“Just toss everything you have in the bag,” Nina said, “it’ll stay fresh for weeks.”

Max looked down at the silver duffle bag dubiously, before shrugging. The girl has certainly shown stranger abilities, Max thought as he placed a carton of orange juice into the bag. The sides never bulged, no matter how many cans or frozen pastries he dropped into it.

“That’s about everything,” Max reached behind him, his fingers passing over an empty plate. “Did you eat all the sandwiches already? I had one, you must have eaten … at least five.”

“What can I say? I’m a growing girl.”

Max narrowed his eyes but said nothing. He was smart enough not to fall into that trap.

He swung his legs over a stool next to the counter and began sipping a cup of black coffee. At least some things are still just right. The lack of control was beginning to eat at Max, slowly eroding his ability to stay calm.

All I wanted was to be left in peace. He could let the Chads of the world run things, as long as Max was allowed his own small corner. If he was just left alone and given time to uncover his grandfather’s secrets, Max knew he could stand on equal footing with anyone. But now …

I had to play the hero.

“Look,” he said, “I have to warn you —"

Max was interrupted by the sound of Nina’s stomach growling.

“Sorry,” she smiled and gave a slight shrug, “we’ve been on the run for days. I’ve barely had time to feed myself let alone …”

“Let alone what? And you said we.”

“That’s … I wasn’t alone originally, okay?”

“I’m sorry,” Max sighed. “I didn’t know.”

“It’s fine, what were you saying before? A warning?”

Max sighed, he obviously wasn’t going to get any answers out of her. He watched as Nina opened a jar of peanut butter and began smearing it on bread with a small stiletto. She seemed calm as if they hadn’t just jumped off a bridge and run through a sewer. Even after all that, she still smelled good.

“Right,” Max said, “the dungeon has … tests I need to complete before I can proceed further. So far, I haven’t been able to get past the first level, and each time I fail I end up back in the shed with a timer counting down the hours until I can try again.”

Nina’s smile turned into a wince as she tried a sip of coffee.

“This,” her face softened a bit, “well, it’s not bad. It’s no earl grey, but it’s not as unpleasant as I thought it would be.”

“You keep avoiding my questions.”

“You didn’t ask one,” she said, ignoring Max’s blank stare. “But look, what level are you?”

“Fourth.”

“That’s, wow, I knew you were single digits. Four,” she shook her head, “Listen Max I’m a level thirty-two Regent. Whatever little tests this dungeon has, I think I’ll be able to handle them. You can just stay behind me.”

“Thank you.”

“For what, protecting you? I think —”

“I wasn’t thanking you … I was. Just stop being so insufferable! I’ve risked my life, and now we have what, hours at the most? And then company agents kick down the door to my grandfather’s house, the house I was raised in, and you … you can’t even say thank you.”

Nina sighed, “Thank you, Max. Truly, but we don’t have time for this. My brother’s men could be here any moment.”

“Just who is your brother?”

“I’m Nina Reech. My brother is Victor Reech, the CEO of Reech Industries.”

“Wait you’re telling me that last year’s ‘Man of the Year’ is the one hunting us? CEO of the world’s third largest corporation and the governor of Northern California? That Victor Reech? And you’re a member of the Seven Families.”

“There haven’t been just seven controlling families since before the Breach, Max. The term is outdated, and a bit offensive. There are hundreds of recognized families now, but yes I’m a member of the Reech family.”

“And your own brother is willing to kill you? Aren’t you important or something?”

“Max, when we are safe I will tell you everything. I promise, but until then I just need to ask you to trust me for a little bit longer.”

“Fine,” Max said, “but I want you to tell me everything. I deserve that much.”

“Thank you.”

“Look, there’s just one more thing I need to grab. Can you wait here?”

Nina nodded and took another sip of her coffee. Max reached down and plucked a revolver off the counter and stuck it in the back of his jeans.

Directly outside the kitchen was a set of stairs that led to the second floor, where Max’s grandfather kept his study. The room was cramped and strewn with books and artifacts. Old maps covered the walls, with bits of yarn running between bright red tacks.

A small, round table was tucked into one of the back corners. A dagger with a clear quartz on the pommel rested on top of a red leather journal. Max picked up the dagger and carefully ran his fingers along the bindings of the book.

The Second Cataclysm: Notes and Observations. Max had read it a hundred times, had it nearly memorized by now, and yet he couldn’t imagine leaving it behind. It was his grandfather’s life work.

Max looked up as he heard a bang followed by the sound of yelling. There were two voices coming from the kitchen. Max tucked the dagger into his belt and grabbed the book, before charging down the stairs.

He entered the kitchen with his revolver drawn. Shattered pieces of ceramic cracked under his feet. Did they find us already?

The room was a mess. Much of the food Max had packed was now strewn about in small piles. The copper pots that usually hung above the marble counter had been knocked down, and shards of glass and pottery were scattered along the floor. A small bamboo plant had a split stalk, its roots, and soil exposed in the remains of a shattered antique vase.

“No,” Max yelled, quickly picking up the plant and finding a bowl to place it in. “What happened …”

“Who?” Max looked up to find Nina. She stood against the back wall of the kitchen, hiding a small boy behind her legs.

“Max, I can explain.”

***

“How’s Kat?” Casandra spoke to a small hologram that floated above her phone.

“She’s been in bed for hours,” the woman said. Even in miniature, Cassandra thought, I could stare at her all night.

“I wish I could have tucked her in. I’m sorry, Lilly. I really am. You know what it’s like …”

“I wish you didn’t have to work for that monster,” Lilly’s hologram said.

“I know, babe, but that’s just the way it is. I’ll be in late, don’t —”

“If you say ‘don’t wait up for me’ one more time I might not be here when you get back. You know I’ll wait. I love you Cas. We both do.”

“I love you, too. Kiss Kaitlin for me. Okay?”

Cassandra slid her phone closed and wiped a single tear away from her eye. Five more years, she thought, then I’ll be able to give them the life they deserve. That we all deserve.

“Ma’am,” a soldier stepped in front of Cassandra. His salute was as crisp as his uniform, but Casandra couldn’t help but notice a slight tremble in his arm.

“Report.”

“Ma’am, the target was seen entering a house in the Old French Quarter. The domicile was flagged as belonging to one Arthur Wentworth, a retired delver reported as a missing person by our secondary person of interest.”

“Good work, soldier. What’s your ETA?”

“A strike team is already in place and we are awaiting orders.”

“Good, tell them to stand down until I get there. No one goes in our out. Lethal force is authorized, prisoners are not. Understood?”

“Understood, Ma’am.”

Why is he standing there when he should be running?

“Move soldier! You have your orders.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” he yelled as he bolted down the narrow catwalk.

Cassandra sighed as she slid her phone open once more. “Call, Victor Reech.”

The phone rang a single time before the face of Lord Reech appeared on Cassandra’s display. “You had better not be calling me with bad news.”

“No sir, their location is surrounded. I have two Quads, my own included, ready to use the skip relay as soon as I end this call.”

“So, what’s the holdup. Bring it to me!”

“I’m just following your orders, Sir. You wanted an update once she was found.”

“Fine,” Lord Reech waved his hand. “No more delays. Bring me the package, eliminate the offspring. Succeed, and I’ll guarantee your daughter's placement in the Delver Trainee Program … fail and—”

“I won’t fail, my lord.”

“Good, now get to work.”

“And your … the target?”

“Eliminate the traitor. I can trust you with this, I hope?”

“Of course, my lord.” Cassandra bowed, keeping the phone held above her head.

The call had already ended by the time Cassandra looked back to the display. She typed in several commands, sending a group message to the classers under her command.

“Skip relay, ETA 30 sec. Current orders stand.”

Cassandra grabbed her staff from the small metal desk and began running down the catwalk. She might even get home early enough to curl up with Lilly before the ravishing redhead passed out. Perhaps tomorrow we can all go to the boardwalk?