Darkest Designs Read Online Free Page A

they try to regain their same starting position? But she’d tried that back when she’d first entered the Louers’ dimension. She’d ended up in a whole different location.
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    And if that happened here, she’d lose track of where the echo had come from. She spun around only to realize she wasn’t at all sure she was facing the right direction anymore. Damn it.
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    She stood for a moment, hands on her hips and studied the thick endless fog around her. “Hello?”
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    No echo. Although there appeared to be something. She turned slightly and called out louder, “Hello.”
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    No echo. Maybe it wasn’t an echo? She turned to the other side and yelled, “Hello.”
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    Hello.
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    And damn it. That didn’t sound the same at all.
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    Still, she didn’t have much choice but to go forward and find out.
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    ***
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    â€œHow is it that we have no idea how to help Storey?” Eric refused to contemplate that she was dead. She’d find a way to survive. She was unlike anyone else he’d ever known. And she’d get out of this mess just like she’d gotten out of any number of her other chaotic disasters.
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    She had to. Anything less was unthinkable.
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    Paxton opened his mouth…hesitated and closed it again. Then he took a deep breath and said, “I don’t think she’s alive.”
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    â€œI do.” Eric was stalwart in his stance. “There’s no way she’s not.” He glared down at the stylus in Paxton’s hand. “Ask it more questions. There has to be a way to track her.”
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    â€œAnd what good will that do?” Paxton stared at him, concern growing in his gaze. “You can’t go in after her. That’s not possible.”
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    Eric studied him. “It is you know. If we can track her on this side, I can set the coordinates, port to where she is, then port home again.”
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    But Paxton was shaking his head. Tufts of hair flying in all directions. “No. No. That’s not possible. You could be lost in there with her.”
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    â€œAnd I could get her back again. We owe it to her. I owe it to her. It’s my father who sent her there.”
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    â€œWe can’t lose you, too. No.” Paxton lifted both hands to his head and tugged on the ends of his hair. “No. You can’t go after her.”
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    â€œThen find a way to leave breadcrumbs for her to follow so she can get out on her own.”
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    Paxton brightened. Eric could only imagine at what he was thinking. His mentor had been impressed with Storey, but he’d sacrifice her in a heartbeat if it meant keeping Eric safe. Unlike his own father, Paxton cared.
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    But now Eric had to get Paxton to care about Storey. Enough to help her to get out. And this could be the way. Have him help Storey in order to keep Eric safe. “Let’s ask the stylus to track her?”
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    Paxton sniffed. “I already have.”
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    Eric rolled his eyes. But not so the older man could see. “And?”
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    â€œIt’s trying to contact Storey’s stylus. The communication is getting worse.”
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    â€œCould she be moving further away?”
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    â€œOr she’s…fading.” Paxton shot him a quick look. Eric glared back at him. “But we won’t go there yet.”
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    Paxton refocused on his paper and the stylus in his hand, busy writing down a message. “The stylus has a location for Storey.”
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    Eric grinned. “Good. I knew this could work.”
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    â€œBut…” Paxton held up a cautioning hand. “The location is changing.”
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    â€œOf course it is.” She wasn’t dead. Relief washed over him. He’d been right. “She’s going to be moving around. Trying to come back.”
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    â€œMaybe, but she needs to be back at the same point she arrived at in order to leave.