“Back up! Give us room!” One of Lyon’s Guards shoulders me out of the way. He doesn’t notice as I slip his key card from its magnetic chain in his pocket. The prisoners behind me crane their necks, crowding forward to see. Lixue’s the only one watching me as I slip out of line, holding my restraints against my body so they won’t rattle as I back away from the scene. She doesn’t say a word as I clear the corner and break into a run.

Kai’s screams fade as I reach the entrance to the gallery. Taking careful peeks around the wall, I search for crows on the high perches near the ceiling, but the branches are empty. No bees or smazes are anywhere in sight, but a lone fly circles the dome. If it sees me, Gaia will know within seconds, and this experiment will be over.

I shake off my mitts, tucking them in my pocket and snapping a plastic button off the front of my jumpsuit. Huddled against the wall, I toss the button as far as I can into the adjacent corridor. It bounces against the marble with a series of small taps.

Peering around the corner, I see the fly stall and change direction, disappearing toward the sound.

I move quickly, checking around every turn for Guards until I reach the Crux. Two shadows walk on the far side of the circular hall, momentarily obscured by the elevator at its center. I creep into the portal, matching their speed as I move through the Crux, careful to stay where they can’t see me as they patrol. Hugging the walls under the security cameras, I duck into the north wing. Security is lighter than it should be, and the sight of Lyon’s unguarded office is a shot of adrenaline to my confidence. He knows something’s about to go down. He probably stationed all his Guards in the east wing with him because he’s worried for his life. Which is exactly what I was counting on.

My restraints clank against the control panel as I wave the stolen key card over the scanner to the right of the door. The red light doesn’t so much as flicker. A message scrolls across the readout: Please scan second card.

What second card? Lyon must have heightened security while I was in stasis. Panic ripples through me. I grab the brass knobs and pull; the heavy wooden doors don’t budge.

“Hey!” a voice booms behind me. “You can’t be here! What are you—?”