the train toward the MoD building. My heart speeds up the closer I get. By the time I'm walking through security, it's thundering in my chest, and I can feel a bead of sweat dribble down my forehead.

"You feeling under the weather today, Miss Astor?" one of the guards asks.

I force on one of my most charming smiles. "Just had a bit of a funny tummy, is all. It's not contagious, don't worry," I joke, "I think it's the prawns I ate last night."

He pulls a face and shakes his head, letting me through. "Got to be careful where you eat, Miss Astor. There are lots of sketchy places in the city."

"You don't need to tell me twice," I reply, letting out a little chuckle. Then, I walk toward the office.

It is eerily quiet inside. None of the phones are ringing, and my colleagues talk to each other in hushed whispers. I watch them closely, trying to see if there is any suspicion or change in the features as I walk in.

I'm ignored.

I let out a shallow breath and try and calm my nerves. Of course, they could just be good actors, trying not to let me in on the fact that they know. Another chill ripples through me, making all the hairs on the back of my neck stand.

I spot Hallows walking into the office. At once, everyone goes silent. His face is pale, his jaw clenched tightly with suppressed rage. He whispers quickly to some other members of his team, his words coming out in a mad rush before he storms back out again, throwing the door open as he goes. Gulping, I sit down at my desk, trying to act as normal as I can.

"What happened?" I whisper to the closest person to me. Ruben, I think his name is. He looks around warily, then leans over to me.

"They caught the Money Rat last night," he whispers.

"I know, but isn't that a good thing?" I ask innocently.

Ruben shakes his head and lets out a long sigh. "The Money Rat is dead. A Skin Thief got her."

"Oh," I say, my heart pounding. He opens his mouth to say more, but he pauses and looks at the entrance. My stomach drops as Marcus storms toward the office. He yanks the door open so roughly that I swear he nearly rips it from its hinges.