Cutting a path

I went through a window, turning my back on Lung, aware that I might be letting Byron and Rain burn.

I tapped the Wretch, and I tore through a wall.

The scholar. I'd been trying to track where the flames were and where the Pharmacist operated. I'd been dimly aware of Lung's favored position. He knew where she was and by operating within a certain area, he gave clues.

That had narrowed it down.

That he hadn't been willing to throw out fire and hit this side of the building, abandoning his pursuit of me?

The Wretch came back. I went through another wall.

Bystanders. They were huddled together. A guard had cuffs on, binding him to a cot.

"Where is she?" I asked.

I saw them exchange glances. The guard looked back, off to the side, more in the way I'd come.

I flew back through the hole in the wall, then through the open door to the hallway.

I cut a path through the staff building, no running footsteps or pants of breath to impede my hearing. I swallowed and choked back a cough. Then I flew more, silent. My hand slapped against a wall as I used it to stop myself sooner, so I could fly down a different hallway.

I heard her running footsteps.

***

Another thrall, an older guy. He was slow to react, slower with my aura blasting out. I shoved him against the wall on my way through the door, and slapped his tinker gun away. The Wretch demolished it in passing.

***

She'd gone downstairs, I realized.

My aura burned, pressuring her. "You've lost, if you've abandoned Lung. Does that mean you don't get paid? Or will Teacher be disappointed? How does this work, Pharmacist!?"

"Shut up!" I heard her.

I lunged to one side, and then the Wretch tore through the floor. I came down on top of her, catching her while she was bent over, shielding herself from the debris that was falling down on top of her. I shoved her into the ground, hard.

- Gleaming 9.11