“Why?” Ahmad persisted. Winnie kept her hard gaze fixed on Madame Nasirah, seemingly more angry than anything else. But Ahmad felt shaken. Having Madame Nasirah not recognize them after a whole sea of people knocking into them with their elbows and shopping bags was more than scary.

It felt as though they had lost the entire game, and it was the first day of the rest of their life in Paheli. An endless cycle of days destined to repeat themselves.

Madame Nasirah sighed.

“There is never a moment where you are not watched here. Every weakness revealed is a chink in your armor to cast a spear through. Every wrong step will lead into an uneven cobblestone being placed in that very spot so you can trip again. And remember, there’s someone who enjoys your pain enough to want to see it replayed.”

“That is terrible,” Ahmad whispered. “There’s no moment to entirely be yourself.”

“If I’ll be honest with you, Ahmad . . .” Madame Nasirah paused. She suddenly looked very tired and very old. “I am no longer sure when I was last myself. But I try. All of Paheli tries, from day to day.”

Ahmad nodded and put a hand on the old woman’s arm.

They had to win. For her and everyone else who lived in this city.

“Even the Gamekeeper gets treated that way?” Winnie finally spoke up.

Madame Nasirah looked at her and nodded. “There’s no one here who isn’t a pawn for the Architect.”

They sat in silence for a moment until Madame Nasirah cleared her throat and tried to muster up a smile.

“Well then, enough about that. You’re just in time for fresh falafel sandwiches and some of my homemade hummus. Eat up and please make the shop your home for the night.”

“We appreciate that,” Ahmad said. Winnie was oddly silent.

“Good, then.” Madame Nasirah tugged aside the curtains and looked out at the beautiful neon city and the circling sand winds, her brow furrowing. “Because I have a feeling you’ll need a good rest to face whatever comes for you in the morning.”

Before she could leave, a thought occurred to Ahmad.

“Wait, Madame Nasirah!”

The woman turned and looked at him expectantly.

“Did you happen to see my—ow, ow, ow!”

Winnie smiled pleasantly as her heel pressed firmly into Ahmad’s toes.

“He was wondering if he left his lantern here, but I have it right here in my knapsack. You should have checked both bags, silly!”

Ahmad grunted between clenched teeth.

Madame Nasirah chuckled and shook her head. “You kids.”

As she moved into the kitchen, Ahmad grabbed Winnie’s shoulder and shoved her away.

“Hey, what was that for?”

“Sorry,” Winnie said with a wince. “Was I too hard?”

“Of course you were—but whatever. What was going on there? Why didn’t you let me ask about Vijay Bhai?”

“Shh, keep it down!”