Chapter 124.
When they’re all back inside the lightning-fast, gold-plated elevator, Alek tells them where they’re going. And who they’re going to see.
“Seriously?” Wyatt asks. “You’re sure about this?”
“I’m sure,” Alek says. “This needs to get done.”
The elevator doors open. Then they’re walking back down a long and familiar corridor.
Alek is the one to open the door after Wyatt has pointed the right one out to her.
Ant Tipton is where Wyatt had left him, lying in the corner of the room, half-conscious but breathing, shallowly.
The only light in the room comes from the corridor with the door cracked open.
It’s enough for them to see that Tipton’s black shirt is loosely wrapped around his right hand, his body is dripping with sweat, his eyes distant, only half present.
Alek kneels down next to him, takes one of his hands, and softly says, “Tipton.”
He doesn’t stir at first.
She squeezes his hand harder, says his name even louder.
His eyes flutter and then open wide—wild, haunted, still trapped in whatever fire the room fed him.
As soon as he does, they can see the terror in them. He’s waking from a nightmare but somehow still in the middle of it. They understand. They were in the same place today, with their own nightmares.
“Tipton!” Alek snaps, as a way of focusing him. Bringing him back.
Tipton cries out, anyway, jerks his hand away from hers.
“It’s all right,” she says. “It’s us.”
Tipton’s voice is sandpaper. “How . . . ?”
He points at Wyatt like it costs him strength. “You . . . left me.”
Wyatt doesn’t flinch. “You said it.”
Tipton’s eyes flicker. Shame flashes there—fast.
Alek watches him. Really watches him.
Then Tipton, his eyes wild, is the one shouting:
“I have to get out of here!”
He tries to stand, but doesn’t have the strength, collapsing into a sad heap.
His head snaps against the wall.
“We’re not here to punish you,” she says.
“Why are you here?” he rasps.
Alek doesn’t hesitate.
“Get up. You’re not done,” she says.
Tipton is fully awake now, if not fully alert. He still appears disoriented. Or delirious.
“After everything? After . . . Wyatt?” His voice trails off.
“Wyatt is here,” Alek says. “And the fact is, we’re going to need warriors like you.” She shrugs. “Whether we’re totally comfortable with that or not. Or with you. I believe you won’t cross the line if you don’t have a knife at your throat making you do it.”
Hannah looks at Wyatt, her eyes apologizing, “I read your file. She’s safe.”
Tipton looks at her. Recognizes the gesture. All that rage, all that posture—gone for a second. He swallows hard. His hand goes to the chain at his neck like he needs air.
“What are you talking about?” Wyatt asks her.
“Later,” Hannah replies.
“He did try to kill me,” Wyatt says.
“But he didn’t,” Jimmy says to Wyatt. “Despite what was at stake.”
“Okay, someone, catch me up,” Wyatt says.
Jack and Zhi reach down and help Tipton to his feet, still having to prop him up once they do.
Tipton swallows hard. His eyes are wet and furious at the same time.
“I thought I was going to die in here,” he says.
Alek nods. “So did we.”
She is tall enough to look Tipton in the eyes. “You want a way to make this mean something?” she asks. “You want a way to pay it back?”
Tipton’s jaw clenches. He nods once.
Alek leans in slightly.
“Then fight with us,” she says. “Show us who I believe you are when you’re free from their leash.”
Tipton’s breath shudders.
“Understood,” he says.
In that moment, after everything, they see the last scraps of the old Tipton:
“Just give me the mission.”