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But I had a job to do, so instead I concentrated, focusing on the net and all of the ies, memories, and es didn’t change After a few ray seaweed, and stuffed the net and the card back intoI haven’t seen before"

"But Nike showed it to you, so it has to be ih I have no idea what I’ net e’re hundreds of miles away fro for inspiration - or some sort of clue For months, I’d only been able to see darkness whenever I’d gazed up at the ceiling inside the Library of Antiquities But a feeeks ago, Nike had shownfresco hidden beneath the shadows - one of reat battle Each of us had been holding a weapon or some other object, and those were the artifacts that Nike had asked me to find and keep out of the Reapers’ hands So far, though, Ran’s net had been the only thing I’d been able to identify and track down

But once again, shadows obscured the fresco No help there At least not tonight

"But it looks like the net in ht?" Oliver asked

I couldn’t draw to save my life, but Oliver had some mad art mojo so he’d happily sketched the fresco for s and descriptions His detailed sketch was also nestled insideis perfect, and this is definitely the right net," I said "It’s not your fault I’ deal is about it"

"Don’t worry, Gwen You’ll figure it out You always do I have faith in you"

"Well, it’s a good thing one of us does," I grurinned at my sarcasm

Since I’d struck out with the net, I shelved a few more books and dusted a couple more artifact cases, but h the an had left More than once, I foundwhere he was and what he was doing If he was okay If he was cold or hungry or scared or tired

If he was thinking about me

After about two ry at for ht I really needed to quit brooding and get on with killing Reapers Or at the very least, finish my homework for tomorrow

Easier said than done Because five h my myth-history book like I should have been, I found ain

Finally, I couldn’t stand it any longer, so I turned around onwith his phone

"So" I said in a light voice, trying not to let on how ian?"

Oliver froze He looked at reen eyes

"You’re texting with hiht now, aren’t you?"

Oliver winced He typed so else on his phone, then slid the device into his pants pocket He didn’t answer my question

"How is he? Where is he? Is he okay? Is he ever co back to the academy?"

They were the same questions I’d asked everyone a hundred tiht in htan needs some ti that happened But yes, to answer your question, he’s fine At least, that’s what he says when he texts me" He hesitated "If it helps at all, he asks about you all the time"

"And what do you tell hiain "That you miss him That we all et his ass back here as soon as he can"

"And what does he say to that?"

Oliver shrugged "Nothing Justnothing I don’t knohen he’s co back Not after what the Reapers did to him And especially not after what he did to you"

I let out a breath The thought that Logan ht never return was one I hadn’t let myself dwell on too much, but now, it was all I could think about, like a cold fist wrapped aroundme, from the inside out Suddenly, it was too small behind the checkout counter Too cramped, too cluttered, and much too crowded for me to catch my breath

Oliver noticed my stricken expression "I didn’t one"

But it was, and we both knew it I shook rabbed some books, and disappeared into the stacks before Oliver could see how

Thankfully, Oliver decided not to follow me I went back to a remote part of the stacks, the spot where Vic’s case had once been I stood there, eyes closed, books clutched toto breathe In and out, in and out, in and out, like ht me to do whenever I orried, nervous, scared, or upset

Worried? Check Upset? Definitely And once again, I felt that spurt of anger at Logan for not being here, for leaving

It took a few , and the pressure in h - cold, dull, and eone, or at least iced over for the moment, and I couldn’t even cry My tears seemed to be as frozen as the rest of h the rabbed When that was done, I wandered up the stairs to the second floor It was quieter here, and the only sound was the faint scuffle of et worried and co for me at some point, but for now, I enjoyed the silence - and the solitude