A nurse walks by pushing a cart. Arrow and I stop talking instantly, like our words can be seen in the air. When she passes, I breathe again. My brain keeps running in circles around one truth. Someone’s inside.
Or someone’s close enough to touch Maddox from the outside. Either way, the net is tightening.
I turn and walk back toward Salem’s room.
Inside, she’s still sitting on the bed, but she looks slightly less hollow with Juno’s hands on her shoulders and Lark’s water bottle pressed into her palm. River is wiping her eyes quickly like she hates being caught crying. Gage is leaning in the doorway, arms folded, protective as a wall.
Salem’s gaze snaps to me as soon as I enter. Her expression softens at the sight of me. Not weak. Never weak. Just… relieved.
It hits me so hard it makes my throat burn. I cross the room and crouch in front of her, placing my hands on her knees gently. “Hey.”
Salem’s fingers curl around my wrist. “Hey.” Her voice is steady, but I can hear the tremor beneath it. The aftershock.
I glance at Juno and the others. “Give us a minute.”
Nobody argues.
Juno squeezes Salem’s shoulder and steps out first, motioning the others with her. River hesitates, eyes lingering on Salem like she wants to wrap her in bubble wrap, but Gage guides her out. Lark and Knight follow, Lark giving Salem a small nod that says she’s here whenever Salem needs her.
The door clicks shut, and the room quiets except for the hum of the ventilation and the distant murmur of the hospital outside.
Salem looks at me with eyes that have seen too much in too little time. “You look wrecked,” she says softly.
I give a humorless smile. “I feel worse than I look.”
Her gaze flicks to the bruise on her cheek, then back to my eyes. “I’m okay.”
I swallow, my chest tight. “You shouldn’t have to be okay after that.”
Salem’s mouth tightens. “But I am.”
I nod, because fighting her strength is pointless. It’s part of her. It’s why I fell so hard. I squeeze her knees gently. “We’re heading back to HQ.”
She nods. “My father.”
“He’s being stabilized,” I say carefully. “They’re keeping him here for now. He’s going to be guarded.”
Salem’s throat works. “He told me… he told me something else before they moved him.”
My stomach tightens. “I know.”
Her eyes sharpen. “Arrow knows?”
I nod. “Arrow called Dean. Maddox systems went down. Someone hacked them.”
Salem goes still, her face paling. “So it’s true.”
“It’s possible,” I say. “But we don’t panic. We get smart.”
Salem stares at her hands for a moment, then lifts her gaze back to me. Her eyes are glossy but fierce. “I was so scared.” The words are small, and they slice straight through me.
I move closer and press my forehead to hers, careful of her bruise. “I know.”
Her breath shudders. “I thought… I thought I was never getting out.”
My throat burns. “You’re here.”
She grips my wrist harder. “You came in.”