And he was so fast! Quick. Like the ax was a living thing. Big as Yosh was, he’d been slow. Even when the man used a broomstick, Felix had been able to duck it, dodge, and streak his way inside to slash at Yosh’s leg. Right above the kneecap. That’s where the tendons were. Cut them, and a grownup fell in a pile. Couldn’t get up again.

“If only they didn’t plead so,” Felix said as he headed for the hall. As strong as he was, he should be able to chop Michaela’s door open.

He kept his grip on Sheena’s hand, rubbing his fingers around on her hers, feeling the slick warmth in her palms. She understood that getting Michaela next was important. And being together like this kept that tingle pulsing through their bodies.

They made it past Mikoru’s corpse where the algae now flowed out of the tube hatch from the Underwater Bay. It was Singing loudly now, humming, thrumming, and melodic. Strands of slowly moving blue-green tentacles were winding around Mikoru, slipping into rents in her clothing to run along her skin. One particularly thick one had wound its way across her chest and worked its way into Mikoru’s mouth. Funny how it could push her jaw way back and how it enlarged the woman’s throat as it grew down into her chest.

Felix stopped long enough to let Sheena squat and place her hand atop the thick green tentacle. For a second Sheena’s slender fingers rested on the surface and then sank in. Her eyes went vacant, her slack mouth opening enough that Felix could see her tongue. Then Sheena blinked, seemed to come back to herself.

“What did it say?” Felix asked.

“Felicity is coming.” Sheena told him as she pulled her hand from the algae.

A second later, through the warmth in Sheena’s hand, Felix could hear the Song, knew it was true.

What a wonderful thing, to just know stuff by touching someone. It was a lot better way to be smart than just telling each other things. Being part of the Voice meant that Felix would never be alone again. Glancing at Sheena, he shared her feelings of comfort. She studied him thoughtfully, stepped close, and hugged him. That electric tingle shot through him, through her. In unison, they gasped. You and me will be together like this forever.

His hand pulsed warmly against hers.

Her gaze remained locked with his, as she said, “We never have to be apart again. Ever. It’s just us. We’re the Song.”