The inside of the tower was a nightmare of rusted gears, ticking pendulums, and shadows.
Silas moved like liquid ink, disabling the tripwires on the stairs. Jasper counted the intervals of the grinding gears to find the safe path. Vali took point, sniffing for ambushes.
But Arjun led the charge. The Tiger Cub wasn't bouncing anymore. His stripes were glowing with a faint, pulsing golden light.
They burst through the heavy iron doors at the top of the tower.
The room was vast, dominated by the massive clock face. Rain lashed against the glass.
In the center of the room, inside a suspended iron cage, were the hostages.
Clover was huddled in the corner, holding her long ears, trembling.
Standing in front of her, clutching the bars with small, dirty hands, was Finn.
