Calais, Maine:
Avery stood frozen on the other side of the Gateway in Cosmos’ lab, letting her body tremble with the aching emotions engulfing her.
She forced her feet to move through the security measures. The sound of her boots against the concrete echoed in the cavernous room. Once through, she gripped the railing as she climbed the metal staircase to the upper level.
When she reached the top, she looked back at the doorway. Nothing but concrete showed now. Avery blinked away the tears blurring her vision. Lifting her head, she turned her back on what she had left behind and walked along the landing to Cosmos’ desk.
“Block it, Avery,” she murmured to herself.
She carefully placed the silver cylinder on the note that Cosmos had left her. For a second, the impulse to grab the cylinde
