The silver drones didn't howl like wolves. They screamed like jet engines.
I stood on the edge of the laboratory’s broken window, the wind of the dying city whipping my hair across my face. Below us was a drop of fifty stories. In front of us were a dozen mechanical hunters. Behind us was a lab full of terrified scientists.
"The White Fire," Silas shouted over the roar of the drones. He stood close to me, his hand gripping my shoulder. "Can you use it to fly?"
"I don't know!" I yelled back. "In the simulation, I had wings. Here, I just have... me!"
The lead drone-wolf lunged. It didn't wait for a conversation. It shot forward, its metal claws extended.
Instinct took over. I didn't think about code or biology. I thought about the heat. I reached out and caught the drone by its mechanic
