“It’s over, William. Whether we release the cure or the government does makes no difference.”

“What’s in the cure?”

Yuri was silent.

“It’s one of the Looking Glass components, isn’t it?”

“Yes.”

Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Peyton watched her brother walk closer. She knew instantly that he had changed. The Andrew Shaw she had known was a kindhearted person, dedicated to helping people. Now his face was hard, almost possessed. What’s happened to him?

Her heart broke at seeing her brother—her hero—in such a state, involved in this.

He looked her in the eyes and spoke without emotion. “She’s right, Peyton. There is more going on here than you realize. I’ll explain everything to you—”

“You’ll never explain this to me.”

“Don’t judge the method until you know the reason. This is a pandemic to end all others. The final pandemic. The world will be safe soon. It’s a small price to pay.”

At that moment, Andrew saw Charlotte. The sight of her took him aback. His voice changed, softened.

“What are you doing here?”

Charlotte swallowed. “Peyton and Desmond came to my relief camp in Australia looking for answers.”

Andrew looked concerned now. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“What have you done, Andrew?”

“What had to be done.”

“You sent me the supplies, didn’t you?”

He nodded.

“It was you I was writing to. You were writing back all those years.” Charlotte’s voice cracked. “I never forgot about you. Or stopped caring.”

Andrew stood still for a moment. Peyton could see a struggle within him.

“I knew your work was important to you,” he said. “I wanted to see you happy.”

Charlotte stepped closer to him. “If you still do, you’ll stop whatever’s happening here.”

“The Looking Glass—”

“Can’t be worth what you’ve done.”

Andrew took a step back, as if withdrawing from the pull the woman was exerting on him. “None of you understand.” He stared at Peyton. “The Looking Glass is the only hope. For all of us.”

Chapter 124

Chapter 124

The smoke from the server room drifted through the hole in the wall, through the corridor, and snaked into the office, its wisps wrapping around Desmond, Conner, and Avery like a preternatural demon trying to wrench their souls from their bodies. The wind pulled the smoke through the room, around Desmond and Avery and past them, out the broken windows.

Conner held his arms out to block the soldiers stepping forward on each side of him. His eyes locked on his older brother, the man who had rescued him from an impoverished, drug-addled life and given him purpose—and hope. Now Desmond threatened to take it all away, as if it had been a prize dangled before him only to be ripped away.

“Please, Des. Don’t do this. Just give me the tablet Avery’s holding—I promise I won’t harm her.”