Mom sits up straighter. “Agreed, but not now. You have a match tomorrow. If you don’t show up, the ghouls will look for you right away. Walker is right. We need time to contact Verus and come up with a plan. I don’t want you rushing off into worse trouble than you leave behind.”

I try to meet Mom’s gaze, but can only stare at the floor. Worse trouble, right. Not sure what that would be, but with my luck, it’ll find me. “Agreed. I’ll hit the match. With my hood on, no one will see my eyes have changed.” Plus, that’ll give me a chance to say my goodbyes tonight. A grim weight sets in around me. All my friends, school, Arena battles…Everything is about to change.

“It’s settled then.” Walker grips his hands behind his back. “I’ll portal Myla right after the match.”

“Sure thing.” I give Walker a half-hearted nod. Tomorrow morning at 5 AM I’ll be suiting up to leave Purgatory, possibly forever. I blink hard, trying to keep up with events. I just went from being an Arena fighter and homebody to ‘Scala Heir on the run’. I grab a blanket from the couch and wrap it around me. Suddenly, I need a nap like it’s my job.

Mom smoothes back her hair. “I remember that bunker from my days as a Senator. It takes some time to set up and at least four people to open. Is there any way I can get there earlier?”

“Another ghoul could portal you,” says Walker. “How about TIM-29?”

I pull my blanket around me and roll my eyes. TIM-29 is a dip. “This plan has enough stupid in it without inviting that guy around.”

The look on Mom’s face says she agrees. “I haven’t seen Tim since before Myla was born.”

Walker shrugs. “But do you trust him, Camilla?”

She pauses. “Yes, completely.”

“Then I’ll approach TIM-29.” Walker frowns. “You still need two more people.”

My eyes half-open. My overwhelmed brain has just enough functioning cells to spit out one last idea. “If you only need folks to open a door and transport back, Cissy and Zeke can help.”

“Good.” Walker rocks back on his heels. “I’ll speak with your friends as well. We’ll all meet back here before the match tomorrow.” He turns to me and grins. “Angelbound to Lincoln, eh?”

I curl deeper into my blanket and blush. “Yeah.”

“You better tell him about the…” He points to the general area of my eyes.

Rising to my feet, I hunch-walk toward my bedroom. “I’m not doing anything until I’ve had a nap.” I let out a puff of air. What a bitch of a morning.

Mom folds her arms over her chest, a smile twinkling in her eyes. “I’ll call school and tell them you’re sick.”