“Ehn, sun’s bad for my complexion,” Wick answered. He lifted his face towards the sky with his eyes closed, letting the rain splash over it for effect.
“Obviously haven’t found anything good for your complexion yet.”
“It’s just ahead,” Elan said from the front of the group. He pointed at a squat building. There was a pair of tall iron-barred fences around it, one inside the other, both with circular razor wire along the top. It looked exactly like a prison. As they got closer, someone darted out of the main entrance and opened the gates. “Wait here a second,” Elan said. “I want to make sure there are no surprises.”
The group stopped a few feet away while Elan jogged to meet the gatekeeper. An electric cry cut through the rain, distant but unmistakable – the first of the Weir.
“Cutting it close,” the gatekeeper said as Elan moved in.
“Lil make it back?” Elan asked.
The gatekeeper nodded. “About ten minutes ago. She told us you were bringing guests.”
“Did she explain? About the two?”
“She explained. Not sure I believe it.”
“You will.” Elan turned back and motioned to the others. As the group started towards the building, Swoop caught Cass’s arm – just inside her elbow – and leaned in close.
“Don’t let your guard down,” he whispered forcefully. “We don’t know these people. They’re just as likely to tear you apart as they are to accept your help. Keep close to Mouse.”
He didn’t wait for a response. Swoop went through the gate with a sharp nod to the gatekeeper. As soon as he was through, Swoop started scanning the place.
Cass had wanted to believe he’d been unnecessarily concerned before. Now, standing just outside the gate, she understood what he’d been trying to tell her back at the village. Once they passed through, they’d be trapped inside, and they didn’t really know how they’d be received. She’d said it was worth the risk. Looking at what she’d led them into, though, made Cass wonder. If things went bad… well, if things went bad, she’d just have to make sure they only went bad for the people inside, no matter who they might’ve been once.
“Mama?” Wren asked. He was standing a little ahead of her, about to go through the gate.
Cass took a deep breath. “Coming.”
SEVENTEEN
When they got inside the building, Wren’s first impression was that the walls were too close and too… heavy. It was almost like he could feel the weight of them bearing down on him, like they were squeezing the air tighter somehow. The entryway was darker than he’d been expecting, and warmer. There was a thickness to the air, and it had a faintly unpleasant smell, though Wren couldn’t place it. There were few windows, and those were high and narrow slots, reinforced by steel grating.
They were all standing in an open room without furniture, waiting, as they’d been asked to do. Well, all except for Swoop and Wick, who had dropped their gear off and then insisted on going back out to walk the grounds. Neither of them liked to be anywhere without having a solid idea of the layout. Wren didn’t know how they could keep at it. It seemed like it’d been days since any of them had gotten any real sleep.
As for him, he felt like he could fall asleep standing up if they had to wait too much longer. The idea of standing up any longer was pretty hard to face, though, too. Wren couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so completely wiped out. Mentally, physically, emotionally. He just felt totally empty. It was a strange, vibrating hollowness; like he was really nervous and maybe wanted to cry, except he’d already cried so much Wren didn’t feel like he had any tears left.
Lil finally reappeared in the corridor that led off from the entry room.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” she said. “I just wanted to make sure everyone was aware of the situation. We have several rooms prepared for you. If you’ll follow me?”
The group gathered their packs up off the floor, and Lil led them back down the corridor. They passed a few doors on either side, though most were closed. One was cracked open slightly, and Wren thought he caught a glimpse of someone peeking out as they went by. They reached an intersecting hall with branches leading left and right.
There were sounds of activity coming from the left, and a few people stood further down that direction watching them, but Lil led them off to the right. This hall was shorter and there was a cluster of six rooms at the far end, three to a side.
“We’ll put you in here, if some of you don’t mind sharing,” Lil said. “We have more space back down the other way, but I thought you’d prefer to all be together.”