The floor kept trembling under Zza's feet like the whole city was trying to shake her off its skin. She clutched Buzz against her chest, his body slack and warm in a frightening way, his head tucked under her chin. His wings dragged behind them, occasionally tapping the ground like a slow heartbeat.
She forced her legs to move.
Every step felt like walking through wet cement mixed with glass.
Creatures spilled into the hall in clumsy waves. Their limbs clicked as they crawled over each other, gold glowing in the cracks of their bodies. Some looked unfinished, like the hive built them in a hurry. Some looked too finished, like they had been waiting for this moment.
Zza swallowed the rising panic.
Breath in.
Keep going.
Don't drop him.
"Buzz, come on," she whispered into his ear, voice shaking. "Give me something. Blink. Flutter a wing. Curse at me. Anything."
His body didn't answer.
