The large steel door slammed shut again with an echoing bang that cascaded throughout the room like a siren of impending doom. My mother whimpered as her nails dug into my upper arm. I pulled Silver back against me and took a deep breath as I tried to keep the thunderstorm of intrusive thoughts racing through my mind at bay.

That was too loud! What if a flatfoot heard? They’ll be here any second! They’ll kill us all!

“When do we go?” I bravely ended the silence.

Just get through the next ten seconds. You can do it.

I knew if I could count to ten and survive, I could count out another ten seconds, and ten after that. I could fake being strong that way. I could maintain.

“Ten minutes,” Fawke answered. “Let...

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