Chapter 16: Floor Four

"Six o'clock," Wes said aloud, and sat up in the straw.

"I can count," Sera said. "Wes, I'd like to be calm about this, and I can't."

"You don't have to be."

He dressed fast.

Tamsin had her boots on before he did, and Gravel was already at the loft door, whining.

"Where?" Tamsin said.

"The temple. I need the altar."

They ran the causeway with the sun climbing over the marsh, and the sign on the gate watched them go.

At the altar, Sera's light flickered awake.

"The rehab program has a family menu," she said. "Locke built it for show. A patient can send one voice message to a contact from inside the game."

"I have one contact."

"I know. Your partner."

The menu opened in front of him as a pale square of text.

SEND A MESSAGE TO A LOVED ONE.

Wes said the words slowly, into the air.

"It's me. I'm on the fourth floor. Please come. Please don't tell anyone you're coming."

The square said SENT, and nothing else happened.

They waited.

Tamsin took his hand and held it, and he did not let go.

Her fingers were rough and warm, and he found himself counting the freckles on her knuckles to keep from counting minutes.

At last the air over the altar gave a soft chime.

A voice came out of the empty temple, small and tinny, a voice from a phone speaker.

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