Who looked way too okay with current circumstances, all considered. She glared at Rain enough that it was probably impacting her combat performance, but I didn’t see desperation.

Had she distracted us enough?

She backed off, holding up a hand. I was reminded of how she’d looked when we’d encountered her at the Lyme center, after we’d destroyed all the guns.

She wasn’t normally one to back down or accept a graceful loss. Too bloodthirsty, too angry. But twice now, she’d backed away.

She felt confident. Confident she’d get her revenge.

“Can we talk?” Precipice asked. “I’d like to have a conversation.”

A firm shake of the head, a glare. One claw clenched into a fist, the other remained up, urging us to stop.

The clenched claw opened. She began tapping at the air. I could see faint squares appear and disappear in mid-air as the claws pierced them.

“Trap?” I asked, raising my voice to be sure the others heard.

Love Lost shook her head.

The typing continued.

“She’s spelling out words,” Precipice said “Five of—”

A synthesized voice that didn’t come from Love Lost, but seemed to radiate off of nearby power lines. “My team walks away. You get some of your people back. Decide now.”

“Hostages,” Chastity observed.

Love Lost nodded.

“Imp?” Candy asked, from atop the van.

Love Lost nodded.

“Chicken Little?”

Another nod.

“My brothers and sisters?”

A nod.

I was tense. I wasn’t sure I bought this.

“What’s the catch?” Precipice asked. “You put a lot of effort into this. You’ll give up your stakes? You’re not even asking for me to turn myself in?”

She didn’t respond.

“You don’t want Rain?” Chastity asked.

That, Love Lost responded to, turning her attention to Chastity. She shook her head. Again, she began typing.

We waited, tense.

“You’ll turn yourself in to our care another time.”

“What if we say no?”

No response. Only a glare.

“What if we say we won’t let your guys go?” Chastity asked.

Love Lost drew a claw across her throat. Then she waved a hand in one direction.

Was that the direction they were? An accidental hint?

I had a bad feeling, but I felt stuck.

“You need to call off March,” I said. “This thing she’s doing, it’s bad for all of us.”

Love Lost shook her head.

“It’s going to get kids killed. Thinkers we talked to seem to think it’s something along those lines.”

She went still.

I could see agitation in her hands, in her claws.

I saw it start to fade.

“Kids, Love Lost. Like your fucking daughter!” I shouted at her.

At that, I saw a flare of anger, enough I worried she’d do something reckless. Then—

Then doubt?

She stared down at the ground for a long moment, and nobody broke that spell.