Nemo ignored him, mostly because she was afraid he was right. But she was also right—it was the only chance they had to get into that room and see if Sam was in there.

She reached the door of 7192 and hesitated a moment. Then she knocked. A moment later a girl’s voice said, “Who is it?” It wasn’t Magdalena.

“Room service,” Nemo said, keeping her voice steady.

There was a pause. “Did one of you idiots order room service?”

Nemo heard several male voices answer her, all of them denying ordering anything. Nemo thought quickly. “It’s complimentary pizza,” she said.

It was a ridiculous ploy, and she was tempted to turn the cart around and get out of there before either a stranger opened the door and she had to make up something about having the wrong room or one of her enemies answered the door and she and Max would be in for the fight of their lives.

There was more conversation from behind the door. Then it swung open. Freakshow looked out at Nemo. Behind her, Nemo caught glimpses of Ghost and Spike.

It took Freakshow a few seconds to recognize Nemo. “What the—”

Nemo shoved the cart into the girl, using her telekinesis to give it extra momentum. Freakshow flew backwards, knocking into Spike. They fell to the ground, and Nemo wheeled the cart into the room and slammed the door behind her.

She flung up the top of the cart, sending dishes flying.

“Now!” she shouted.

CHAPTER SIX

SIX

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

SIX COULDN’T SEE THE THING THAT HAD WRAPPED its tentacles around her and was squeezing the life from her, but she fought against it with everything she had. She was somewhere dark, and cold, and every cell in her body screamed out in torment. It was as if she was on fire from the inside, like some terrible poison had suffused her veins and was pumping through her with every beat of her heart. She tried to breathe, but no air entered her lungs.

“Fight it!”

She heard the voice calling to her through the dark. It was familiar, but the pain racking her head made it impossible to think. She could only feel.

“Fight, Six!”

Whatever monster was trying to kill her redoubled its efforts. Only now she realized that it wasn’t anything outside her body. It was inside, and it was trying to claw its way out. It wanted to be free of her. But it also wanted to take her life with it, leaving her an empty shell.

She wasn’t going to let that happen. Whatever it was attempting to kill her, it was going to have to try harder than that. Even if she couldn’t see it or touch it, even if she had no idea what it was, she was going to be victorious.

“Come on.” The familiar voice sounded again in her ear. She felt something touch her arm. The prick of metal. Something thick and syrupy flooded her veins.