Chapter 15

In total darkness, Wren flies with Gray toward Sanctum Point after convincing him over three days to help her meet Cross. Gray remains calm at the controls of a hybrid aircraft, explaining his instrument-based flying and revealing he learned from his pilot father. He executes a precise lights-out landing on an unlit runway.

They move through a hidden forest carport to a block-registered car, minimizing scrutiny. En route, Gray explains Wren’s identity will be masked for two hours as “Mary Bowers,” warns that security has intensified under Travis Redden, and sets a hard pickup deadline. He drops her near Zone 5, refusing to enter deeper because of the risk.

Alone, Wren navigates surveillance-laden streets with a signal-jamming watch and joins a checkpoint line. Tense and uncertain whether the ID swap worked, she endures scrutiny from Copper Block soldiers and drones. Her scan turns green, granting entry; a scare when a soldier yells “Stop” proves unrelated.

Relieved but wary, Wren keeps her head down and moves quickly toward Haven. She links with Cross, who confirms he is already at the rendezvous, and continues deeper into the city determined to complete the meeting within the narrow time window.