“Open up, Jayla. You know I can open this door on my own. I’m only doing you a courtesy by knocking.” The voice on the other side was familiar to all three of us, and Caspian quickly opened the door for Commander Reyes.

  The leader of the Watchers strolled in with five guards surrounding her and a less than pleased look on her face.

  “I’ll leave you guys to talk.” Caspian tried to sneak out the door, but Reyes lifted her hand and one of her guards stepped in his way.

  “This involves all three of you,” she said, taking a seat across from the couch I stood frozen in front of, waving her hand towards the empty seats, which Caspian and I took reluctantly.

  Em leaned against her bedroom door with her arms crossed over her chest, a scowl still firmly in place.

  “To what do we owe the pleasure?” I asked.

  “Oh, you don’t get to be a smart ass this time, Jayla.” Reyes shut me up instantly. For her to have even come here rather than calling us in told me this wasn’t a friendly visit. “Care to explain why the Governor of our city sent a very detailed message to me about a pretty, dark-haired girl asking a few too many questions at his celebration last weekend?”

  I shrugged. “We were doing a little investigation off the books.”

  “Nothing you do is off the books.” Reyes sneered. “And?”

  I glanced to Caspian and Em before realizing there was no reason to even try lying. Reyes was the one who taught us to pick up on cues when someone was lying, and looking to my friends for support was my first tell. “We were investigating the explosion at the Genetics Lab and thought Governor Wallace might have a few answers.”

  “And did he?”

  “Not really, no,” I said.

  “Every time you go putting your nose in places it shouldn’t be, Jayla, I’m forced to smooth out relations I’ve worked very hard to develop. You will drop whatever this is. Now.” Reyes moved to stand, and I stood with her, grabbing her wrist to the sound of five guns pointed at my head.

  I released her arm. “Commander, this can’t be dropped. There’s something big going on, and it involves the DEZ.”

  Reyes turned her head slowly to me and said with honed sharpness, “You don’t think we know this already?”

  I startled back a step, glancing at Em, who looked equally surprised.

  “This goes way higher than you, higher than me even. So, I suggest you let the big boys do the work and step back.” The warning in her voice was more than just caution. It was a plea. A plea for us to stop looking into this or the consequences could be greater than what she was capable of fixing.

  “We have assets in the field. People we can’t pull out yet,” Em said.

  Reyes turned her eyes on Em, and it was terrifying to see even she didn’t have an effect on Reyes. “If you disobey a direct order, if you continue this unauthorized mission, I can’t guarantee you will have the support of the Watchers. And I can’t promise there won’t be repercussions should you get caught.”

  Reyes leaned in, her hand gripping my own as she pulled me in closer. She whispered so only I could hear her words, “So, I’d suggest you don’t get caught.”

  As she turned to leave, I felt something slip into my hand. I waited until the door was firmly locked behind them and their footsteps no longer sounded down the short hallways before I opened my fist. A small, crumpled-up note was inside.

  Not everything is as it seems. Not everyone is your enemy.

  Chapter 21

  Sienna

  “What happened the other day to Scott was a tragic accident.” Instructor Yarik drew our attention to the front of the room. Hardly anyone had been paying attention for the last hour until now. “But it was just that, an accident. Nothing any of you need to worry about for your graduation testing.”

  “Can you guarantee that?” The words spilled from my lips before I had a chance to stop them.

  Instructor Yarik turned her stony expression on me and without skipping a beat, she replied, “Yes.”

  I’d never had a reason to doubt what Yarik said to be truth, but even her answer didn’t quell my fears. To my right, Vic pinched my leg, begging me to quit pushing. The fresh incision on her wrist was hardly noticeable where Emery had put the tracker in, but Vic was still paranoid someone would notice and we’d get caught.

  “The graduation protocol will continue as scheduled, no exceptions. Everyone will be completing a few customary exams before your testing, so please study. No one said we were obligated to let you graduate if you aren’t ready.” Instructor Yarik’s eyes settled on mine as I packed up my tablet and made my way out of the room. It was no surprise I’d have to work hard if I ever wanted to leave this hellhole.

  Up ahead I caught sight of Camilla walking with Blane towards the dining hall for lunch. I had been waiting for my chance to speak to her alone all day. Jayla had made it clear before we left her place that we needed more information than we were currently working with if we wanted to keep everyone safe in the DEZ. This meant I had to speak to the person who’d tried to kill me only a few weeks ago and hope she’d give me some sort of answer.

  When Camilla veered off to one of the bathrooms, I nudged Vic and Theo before I followed her in. They stood watch outside.

  Silently, I leaned against the sink with my arms crossed until Camilla stepped out of her stall.

  “Geez, Sienna, you scared me. What the hell are you doing?” Camilla brushed passed me and turned on the tap. The old faucet sprayed in all directions, and I stepped away only an inch to avoid getting soaked.

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you, although lately it seems like you’re seeing ghosts all over the place.” I shrugged, keeping close to her.

  Her eyes widened for a moment, and I caught it in the mirror before she quickly composed her features. “I don’t know what you’re referring to.”

  “Sure you don’t.” I handed her a towel to dry her hands.

  She narrowed her eyes before moving to step around me and grab her own towel, but I stepped in her way.

  “What do you want, Sienna?” Camilla bristled.

  I shrugged again. “I want to know what you know.”

  “I don’t know anything.”

  “Oh, I think you do.” I stepped a little closer. “I think you know something, and it’s got you scared as hell. I’m going to find out one way or another, so you’re better off just telling me now.”

  “Or what?” Camilla angled her head with a sneer.

  “Or I tell Instructor Yarik about one more camera bot she forgot about—one that has every dirty little secret you’re hiding,” I said.

  She huffed. “You think that scares me?” Camilla moved in closer to me, and I had the sudden feeling maybe I didn’t want to know what she knew. “Whatever Yarik would do to me is nothing compared to what’s waiting for us in that final test.”

  “What do you know about the test?” I no longer held the composure and swagger I walked in with.

  “It’s not something you want to know about, trust me. Better to find out when you get there because the nightmares alone will kill you before they have a chance to.” Even as Camilla’s voice dripped with venom, her confident demeanor wavered. She was as scared of whatever this was as I clearly should have been.

  I gripped the front of her shirt and shoved her into the wall. “Tell me what you know. Now.”

  She grinned. “You wouldn’t believe me even if I told you.”

  “Try me.”

  “No.” Camilla calmly pushed my hand down. Knowing she had the upper hand, I couldn’t beat the information out of her. I was still healing from her attack. There was nothing more I could do other than spit out empty threats. “If we’re about done here, I’m suddenly very hungry.”

  Camilla shoved her shoulder into mine, pushing me out of the way. I stood in silent shock.

  Vic rushed in as Camilla left. “Anything?”

  I shook my head.

  “Maybe it’s nothing. Maybe what had her spooked had nothing to do with the test?” Vic tried.

  I shook my head again. Whatever Camilla knew, whatever she had seen, had her more scared than even she wanted anyone to know. And that alone terrified me because nothing scared Camilla.

  Vic was two days from her graduation test, and I still had no answers. Camilla wouldn’t tell me anything, and Emery hadn’t reported any new information the last time she came by. She would return tomorrow before it would be time for Vic to leave.

  “She’ll be fine,” Theo said beside me, brushing a hand down my arm. It was late, and we should have been in our quads, but neither of us could sleep. How Vic had fallen asleep an hour ago, I had no idea.

  “I just hate the thought of her facing anything without me. She’s not like us, Theo. She’s not...tough.” I tipped my head back and rested it against the cold cement wall. I had been sitting in the hallway for an hour before Theo found me. He couldn’t sleep either and was wandering the DEZ before discovering me staring blankly at the wall.

  He brushed his shoulder against mine with a gentle nudge, and I was glad for his warmth. “She’s a lot tougher than you give her credit for,” he said. “And she’s smart, you know that. She’ll figure it out. Whatever the test is, I’m sure she’ll pass it with flying colors.”

  I let out another sigh before I nodded. Vic was smart, and I knew I should trust her and Jayla’s team, but the hole in the pit of my stomach wouldn’t stop filling me with dread.

  We were silent for a few moments before Theo spoke again. “What are you going to do first when you get out of here?” Theo asked.

  My brows scrunched as I thought for a moment. I shrugged. “I have no idea. Celebrate, maybe? Not that I know how…”

  Theo chuckled. “I’m sure the amazing Blaze knows of more than a few ways to celebrate.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I’m not Blaze anymore, or did you forget I lost my title?”

  “Title maybe, but you’ll still always be Blaze to me.” He smirked.

  I shook my head, reluctantly smiling. “What about you?”

  Theo went quiet. His arm tensed against my shoulder for a moment before he angled his body to see my face better. A quietness filled his voice as he spoke, almost as though he was worried to say the words out loud to me. “I’d like to take you on a date. A proper date.”

  I couldn’t stop the genuine smile on my face and his body relaxed. “I think I’d like that.”

  He leaned closer into me, but I didn’t move away. I didn’t run from the overwhelming feeling of it all. His hand slipped to my neck, pushing away a long strand of red hair. His hands were warm against my cool skin, against the cold cement still biting at my back.

  Then his lips were pressed against mine, and my fist clenched his shirt as I pulled him in closer. His tongue grazed across my lips, and my mouth parted for him. He was slow, gentle at first, before slow and gentle wasn’t enough. I pushed away from the wall, our lips still connected, as I swung my leg over his lap so I was sitting on top of him, our bodies connected and our lips moving in unison.

  His smell was intoxicating, lemon and warm summer rain. One hand wrapped behind my back while the other ran through my hair as he pressed kisses to my neck, my collarbone. His hand grazed my lower back just under my shirt, and the feeling of his skin against mine was like fire. Burning and igniting and consuming.

  I leaned back, a soft moan escaping my lips as his teeth grazed my neck.

  A guttural cry sounded behind us.

  We stilled.

  An icy breeze slithered down the hallway towards us on invisible wings, and a shiver ran down my spine.

  Slowly, I turned my head, squinting down the long, dark, empty hallway. At the end of the hallway, hidden within the shadows and hardly visible, stood a black figure. It took one long, unsteady step towards us before every alarm inside the DEZ went off.

  Chapter 22

  Sienna

  We ran.

  As fast as our feet would take us. Behind us, the presence of something followed close, but I didn’t dare turn around. Up ahead, a few voices wondered what the alarm was for.

  We screamed over the blaring sirens, “Move!”

  And they did. Towards the only exit we knew of. The only exit in the DEZ.

  We skidded around the corner, my bare feet slipping out from under me. Theo never let go of my hand, and he pulled me to my feet in two strides. I couldn’t feel my legs moving. My arms seemed to pump harder and harder, but I wasn’t going any faster, and that thing felt like it was getting closer. It ran with inhuman speed. A speed even I couldn’t overcome.

  As we neared the front foyer, I knew the thing was close. The smell of death wafted from it. Like rotting flesh, it burned my nostrils.

  Theo’s grip tightened as we ran, and I prayed Vic was smart enough to stay in our quad until it was safe to come out.

  The foyer was bright in contrast to the dark hallways and filled with guards. As we sprinted out, they sprinted in, past us and down the hallway where the black figure had slowed down.

  Bullets sounded. Then a broken scream that might have come from a guard or the black thing that chased us, I couldn’t tell.

  Silence.

  My lungs burned, and my entire body trembled as the adrenaline began to wear off and shock threatened to set in. Instructor Yarik stepped into the foyer from an adjacent hallway. Her steps were quick, and the wild terror in her eyes made my own knees buckle.

  “Were any of you touched?” she demanded.

  I wondered what she meant but couldn’t find my voice. I shook my head. I don’t think anything touched me, did it?

  “Come with me, now!” she ordered the nine of us still huddled in the foyer. I recognized one from my class; the others were from a younger grade.

  We followed behind Yarik as she led us down another hallway towards the large gallery. When we entered, I finally asked, “What was that?”

  “It was nothing you need to be concerned with,” she said over her shoulder.

  “Nothing we need to be concerned with? Really?” I stopped my pacing behind her and narrowed my eyes. I wasn’t going any farther until we were given more information about what happened. What we just witnessed. She turned back to face me, and I saw the same expression on her face that Camilla wore a few days ago. Haunted.

  “Stop asking questions I can’t give you answers to, Sienna. When the time comes for you to know something, you’ll know. Until then, I suggest you keep your mouth shut.” She grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the end of the hall to the MediBot station through a hallway at the back of the Gallery. Theo kept pace with our hurried steps. “Everyone will spend the night in quarantine until the MediBot has cleared you.”

  “Quarantine?” Theo asked as Yarik led us into the medical station. It held a few rooms to the back and more down the hallway curving to the right.

  “Yes. For your own safety.” Yarik gave Theo and me a look that reminded me not to ask any questions. “You’ll likely be out in the morning, nothing to worry about.”

  Stopping before the first door, Instructor Yarik waved her hand for me to go inside. I hadn’t let go of Theo’s hand since we started running, and I didn’t know if I could.

  “Now,” she said between clenched teeth, and again I saw the ghost of something haunted behind her expression.

  Theo gave my hand a squeeze before he let go, and I stepped onto the marble floor of the small, white room. I turned to say goodbye when the door was slammed shut behind me. I tried to open it, but it was locked from the outside.

  That’s when the panic kicked in, and my breathing turned ragged. I slammed my fist against the door, pressing my face into the small window, as the others were tossed into their own rooms. The doors slammed shut behind them all.

  By the second day, my hand was raw and covered in dried blood from hitting my fists against the door. My voice was hoarse from screaming for them to let me out but they didn’t. I hadn’t slept; the small cot and scratchy white blanket only put me more on edge.

  Each day, they opened a small window at the base of the door and slid in food and medication. They requested a blood sample each time before informing me I wasn’t cleared yet.

  I’d watched most of the others leave already. If my counting was correct, Theo and I were the only two left.

  They had to let me out; they had to. Today was Vic’s graduation test, and I hadn’t even said goodbye. She would be a mess. I knew it. Panicked, and wondering where I was. I wondered if Instructor Yarik told her anything, if she at least let her know I was safe. Was I safe? I had no idea what was going on. Nobody would tell me anything.

  My eyes stung from tears that kept flowing.

  “Let me out, please,” I begged, my throat burning with each word I screamed.

  An hour went by.

  Then another.

  Finally, the door opened. I jumped to my feet and rushed towards it, but skidded to a stop at the person standing before me. Governor Grayson. I stumbled back a step.

  “Miss Sienna, I am glad to see you in good health.” She tucked a strand of rose-blonde hair behind her ear. Her voice was sweeter than I remembered, almost as if she were calming a wild beast.

  Maybe she was.

  “Governor, what are…W-why are you here?” I stuttered.

  “I came to check up on you and your friend, Theo. We wanted to ensure you both are feeling better before we let you out of quarantine.” She positioned herself between me and the door, and I knew there would be no way around her.

  “I’m feeling fine. I’ve felt fine this entire time. What is going on?” I demanded, my voice harsher than it normally would be to the Governor of our city.

  “Hallucinating and scaring all the other kids is hardly fine,” she said calmly.

  “Hallucinating?”