Book Two: KOTLC One-shots and More

Let's Go (Dex POV)

A/N: @ReinaReads400 requested Dex's POV of when Sophie pressed her panic switch during "Flashback". This will be told in two chapters.

"So you think maybe Luzia was hiding something?" Dex confirmed, needing to hear Wylie say it.

But Wylie just shrugged. "I can't say for certain," he replied. "I don't know the Vackers very well. And I don't know Everglen at all. But it does sound like some of the things she said don't really add up. I mean..." Wylie sighed and looked away. "It can be exhausting if you're not careful. Being a Flasher. So that makes sense, but—"

Before Wylie could finish the thought, Dex's panic switch ring emitted a high pitched alarm he'd only heard once before. He immediately pulled the ring off his finger and examined it with shaky fingers.

"What—?" Wylie started to ask.

But Dex jumped to his feet. "Sophie's in trouble. She hit her panic switch." How could that be? He'd just seen her in tribunal hall. But the signal was coming from her ring. "I have to go! Lovise?"

His bodyguard was immediately by his side.

"I can create a light path directly to where Sophie is," he told Lovise, speaking fast. "But I have no idea what we'll be walking into. And I should hail Elwin."

He pulled out his home crystal, because he knew he'd need to get one of his weapon stashes first. But before he could pull Lovise into the light, Wylie grabbed his arm.

"I'm going with you," Wylie told him, squaring his shoulders in determination.

"What? No!" Dex replied, looking Wylie in the eye. "I may not know what we're walking into, but Sophie would only have pressed her panic switch if she were fighting the Neverseen—and only as a last resort."

"I know," Wylie said quietly.

"I can't let you face the Neverseen again," Dex told him. "You barely got away from them. If you show up, they'll want to take you again. You should—"

"No," Wylie interrupted. Dex heard a slight quiver in his voice, but his eyes were determined—stubborn, even. "You're not going alone. I'm going to help. I owe it to Sophie."

"And you know Sophie wouldn't want you to take the risk," Dex argued.

"And you know that Sophie wouldn't play it safe if the roles were reversed. She'd be rushing to save me. I'm going to do the same for her."

Dex dragged a hand down his face. He was getting frustrated now, didn't Wylie understand they didn't have time for this? Sophie needed him.

He tried to remind himself that the Neverseen usually liked to play with their victims first, mess with their minds, taunt them and lecture them, so Sophie was probably still alive and fighting. But the longer he waited...

Feeling panic claw at his insides, Dex reached into his pocket and pulled out his Imparter. Panic was not going to slow him down. He was taking action. "Show me Elwin Heslage," he shouted at his Imparter.

The moment Elwin's face flashed onto the screen, Dex started talking, not giving Elwin time to say hello. "Sophie hit her panic switch and we're about to go try to help her. But I don't know how badly she's hurt or if we'll get hurt too. Can you be waiting at the Healing Center and let everyone know?"

Elwin's smile faded as Dex spoke—first to fear, then to a resigned determination. "Got it," he answered. "And be careful."

Dex clicked off the Imparter and stuffed it back in his pocket before holding his crystal up to the light again.