Tick groaned, so confused at the swirl of emotions inside him he didn’t know if he felt sad, angry, hopeless, or happy. But suddenly, all he wanted in the world was to go home and see his family.

“Just wink me back,” he said. “Please. We can figure it out later. Just send me home.”

“An extraordinary idea, Master Tick! Exactly what I had in mind. Paul and Sofia have long since gone, and it’s your turn. Don’t worry”—Tick’s mouth had opened at the mention of his friends—“they said they’d have e-mails waiting for you by the time you arrived in Deer Park. Muffintops, Sato, and I will miss you greatly, but I’m sure our next reunion will happen very soon.”

Tick nodded, the pain in his head making him feel nauseated. “Where’s your Barrier Wand? Can you wink me from here?”

Master George bit his lip. “Well . . . yes, yes, we can, but I need you to do one thing for me first.”

“What?”

Master George looked across the bed. “Sato?”

Sato stood and walked out of the room, slightly limping. His arms were severely bruised, especially around his wrists.

A long minute passed. Muffintops wandered into the room and jumped up onto Tick’s chest, purring as she settled into a comfy position, staring at him with her glowing eyes.

“You be good, cat,” Tick said, wincing at how stupid it sounded. “Take care of the old man.”

A sound at the door took Tick’s attention away. Sato had returned and right behind him, looking even more disheveled and bruised than Sato or Tick, was Reginald Chu.

Tick sucked in a gasp of air, bolted into a sitting position, and squirmed backward until he hit the wall. Muffintops shrieked and jumped to the floor; Master George stood, trying to grab Tick’s arm.

“Calm yourself!” the old man said. “Master Atticus, calm yourself!”

Tick ignored the pain that exploded inside him. He noticed handcuffs on Chu’s wrists, but that meant nothing. Nothing! The man had more tricks up his sleeve than—

“Tick.” Chu said it, softly, calmly.

Tick ignored him, glaring back and forth between Master George and Sato. “How could you just let him walk around here?”

“Tick,” Chu repeated. “Please. Please, look at me.”

Finally, still breathing heavily, Tick did. An inexplicable warmth spread through him, and then a realization hit him. “What did you call me?” he whispered.

“Tick,” Chu said, acting as if he hadn’t heard. “Please tell these people who I am. I don’t know anything about what’s going on, or this other Reginald Chu they keep talking about. It’s me, Tick—please, tell them!”