There weren’t many places around the base of the Epoch Clock, and the rest of the stage was empty aside from the Prime Meridian, the other two meridians, and Papá. But the killer had to be somewhere nearby.
Five minutes to save him.
Would he wait until exactly one? There was nothing to stop him from killing Papá early and escaping. Then I’d lose Papá and our lead.
“Maybe you need to sit down again.” Desmarc put a hand on the small of my back, but I shook him off.
“I don’t feel like sitting.” The banners hanging above each podium snapped in the wind with a loud crack as if demanding attention. I glanced up and scanned the surrounding balconies. Many of the shops and houses in the Upper Chimes were multistory, with balconies jutting out at uneven angles. My gaze combed through the potted plants, hanging gardens, and mechanical contraptions decorating the iron railings and curling designs, searching for danger.
A whisper started from the back of the crowds and worked its way to the front like a roll of thunder as the minute hand shifted again.
Four minutes to go.
“Did you hear there was a murder?”
“Not too far from here.”
“Serial killer on the loose and the Blue Capes are doing nothing to protect us.”
With each comment, tension grew thicker among the assembly, trying to smother us. The comments were like a stone thrown into a pond as fear rippled among the spectators. And the sense of expectancy and tension for the debate morphed into something darker. More violent.
But I couldn’t waste time on the murder that had already happened. All I could focus on was preventing the next one.
Three minutes left.
A scream cut through the rising intensity and pandemonium broke out. Someone bumped into me and knocked me to the ground. My knee and hand smarted from the impact, and I wasn’t sure if I could pick myself up again with how tired I was, but Desmarc pulled me back to my feet and tucked me into his side.
The crowd buzzed like an engine roaring to life.
“Silence,” Prime Meridian Emerson said after a Blue Cape whispered something in his ear.
Shouts and cries rumbled through the air, mixing with the stampede of pounding feet that sounded like a primal drumbeat.
Over the remaining heads between us, I met Papá’s worried gaze. But he was worried for me, not himself. He had no idea what was coming.
I scanned the faces around me again, searching for the killer’s scruffy pair of coveralls and rough black gloves. With the crush of people surging like the rolling sea, it was difficult to make out anything.
Two minutes.
“SILENCE.” Prime Meridian Emerson next shout cut through the panic like a wave of calm.
Slowly, the panicked murmurs quieted, and the throng of people stilled.
“It would appear we’ve all heard what occurred in the Ninth Chime, but panic isn’t the answer.”
A man leaning against the railing of a balcony leading to the Eleventh Chime caught my eye. More specifically, his gray coveralls caught my eye. From where he stood, he had the perfect vantage point of the stage.
The sight of him flooded me with one last burst of adrenaline, pushing away the pain and exhaustion.
“No!” I cried out and flung myself from the protection of Desmarc’s arms. There was no way I’d make it to the man in time. I had to get to Papá. I lifted my skirt and darted up the steps to the stage.
“What’s the meaning of this?” Prime Meridian Emerson stared at me with narrowed eyes.
I ran past him and shoved Meridian Lambkins out of the way as an all-too-familiar buzzing filled the air.
Memories of the woman collapsing against the wall with crimson seeping across her chest filled my head. Stealing my breath. Making each step too slow.
I jumped into Papá, trying to knock him back.
He fell back a few steps, then steadied us. “Kyra, what are you—?”
I glanced over Papá’s shoulder and locked eyes with the murderer. My heart slammed against my ribs, and I shoved against Papá again. “Move!”
The man lifted his strange weapon, and my stomach clenched in dread.
Hiram jumped onto the balcony, knocking into the man.
The podium between Papá’s and Meridian Lambkin burst into flame.
I covered my head with my hands, but a sharp chunk of metal hit the side of my face with a flash of pain.
“Kyra!” Papá reached for me, but I twisted from his grasp and scanned for the killer again. My head swam from the pain and, for a moment, my vision blurred, then cleared to reveal Hiram and the killer pressed against the metal railing. A potted plant fell to the ground as Hiram tipped dangerously over the ledge before shoving the other man off. The assassin turned his weapon on Hiram as the men grappled for control.
“Hiram!” I screamed his name as a wave of dizziness hit me. The edges of my vision turned black. It was just like when I Slipped, except this was real. The blood was real. The pain was real. All of it was real.
My heart leapt to my throat, pounding in time with the pain pulsing in my cheek and the ache in my head. Blood dripped from between my fingers—my blood.
Blue Capes rushed onto the stage, forcing each of the meridians to take cover.
“But that’s my daughter—” Papá argued behind me.
A Blue Cape approached me too, one I vaguely recognized from the station.
“Give me a minute,” I told him before he could drag me away too.
With a shaking hand, I pulled a knife from my sheath and made my way to the edge of the stage. Inhaling slowly, I did my best to push away the panicked shouts of the spectators, thumping of their footsteps that sounded like the anxious heartbeat of the city, and the way my vision swam in and out of focus. This knife wasn’t weighted correctly to be used as a throwing knife and I was in no shape to be doing this, but I couldn’t sit by and let Hiram get hurt.
I waited a moment until the killer was between Hiram and me, then did my best to shove the pain aside for a moment and adjust for the balance differences in the knife. I pulled my arm back and released.
It glinted in the sun as it sailed through the air, then the point buried itself in the man’s arm. I’d been aiming for his shoulder, but close enough.
More black crept in along the edge of my vision, and I swayed on my feet.
Papá ran over and caught me. “Kyra! Kyra, look at me.”
I turned my head, and the blackness descended.