The sky above the city vibrated like a string pulled too taut.
Between the remnants of the gold-blue network floated silver particles – splinters of light that moved as if they had consciousness. No wind, no sound, but the feeling of being watched hung over everything.
Alaric stood on the edge of a collapsed building, looking up. The silver shimmer was no coincidence. It pulsated with the rhythm of a heart – and this heart beat in the same tempo as Lina's.
Behind him, he heard footsteps.
"You felt it too," said Rhea, without looking at him.
"Yes."
"It's not hostile. Not yet."
"Then what is it?"
Rhea looked to the sky. "A birth. Or a mirror. I'm not sure which scares me more."
Alaric narrowed his eyes. "Where is she?"
"Below, at the old Control Center. Eiko is trying to measure the signal, but it's moving too quickly. Every time we locate it, it jumps further."
"Or it's reacting to her," he muttered.
"You can bet on that."
He turned and ran.
