“Trying to.” She peered through the window and jiggled the handle, as if doing so would make her dinner print faster. “I want food before the creep comes back.”

“I don’t blame you.” Darren Waldman stopped in every night to glare and ask pointed questions that revealed a subtle hatred I couldn’t understand, but somehow returned. He was another one talked about in hushed tones—only horror instead of awe.

Cass rubbed her hands along her arms. “How much longer is he going to hang around?”

I leaned against the cool countertop and massaged my forehead. “Probably until I do whatever it is that he wants me to do.” He was obviously waiting for me to slip and incriminate myself, but I wouldn’t break from a few dirty looks.

“If you can get him to put on a helmet, we can stick him in a super convincing room escape game for a few hours.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” It would never happen, but I smiled as I pictured him stuck in VR.

Cass punched the printing unit and then hissed, clutching her knuckles. She always made me smile, even when she didn’t mean to. Watching her putter around the kitchen, I couldn’t help putting her in Quanta’s place.

If it were her in captivity, I’d get her out. No question. The security and risk would mean nothing.

I’d never leave her with a degenerate like Waldman.

I took off my glasses and set them on the countertop. The frames always weighed me down, but looking at them was no better. It made me remember Allison and my promise. I’d pledged to live my life to honor her memory. To stop the senseless deaths and suffering.

Quanta was suffering. I didn’t need to remember to know that. It was obvious after a decade in Seligo care.

Guilt tightened my chest. I wanted to save her, I just couldn’t see how it would be possible. I didn’t have the information and I was already on thin ice after whatever had happened to wipe my memory. I ground my knuckles into my temples.

How could I get back the lost time?

“What are you sighing for?” Cass asked as she set down a plate.

“No reason.” At least no reason I could recall.

Even knowing nothing, I knew I’d never find peace with myself if I left Quanta to her fate.

The smell of charred meat turned my gaze to Cassie’s plate. “You printed bacon?”

“Like I’m going to fire up the stove?” She chomped a piece and then winced. “Okay. Yeah. Maybe not my best idea.” As she chewed, her face pinched. “Can’t you cook for me? Some waffles would be a nice gesture.”

“I’m sure they would, but I don’t cook.” I picked up one of the blackened strips and eyed it with suspicion.