--XXXIII--

MONDAY

7:59 AM

V4

Nothing to do with Nightingale, please, repeated the voice in my head. Nothing. Please. Thanks.

My head had the words on rewind and repeat as the sky- which just half an hour earlier indicated no perceptible incoming change- shifted slowly into a shade somewhere between turquoise blue and emerald green. Same was the color of the snow that was falling down as I wrapped my left hand in cotton bandages. I was told that thousands of years ago, the weather was "just a little" less unpredictable than what we have now, here in the Overwoods, but I wouldn't know.

Happy the raccoon nibbled on the biscuit I bought for him at Baker Joe's, the small fluffy thing still perched on my left shoulder. Jupiter Two seemed to almost lead the way. The adorable dog knew the way to the mines; that to me was a whole other mystery in itself.

Well... the dog knew where to go, right?

I started calculating distance. I was five blocks south of the Webwork, and maybe about thirty south of the entrance to Windcreek mines, when my phone rang.

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"Midnight," I said.

No answer. Except for some static.

Jupiter Two trotted ahead and Happy followed him; I stayed in place on the sidewalk.

Where was Malcolm? Where was Caleb?

Did Kaylee already get there?

Somehow I hoped and intended not to be second to the mines- though I knew I had to drop by the Webwork first. I already left Meadows a message.

"This is Midnight, Union of Stars," I said into the microphone, quickly glancing at the screen to see that I was in fact still connected to whoever this was. The top of the screen, which usually showed the phone number calling, read "UNKNOWN."

I could make out the tower of the Webwork from where I stood. I positioned my feet- right foot on the ground behind me, left poised on the asphalt in front of me, ready to run, and throw my half-turn takeoff.

"If you can hear me," I said, "I don't hear any response from you right now." I calculated my line. About sixteen or seventeen running steps before I throw myself onto my hands and back again onto my feet, my back to the correct direction, how high to lift up...

I continued.

"If this in any way U.S. related," I said, "and urgent, please reach James Tobler." I swung my free arm. "If this is one of my friends, I love you." Without further thought, I started running. "Either way, I wish you happiness."

Typically I said I wish you happiness, sunflowers, love, and light, but I had a lot on my mind.*

I didn't usually believe in hurting people. There was almost zero exception- but if this was the same person who had hurt Malcolm, killed the innocent pets that harmed not a single soul, ever, and now potentially could be holding someone I cared about in their grip, I might not choose to negotiate.

This threat wasn't exactly new. People I loved were in captivity before.

Silence. More static.

No time.

I disconnected, and then rebounded off the ground so hard it broke the ice inside of me.

--

*(Besides- that was said on my I'm-unavailable-right-now-please-leave-a-voicemail recording, so they'd hear it anyway if they called back.)