Walker was still in the Hall of Records, tracing the patterns in the record, oblivious.
“Sonofabitch.” Jeremy stomped away for a moment. “If there’s someone back there,” he called, over the sound of a door swinging open, “you’re gonna be sorry. You picked the wrong house.”
The ringing thunk of something heavy and metal dinging against the doorjamb echoed down the hall. A crowbar? A baseball bat?
Keira looked at the protected little room in the Hall of Records. There was no time to make a good decision. Jeremy would be swinging something heavy at her head in a matter of seconds. She wished she’d had more practice going Darkside on her own, but it was too late for that now. Crossing over was the only way she could save herself.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
KEIRA SQUEEZED HER EYES shut and focused on Walker. She felt for the hard floor of the Hall of Records, the scratching sound of the needle against the record.
The sensation of being squeezed and something cold and viscous sliding over her skin were immediately followed by Walker’s strangled cry of surprise.
Keira sagged against the table, gripping its smooth edge.
“Oh, shit.” Walker stared through the wall behind Keira and she knew that he could see Jeremy, baseball bat and all, back in her world. Walker looked at her. “I didn’t think about you getting caught. I didn’t even notice that you’d gone inside a house.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry, Keira. I was so wrapped up in the crap with Smith that I didn’t realize—”
“It’s okay,” she said. Her voice shook and she cleared her throat. The noise shivered against the locked cases and she winced. It sounded so loud in the tiny room.
He picked up the record and slid it into its protective sleeve, putting it back on the shelf. Keira didn’t like the rising note of alarm in his voice. “We have to get out of here. Legal studies is only two rooms over. If we can make it that far, then we can get out of Darkside without running into Jeremy’s bat.” He crammed the needle back into its box and left it on the table.
His hands were shaking.
The bottom dropped out of her stomach. Keira had never seen anything make Walker’s hand shake.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I didn’t know what else to—”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” He stepped in close, catching her face between his hands. “It’s not your fault. Coming here was better than getting whacked with a blunt object.”
He didn’t add I think, but Keira could see it in his eyes.
Walker leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. The heat of his skin melted her knees and she swayed into him, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her mouth against his.
Walker slid his hands up her arms, gently breaking her hold on him.
“We can’t,” he whispered. “There’s no time. Oh, God.” He dropped another quick kiss onto her mouth, catching her lower lip gently between his teeth. “We have to go. Now.” He spun her so that she was facing the door and then he carefully swept it aside. His shoulders relaxed a fraction of an inch as the sight of the empty vestibule came into view.
He motioned for Keira to follow him. “This way,” he whispered, heading right.
Keira stepped around the corner in time to see Smith pull Walker out of view of the main hall.
“They’re coming. Dozens of them. You have to go now,” Smith panted. Walker looked over at Keira and Smith followed his gaze. They both looked scared, but Smith’s eyes glittered with shock. She froze.
“Oh, shit! Keira.” Smith looked from her back to Walker. “So she really is the Experimental?”
Walker nodded.
“And you brought her here?” Smith gaped. “Have you lost your mind? You have to get her out of here, Walker.” Sweat glistened on his pale forehead, making him look ill. “The guards, they—”
From across the Hall, a shout rent the air like a bullet.
“It’s the Experimental! Hey! You—Sorter! Stop them!”
Keira looked at Walker, whose face filled with terror.
“Cross!” He whispered.
She tried, but she was so flustered that she could barely remember what her piano looked like, much less Jeremy’s spare room.
She shook her head mutely.
Then you need to run. Now! he mouthed.
She nodded, sprinting off toward the main part of the Hall.
“Sorter!” the guards called. Smith’s head snapped up. “Get them!”
Smith grabbed Walker halfheartedly, and a quick glance over her shoulder confirmed for Keira that it was a ploy. With a roar, Walker tackled him, sending Smith sprawling against the floor.