They took refuge in an empty store with no glass front. He led her to the back wall where he grabbed a couple of water bottles. He handed one to her.
“Wait. You’re here. They’re here. I don’t believe in coincidence.” She opened her bottle and drank the whole thing. He handed her another one.
“Like I said, this is what we do.”
“You knew this would happen? And you didn’t warn anyone?” Her voice rose.
He used both hands in a motion for her to quiet down. “I didn’t know this exact scenario would happen. We detected a boundary instability, and they sent me to investigate.”
“A what now?” Alex was smart but this was beyond her.
He waved a hand. “Some sciencey stuff. I don’t understand it that much. Just enough to misdirect the locals if need be.” He took a sip from his water. “When I got here, I get a call about there being two instead of the one we originally thought there would be. Well, three actually if you count the one in the water.”
Alex rubbed her face spreading blood across her forehead. “How do these things usually go?”
“Not well at all.”
