The red route opened behind a grocery store that should have been closed.
Earth had a poor sense of ceremony. Other worlds hid gates under palaces, inside mountains, or beneath temples where fear could dress itself as reverence. Earth put this one behind a loading dock with a broken light, two leaning milk crates, and a sticker warning drivers to stop blocking the fire exit.
Zunoder stepped out and nearly went down.
Ty's body caught itself against the brick wall with the stolen hand. The missing finger hurt as if distance had become another joint.
The woman landed behind him on one knee. She pressed her palm to the asphalt beside a smear of red light and swallowed whatever sound the fall had earned.
"Where did the red tunnel throw us this time?"
"Somewhere people trust cameras faster than scars, usually."
She looked up at him.
Zunoder gave her Ty's tired smile.
