Experiment Zero

33. Dark Pasts and Zero's Confession

"Yes." I agree, gesturing for him to continue.

"But what you didn't know is she's also a Darkling. Half of one, in fact. The other half is Lightling. We call these very rare people, Inae, or their other easily used common name, Halfling."

My brain processes the new information, storing it away for future use. Suddenly, a memory comes up, of us in the cave, and me asking Becky to shift. I thought her downright refusal was suspicious, but thought nothing else of it. What if she refused because she can't shift? What if shifting is a Lightling ability Halfings can't do?

My urge to see Becky grows, but I still have a few more questions left.

"You said Becky knows her way around here. Why? Did she used to live in Highclere?"

Lager sighs, his eyes drifting off as if recalling a memory.

"Yes. Becky did use to live here, up until a few weeks ago when she ran. Even though I know the rest of the details, I think it would be best if she tells you herself."

I nod, agreeing. Besides, who knows what Becky would do if she finds out he gave away her past and secrets? Probably bury us all six feet underground.

"Now." I say, looking at both Zero and Lager. "I'm going after Becky, but I expect you two won't rip each other's throats out while I'm gone. When I come back, were figuring the rest of all this out."

"Or," Lager says, while Zero frowns, neither of them seeming to like the idea of me leaving. "You could stay here and charm me with more of your company."

Zero snarls, turning on his heel to impale Lager with his glare.

"Stop it." I snap, making both of them flinch. "I'm going now, and so help me if either of you are injured when I get back you'll have worse to deal with than Becky "

With that final threat hanging in the air, I storm down the aisle and out into the hall only to almost collide with a tiny figure.

"Kay!" I exclaim, placing my hands gently on her shoulders to steady both her and I. "What are you doing here?"

She starts to use sign language, which I had unfortunately never bothered to learn, something I was regretting now as I watch her hands move through the air in complicated signals. She sees the confusion on my face and sighs, waving her hands as if to say 'forget about it'.

"Do you know where Becky is? The girl with black hair?"

Kay thinks for a moment, before her eyes light up in memory. She nods.

"Great! Can you lead me there?"

She nods again before taking off down the hall on her quick agile feet. Even though she's only walking, she moves quickly and gracefully and I find it hard to keep up. Grace was a skill I never really mastered fully.

She leads me down the hall Sylvia and I walked down until we come to a staircase. She leads me up the spiralling stairs until we're greeted by glass doors that lead to a huge balcony overlooking the jungle and the setting sun on the horizon, tainting the sky Orange.

The balcony is littered with potted plants and tables and chairs, a relaxing area, yet it's completely vacated, except for two figures which stand at the railing.

My mouth falls open because Becky stands looking at Sunset, hands on the railing, and Max stands so close to her they're nearly hip and hip.

That's not what shocks me though.

The thing that shocks me the most is Max's left hand, resting on Becky's right one, his long fingers cupping her tiny ones. I step closer to the glass door, trying to see better.