"I'm fine." She pulled on the coat to hide the blood and the damage to her shirt. They bolted out of the alley and down the next street as several police came running toward them. "Where is it?" one yelled at her.

She pointed, knowing that her breathless answer would sound like someone who had run in terror. "That way."

The police ran past, and Kira yanked Jason down a side street. She felt an overwhelming urge to stop and throw up but somehow managed to keep running. She led Jason across several more streets until she spotted a large building. "A hotel. Looks like a nice one. That's what we need."

She stopped outside of the hotel, trying to control her breathing. "Jason, you go in by yourself. Ask for a room for just you. A room for one. There's no way they would rent a room to both of us at our ages. I'll wait until everyone is paying attention to you and then I'll walk in like I already have a room and go up to the second floor to wait for you."

He shook his head. "They're going to ask for my multi-ID."

"Your what? You've got money! That's all they'll care about. Hurry! But don't let them think you're hurrying!"

Jason nodded, turned, and walked into the hotel.

While she was waiting, a man came running across the street and into the hotel.

Kira took another breath, and setting her face into the calmest lines she could manage followed the man.

Jason was at the desk, but most of the attention was on the man who had just run inside.

"—dragon! In the city!" he was saying excitedly. "You should have seen it!"

Unnoticed, Kira kept walking and went up to the second floor, waiting with jangling nerves and hoping no one from the hotel would come by and ask what she was doing.

She heard footsteps on the stairs.

Jason came up, grinning with relief. "The room's on this floor."

"Where?" Kira tugged him to the door. Jason fumbled with the key as if he had never used one before, so she grabbed it, yanked open the door, and dashed to the bathroom. She barely made it to the toilet before finally throwing up.