“It’s like—it’s like a voice.” She swallows. “Oh God, maybe I’m losing my mind.”

And that’s when I realize what’s nagging at me isn’t the voice of my conscience or some other mental warning system gone haywire. It’s literally a voice in my head. One that doesn’t belong there and is desperately trying to be heard.

“You’re not crazy. I hear it, too.”

I focus on the shrill buzzing and, at that moment, it becomes perfectly clear, if still distant, like it’s coming through a tunnel.

Six! Marina! Six! Marina! Can you hear me?

Marina and I lock eyes. That little telepathic voice belongs to Ella. John mentioned that her Legacies had gotten stronger, but her telepathy must be seriously juiced up if she’s able to broadcast to both me and Marina like this. With every second that passes, her voice becomes clearer in my head.

That can only mean she’s getting closer.

“Ella!” I say these words out loud, not really used to communicating telepathically. “Where are you? What’s happ—?”

She cuts me off with a telepathic shout. What are you guys doing there? I told John! He was supposed to warn you.

“He did warn us,” Marina says. “We’re here to try to help you. And to protect the Sanctuary.”

NO! No no no. Ella sounds a little deranged and definitely panicked. He was supposed to warn you.

“Warn us about what?” I ask.

Warn you to run! Ella screams. You have to run!

RUN OR YOU DIE!

CHAPTER

FIFTEEN

MARINA AND I STARE AT EACH OTHER, BOTH OF us frozen.

That’s the thing about death prophecies delivered over telepathic group chat. It’s not exactly clear who they apply to. Is Ella talking about me? Marina? Both of us? Everyone here?

Hell, I don’t believe the future is set in stone. I don’t believe in fate. We’re not running now. Not without first trying to execute our plan. After a moment of uncertainty, I see a flare of determination light in Marina’s eyes.

“I’m not running,” she says.

“Me neither,” I reply, already regretting these last few seconds we spent standing still. “Go! Get the others into position!”

Marina runs towards Sarah and the others. I bolt in the opposite direction, across the landing strip, trying to chase down Lexa. She hears the commotion and turns around at the top of the ramp, an eyebrow raised at me.

“He’s early,” I tell her.

“Shit.”

“Fly low so they won’t see you. I’m not sure how close they are.”

CLOSE! Ella screams in my brain. I flinch at the loudness.

“You know I’ve got some weapons on this thing, right?” Lexa asks, pointing her thumb towards her ship. “I can help fight them off.”

“No. It’s our only escape plan. We can’t risk the ship getting damaged.”