Architect (Last Resistance Book 3) by Hayley Stone

Author:Hayley Stone [Stone, Hayley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2020-12-07T22:00:00+00:00

HANNA

DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA

They reach the Visitor Center in the skinny hour of dawn when the veil between the past and present feels thin, the coming day full of possibility. The last time Hanna was here, years ago, it was the middle of the day. Rankin was with her. They were just starting to get serious, and she was flirting by doing silly voices for all the stuffed displays of animals while they searched for electronics equipment for McKinley. He liked the one she did for the moose best.

That memory stings, so bright and clear, like unexpectedly catching a glare from the sun. She tries to hold on to these memories like she would a baby bird—carefully, gently. Tries not to let herself be hurt by them, but sometimes they still tear at her with tiny, raptor-sharp talons.

It’s still dark, the sky hanging so low she feels she could pluck out each winking star like eyes. Zelda instructs her and Dopey to wait beside the statue of a lazing grizzly while she scouts out the main building for signs of occupation. It’s not wildlife they have to worry about mostly, but soldiers. If they’re caught, they’ll be dragged back to McKinley—if they’re not simply judged traitors and shot on sight.

Zelda returns minutes later, satisfied with whatever she’s found, or preferably, not found.

“Keep your guard up.” She makes her arm into an invisible shield rather than using actual ASL. She then shines the flashlight against her face like she’s telling a spooky story and speaks more slowly so Hanna can read her lips, which almost makes Hanna roll her eyes. They really need to work on Zelda’s signing. It’d be so much safer not to have to speak aloud, and easier on Hanna too, not having to guess every few words when Zelda mumbles. “There’s signs of someone living here.”

“Recent?” Hanna asks in what she hopes is a whisper.

“I found a sleeping bag that was still warm, so yeah. Pretty damn recent, I’d say. Whoever it was must have left in a hurry. Maybe they heard us. I don’t know, but I don’t like it.”

“One of ours?” Hanna signs along with speaking for Zelda’s benefit. “From McKinley?”

Zelda kicks aside some fallen branches on her way to the door. Between trees sagging under the weight of snow and overturned benches, the patio area doesn’t look kept to Hanna, but maybe the squatter didn’t want anyone to know they were here. Which also begs the question, why? “I doubt it. No good reason for them to stoop on our porch instead of just walking up to the door and knocking.”

“Maybe they want to avoid the New Soviets too.”

“Let’s hope that’s all it is.”

The cold follows them inside the main building, their breaths going ahead like gray ghosts, formless silhouettes against the shadow. Dopey moves sluggishly behind them, but when she points it out Zelda insists that it’s fine. Just the machine’s hydraulic systems struggling in the chill. Hanna’s not convinced. Dopey took a

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